In March 2026, the Bakery & Ice Cream zone at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia became a destination of its own.
More than 500 ice cream flavours from over 20 brands and specialist producers came together in one dedicated showcase. Visitors tasted and compared products, met the people behind them and explored new ideas for their businesses. Buyers from hotels, restaurants, cafés and dessert shops moved from counter to counter with one goal: finding their next supplier.
This was SCOOP 500. And the energy around it offered a clear glimpse into where Asia’s ice cream market is heading next.
500+ Flavours in One Place
SCOOP 500 was built by i-Cream Solutions and partners on a simple idea: bring interesting ice cream products together, put them in front of the right buyers and let every flavour speak for itself.
Handcrafted creations, unexpected flavours and proven commercial products sat side by side. Beyond the showcase, the Bakery & Ice Cream zone covered everything behind the scoop, from production equipment and ingredients to storage technology and serving solutions.
Buyers were not simply tasting. They were comparing products, meeting potential suppliers and considering what could work in their own operations.
That is what made SCOOP 500 more than a tasting experience. It was a place to source, compare and discover new business opportunities.
For participating brands, three days at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2026 offered something few marketing channels can: the chance to place their products directly into the hands of industry buyers and let the quality make the case.
The Market Behind the Moment
The ice cream category in Asia is not just growing. It is changing in ways that create real opportunity for brands that are ready.
The Asia-Pacific ice cream market is valued at USD 34.09 billion in 2025 and is on track to reach USD 44.86 billion by 2031, growing at 4.46% per year.¹ Artisanal and craft formats are the fastest-growing segment within that, at 5.04% annually.¹ In gelato specifically, Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the world, with demand rising at 8.2% per year through 2033.²
Consumers are driving this shift. Research from Barry Callebaut’s 2025 global report found that 80% of consumers in Asia prefer ice cream with multiple textures — the highest figure of any region in the world.³ One in two consumers globally seeks out exclusive or seasonal offerings. One in three is actively exploring new flavours, even when food costs are higher.³
In Thailand, the market was valued at USD 508 million in 2025 and is growing at 5.4% per year through 2031.⁴ Rising incomes, year-round warm weather, a thriving café culture, and a new generation of operators building ice cream into the heart of their concept are all pushing that growth forward.⁵
SCOOP 500 did not create this demand. It met it. And the buyers who showed up confirmed what the numbers were already saying: hospitality professionals across Southeast Asia are actively looking for new products and new suppliers.
What SCOOP 500 Delivered for Brands
The business case for SCOOP 500 begins with the audience at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia.
In 2026, the show welcomed 21,305 trade visitors from 70 countries and regions. Exhibitor participation grew by 42% year on year, with companies from 35 countries and regions represented. The Hosted Buyer Programme brought 488 pre-qualified buyers from 29 countries to the show, while the total trade value generated reached USD 118.31 million.⁶
More than 40% of visitors held management positions, while nearly 37% were importers, wholesalers or distributors. These are the decision-makers and business partners that ice cream brands, equipment manufacturers and ingredient suppliers need to reach as they expand across Southeast Asia.⁶
The results on the show floor reflected this. One manufacturer connected with more than 100 distributors in three days, sold all its display inventory and secured between USD 30,000 and USD 40,000 in deals. Another exhibitor generated more than 30 qualified leads within the first two days.⁶
Relationships like these can take months to build through other channels. At THAIFEX – HOREC Asia, they can begin in a matter of days.
The Flavours That Got People Talking
SCOOP 500 represented the full breadth of the category, from established commercial lines and premium artisan products to health-conscious formats and flavours rooted in Southeast Asian ingredients.
Local flavours generated a particularly strong response. Pandan, Thai tea, coconut, mango sticky rice, and squid ink offered more than novelty. Buyers recognised their commercial potential.⁵ These flavours can add a distinctive regional identity to hotel dessert menus, café programmes and specialist dessert concepts that imported products may struggle to replicate.
Texture mattered just as much as flavour. Research from Barry Callebaut found that 80% of Asian consumers prefer ice cream with multiple textures.³ Products featuring crunchy elements, layered components and a strong visual identity drew particular attention at the showcase.
