The 2024 Hongqiao International Coffee Culture Festival provides an exchange platform for the global coffee industry. [Photo/WeChat ID: hongqiaoshangwuqu]
The Hongqiao International Coffee Culture Festival, which commenced on May 9, saw the unveiling of China's 2024 Urban Coffee Development Report and delved into Minhang district's policies driving the growth of the coffee industry.
According to the report, China's coffee industry has seen tremendous growth in the past few years, reaching an output of 265.4 billion yuan ($36.7 billion) in 2023, with Shanghai making the greatest contribution to this. Meanwhile, Shanghai continues to lead the world in the number of cafes, with 9,553 coffee shops at the end of 2023.
In Shanghai, one out of every seven cafes is located in Minhang, and for every two cups of coffee sold, one cup's beans originate from Minhang's Hongqiao Pinhui Coffee Hub. These statistics highlight the district's pivotal role in Shanghai's bustling coffee scene.
The festival also hosted the 2024 Global Coffee Industry Hongqiao Forum, which saw officials, industry executives, and coffee enthusiasts discuss the future of the coffee industry.
At the forum, Minhang district unveiled policies to support the development of the coffee industry, including subsidies for enterprises, support for foreign trade, financing channels, talent settlement, and more. The measures aim to attract talent, nurture brands, and drive high-quality development in the coffee sector.
During the festival, the Hongqiao International Coffee Hub Online Platform was launched, offering a comprehensive industry trading service. With a vision to set standards, aggregate information, train talent, and build scenarios, the platform offers a one-stop online service for all entities in the coffee industrial chain, aiming to expand the domestic "coffee circle", establish the "Shanghai Standard" for the coffee industry, and extend its reach nationwide and globally.
Minhang district is committed to promoting its vibrant coffee culture and enhancing the overall coffee experience for residents and visitors alike. Noteworthy is Minhang's meticulously crafted "The First Cup of Coffee Upon Arriving in Shanghai" brand activity, which, following its debut during this year's Lantern Festival, will restart during the coffee culture festival, offering a warm cup of coffee to travelers at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station from May 20 to 24.
