Interviews by Rui Pastorin
The Macao Franchise Expo 2026 (2026MFE) is gathering a variety of brands from Macau and elsewhere to showcase their products over the next few days.
Ranging from a selection of items featuring original IPs to lifestyle brands, and even coffee and bread via two signature sections: the “Macao International Coffee Festival” and “Macao Bread Festival”, the four-section area altogether spans around 6,000 square metres, with brands from Macau, the Chinese mainland, Southeast Asia and elsewhere.
Speaking with the Post yesterday, several exhibitors said that they see the platform as an opportunity to branch out and connect with different markets, hoping to share their specialties as well as learn over the next few days.
Joining the event for the first time is Thailand-based company Luang Phi Dam (T-Go Solution), which is all about Thai culture and living, according to its CEO Phimwilai Thammanurak. The brand sells a variety of products from inhalers that smell like Thai delicacies such as mango sticky rice, phat kaphrao, and tom yum, to flavoured balms, clothing, and mosquito repellents, all bearing an original character that highlights what they stand for.
While yesterday marked the first day of the event’s four-day run, Thammanurak said that as a whole, she could already tell that it was different to other events she had joined before, most notably for having three concurrent fairs. Over the next few days, Thammanurak hopes to find investors and distributors to take the two-year-old brand’s products to other countries, wanting to show the beauty of her country through their original character, products and philosophy, with Macau also among the places she hopes to bring it to.
From the arts perspective, Jessica Ieong (楊沅喬) is showcasing products featuring her original IP “Mr. Bubbles”, hoping to introduce it to a wider audience, as well as highlight its Macau roots to locals, some of whom may not know that it was made in Macau. On the latter point, Ieong said that they are selling products that feature both her IP’s character and local elements, culture and architecture, hoping to promote them even more.
“We’re just hoping to meet more people so they can know more about our brand, and also, since we normally do events in the Chinese mainland, this is a good opportunity for us to reach some Macau fans as well”, as well as the international market. She added that that the MFE is a “good platform for us to introduce it [the brand] to other people”, most notably for the variety as it contains a mixture of exhibitors from different fields.
Sharing the power of tea and bread
Macau local Rosanna Leng has had her online business “Carbsiology” selling bread for about a year, having taken up breadmaking because of her love of bread. With a brand that is still growing, Leng said that she hopes the platform can promote her business, particularly the local market.
“This exhibition can let me promote my branding and let people learn about my brand first”, allowing others to taste her bread or at least get to know the brand. Leng said that this would also allow her to learn about the consumer tastes and demands
Jamie, who works for Guangzhou-based company UMAsong, which showcases bagels with a variety of flavours, noted that she hopes to sell their products to just about everyone at the event, wanting to introduce it to as many people possible and get to know various markets. Beyond sales, she hopes to highlight it as a product from Guangzhou, as well as the KOL behind its founding.
Lastly, among the exhibitors is a Sichuan-based specialty tea company Xiao Sanyue, which is committed to natural brewing, i.e., no pesticides. Representing the group, Gigi said that over the four-day period, she hopes to connect with others and explore markets outside of the Chinese mainland. “We want to use this [platform] as an opportunity expand our business overseas”.
Gigi particularly pointed out the MFE as being a good opportunity for brands from mainland China to get in contact with international or overseas businesses. “We think it’s like a [Chinese] door to working outside of China”, wanting to share taste and culture of Chinese tea to Western or European markets as well.
This photo taken yesterday shows exhibitiongoers exploring some of the booths set up for the Macau Franchise Expo 2026 (2026MFE). – Photo: Rui Pastorin
