Zhou Rixing (second from left), director of Zhejiang's Department of Commerce, and Mar Santarrufina (center), general manager of Alimentaria Mexico, visit the Zhejiang booths and talk to exhibitors at the Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico in Guadelajara on March 7. [Photo/Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province WeChat]

Products from Zhejiang province could soon be filling supermarket shelves all over Central and South America, as food and drink from the East China province tickled the taste buds of visitors at one of the region's biggest food industry trade fairs, the Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico, held in Guadelajara from March 7 to 9.

Zhejiang's Department of Commerce set up an export fair inside the expo spanning 100 booths, aiming to use the event as a platform for exploring the market in Central and South America. The fair featured 56 local companies specializing in food, food packaging and retail products.

The products displayed at the fair aroused the interest of many visitors, with Zhejiang companies striking several agreements during the three-day event.

Zhejiang Cereals, Oils & Foodstuffs Import & Export Co Ltd signed a contract with a local supermarket alliance, which includes Wal-Mart, aiming to reduce transfer stations when shipping products to the Mexican market.

Zhejiang Medicine Co Ltd also reported discovering several business opportunities through the fair. It estimated that local demand for raw materials for health care products would increase after the exhibition.

Zhejiang Retronx Foodstuff Co Ltd, based in the island city of Zhoushan, exports 40 tons of processed fishery products to Mexico every year. The country is one of its major export destinations, and the fair helped the company raise awareness of its products further.

Visitors walk through booths showcasing Zhejiang products at the Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria Mexico in Guadalajara on March 7. [Photo/Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province WeChat]