The message for brands is clear. Buyers are not simply looking for another standard option. They want products that stand out and give customers something to remember.
For brands with a distinctive local identity, a premium ingredient story or a format that offers something different, SCOOP 500 is where the right buyers can experience it firsthand.
Bring Your Brand to THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2027
SCOOP 500 showed just how much creativity and commercial potential there is in the ice cream category. And it was only one part of a much bigger industry coming together at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia.
From equipment and ingredients to finished products and new concepts, the Bakery & Ice Cream segment brings brands face to face with hospitality and foodservice professionals looking for what’s next.
THAIFEX – HOREC Asia returns from 2–5 March 2027 at IMPACT Challenger Hall 1–2, Bangkok, with four days to meet buyers, demonstrate your products and build new business across Asia.
If your business serves the ice cream, gelato or bakery industry, this is where your next customers could find you.
Book your booth now: https://thaifex-horec.asia/for-exhibitors/register-as-an-exhibitor/
References
¹ Mordor Intelligence. Asia-Pacific Ice Cream Market: Size, Share and Trends Analysis Report. 2026. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/asia-pacific-ice-cream-market
² Grand View Research. Gelato Market Size, Share and Trends Analysis Report. 2025. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/gelato-market-report
³ Barry Callebaut. 2025 Ice Cream Trends: Global Market Insights and Innovation. 2025. https://www.barry-callebaut.com/en/trends-insights/2025-ice-cream-trends-global-market-insights-innovation
⁴ 6W Research. Thailand Ice Cream Market Size, Share and Outlook. 2025. https://www.6wresearch.com/industry-report/thailand-ice-cream-market-outlook
⁵ IMARC Group. Thailand Ice Cream Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast. 2025. https://www.imarcgroup.com/thailand-ice-cream-market
⁶ THAIFEX – HOREC Asia. Post-Show Report 2026. 2026. https://thaifex-horec.asia/thaifex-horec-asia-2026-reflects-rising-demand-for-hospitality-innovation-in-southeast-asia/
by Chanya Colevas
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In March 2026, the Bakery & Ice Cream zone at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia became a destination of its own.
More than 500 ice cream flavours from over 20 brands and specialist producers came together in one dedicated showcase. Visitors tasted and compared products, met the people behind them and explored new ideas for their businesses. Buyers from hotels, restaurants, cafés and dessert shops moved from counter to counter with one goal: finding their next supplier.
This was SCOOP 500. And the energy around it offered a clear glimpse into where Asia’s ice cream market is heading next.
500+ Flavours in One Place
SCOOP 500 was built by i-Cream Solutions and partners on a simple idea: bring interesting ice cream products together, put them in front of the right buyers and let every flavour speak for itself.
Handcrafted creations, unexpected flavours and proven commercial products sat side by side. Beyond the showcase, the Bakery & Ice Cream zone covered everything behind the scoop, from production equipment and ingredients to storage technology and serving solutions.
Buyers were not simply tasting. They were comparing products, meeting potential suppliers and considering what could work in their own operations.
That is what made SCOOP 500 more than a tasting experience. It was a place to source, compare and discover new business opportunities.
For participating brands, three days at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2026 offered something few marketing channels can: the chance to place their products directly into the hands of industry buyers and let the quality make the case.
The Market Behind the Moment
The ice cream category in Asia is not just growing. It is changing in ways that create real opportunity for brands that are ready.
The Asia-Pacific ice cream market is valued at USD 34.09 billion in 2025 and is on track to reach USD 44.86 billion by 2031, growing at 4.46% per year.¹ Artisanal and craft formats are the fastest-growing segment within that, at 5.04% annually.¹ In gelato specifically, Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the world, with demand rising at 8.2% per year through 2033.²
Consumers are driving this shift. Research from Barry Callebaut’s 2025 global report found that 80% of consumers in Asia prefer ice cream with multiple textures — the highest figure of any region in the world.³ One in two consumers globally seeks out exclusive or seasonal offerings. One in three is actively exploring new flavours, even when food costs are higher.³
In Thailand, the market was valued at USD 508 million in 2025 and is growing at 5.4% per year through 2031.⁴ Rising incomes, year-round warm weather, a thriving café culture, and a new generation of operators building ice cream into the heart of their concept are all pushing that growth forward.⁵
SCOOP 500 did not create this demand. It met it. And the buyers who showed up confirmed what the numbers were already saying: hospitality professionals across Southeast Asia are actively looking for new products and new suppliers.
