KUALA LUMPUR: The International Café & Beverage Show (ICBS) 2024, the leading showcase of artisan food, beverage, and café products, will be returning to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 23 to 25 May 2024. Visitors get to experience and explore the latest offerings from the café and coffee industry, the return of the Roasters Village, masterclasses, barista skills training and a baking competition held for the first time.
Christopher McCuin, Managing Director of Montgomery Asia, the show organiser, said, “We are excited to see the responses from our partners, sponsors, and exhibitors. Following the feedback from last year’s show, we have expanded our space by 60% to include more exhibitors, participants, and visitors. All Exhibition space was taken up by March this year!”
ICBS 2024 brings together 450 brands from over 40 countries, with 1,500 café owners, and over 1,000 baristas expected to attend . It is a platform that connects players in Malaysia and neighbouring markets with suppliers and talent from inside and outside the region.
“2024 marks a pivotal milestone as we receive the endorsement by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE). This endorsement allows eligible companies registered with MATRADE to apply for its Market Development Grant (MDG) as an ICBS exhibitor,” added McCuin.
Returning to ICBS 2024 is its ever-popular, cost-effective Roasters Village, which allows small coffee roasters to showcase their unique coffee flavours to the ICBS audience. This year the pavilion will host roasters from Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam. Across the show floor ICBS will also play host to companies from China, Italy, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand with official pavilions joining also from Singapore and Taiwan
ICBS 2024 is expected to draw over 12,000 visitors from Malaysia and abroad over three days. 23-24 May is exclusive for trade visitors, and the public and trade may visit the exhibition during its final day on 25 May.
The exhibition focuses on speciality coffee, drinks, F&B products, café lifestyle, café furniture, design, and technology. It will also host the annual semi-finals and finals of the Malaysia National Coffee Championship (MNCC), organised by the Malaysia Specialty Coffee Association (MSCA). Visitors to the show will be able to see aspiring Malaysian baristas compete in the Malaysia Barista Championship, Malaysia Brewers Cup and Latte Art Championship.
The winning Baristas will compete at the 2024 World of Coffee Championships. The Malaysian Latte Art champion crowned at ICBS in 2023 achieved an awe-inspiring 4th place showing at the recent World Coffee Championship in Taipei – reflecting Malaysia’s growing status and skill in global café and coffee culture.
ICBS will host the BakinLove Next Top Baker competition finals for the first time on 25 May. Following a rigorous process, the top 6 finalists were selected among eligible competitors. This competition provides a platform for bakers to showcase their skills, talent, and creative flair, with special thanks to Unox for sponsoring the ovens needed.
Several exciting training courses organised by the Barista Guild Asia (BGA) await professional baristas. These include classes on brewing methods, brewing science, cupping protocol, and the barista career progression.
Other key supporting partners for ICBS 2024 include the ASEAN Coffee Federation, Barista Guild Asia, Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters and Industries, Barista Association of Thailand, Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines, Philippine Coffee Board, Lao Coffee Association, Myanmar Coffee Association, Singapore Coffee Association, Specialty Coffee Association of Indonesia, Thai Coffee Association and Vietnam Coffee Cocoa Association.
McCuin concluded, “I would like to thank the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) for their support for ICBS 2024. Their support was vital to this event’s organisation, and we look forward to welcoming them, the Malaysian café and coffee industry and coffee enthusiasts to the show.”
The show is being held in Halls 1 & 2 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, with trade and industry visitors the focus of the first two days (23rd and 24th May – 10.00am to 6.00pm). The third and final day (Saturday, 25th May – 10.00am to 5.00pm) will be open to both industry visitors and the public, who can enjoy some fantastic coffee aromas and products and enjoy the finals of the BakinLove Next Top Baker and the Malaysian National Coffee Championships. Anyone interested in visiting or exhibiting at ICBS 2024 should visit www.intl-cbs.com to find all the latest news and updates.