What SCOOP 500 Delivered for Brands
The business case for SCOOP 500 begins with the audience at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia.
In 2026, the show welcomed 21,305 trade visitors from 70 countries and regions. Exhibitor participation grew by 42% year on year, with companies from 35 countries and regions represented. The Hosted Buyer Programme brought 488 pre-qualified buyers from 29 countries to the show, while the total trade value generated reached USD 118.31 million.⁶
More than 40% of visitors held management positions, while nearly 37% were importers, wholesalers or distributors. These are the decision-makers and business partners that ice cream brands, equipment manufacturers and ingredient suppliers need to reach as they expand across Southeast Asia.⁶
The results on the show floor reflected this. One manufacturer connected with more than 100 distributors in three days, sold all its display inventory and secured between USD 30,000 and USD 40,000 in deals. Another exhibitor generated more than 30 qualified leads within the first two days.⁶
Relationships like these can take months to build through other channels. At THAIFEX – HOREC Asia, they can begin in a matter of days.
The Flavours That Got People Talking
SCOOP 500 represented the full breadth of the category, from established commercial lines and premium artisan products to health-conscious formats and flavours rooted in Southeast Asian ingredients.
Local flavours generated a particularly strong response. Pandan, Thai tea, coconut, mango sticky rice, and squid ink offered more than novelty. Buyers recognised their commercial potential.⁵ These flavours can add a distinctive regional identity to hotel dessert menus, café programmes and specialist dessert concepts that imported products may struggle to replicate.
Texture mattered just as much as flavour. Research from Barry Callebaut found that 80% of Asian consumers prefer ice cream with multiple textures.³ Products featuring crunchy elements, layered components and a strong visual identity drew particular attention at the showcase.
The message for brands is clear. Buyers are not simply looking for another standard option. They want products that stand out and give customers something to remember.
For brands with a distinctive local identity, a premium ingredient story or a format that offers something different, SCOOP 500 is where the right buyers can experience it firsthand.
Bring Your Brand to THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2027
SCOOP 500 showed just how much creativity and commercial potential there is in the ice cream category. And it was only one part of a much bigger industry coming together at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia.
From equipment and ingredients to finished products and new concepts, the Bakery & Ice Cream segment brings brands face to face with hospitality and foodservice professionals looking for what’s next.
THAIFEX – HOREC Asia returns from 2–5 March 2027 at IMPACT Challenger Hall 1–2, Bangkok, with four days to meet buyers, demonstrate your products and build new business across Asia.
If your business serves the ice cream, gelato or bakery industry, this is where your next customers could find you.
Book your booth now: https://thaifex-horec.asia/for-exhibitors/register-as-an-exhibitor/
References
¹ Mordor Intelligence. Asia-Pacific Ice Cream Market: Size, Share and Trends Analysis Report. 2026. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/asia-pacific-ice-cream-market
² Grand View Research. Gelato Market Size, Share and Trends Analysis Report. 2025. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/gelato-market-report
³ Barry Callebaut. 2025 Ice Cream Trends: Global Market Insights and Innovation. 2025. https://www.barry-callebaut.com/en/trends-insights/2025-ice-cream-trends-global-market-insights-innovation
⁴ 6W Research. Thailand Ice Cream Market Size, Share and Outlook. 2025. https://www.6wresearch.com/industry-report/thailand-ice-cream-market-outlook
⁵ IMARC Group. Thailand Ice Cream Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast. 2025. https://www.imarcgroup.com/thailand-ice-cream-market
⁶ THAIFEX – HOREC Asia. Post-Show Report 2026. 2026. https://thaifex-horec.asia/thaifex-horec-asia-2026-reflects-rising-demand-for-hospitality-innovation-in-southeast-asia/
