28th Ice Cream Expo opens in Tianjin with global industry players

(ECNS) -- The 28th China Ice Cream and Frozen Food Industry Expo, also known as ICE CREAM CHINA 2026, opened at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin on Wednesday, bringing together 560 companies from across the global ice cream industry.

The three-day event is expected to draw over 60,000 buyers and visitors from more than 120 countries and regions.

Covering more than 50,000 square meters, the expo showcases more than 10,000 products and services, including intelligent production lines, raw materials and ingredients, packaging, cold-chain equipment, molds, branded ice cream products, and business agency services.

Over 100 ice cream brands, including Yili, Mengniu, Bright Dairy and Daqiaodao, are showcasing nearly 1,000 new products. Health-oriented offerings featuring clean-label ingredients, reduced sugar, high fresh-milk content, plant-based options and probiotics are among the highlights of this year's event.

International participation has grown significantly. The expo has attracted more than 1,800 buyers and nearly 30 exhibitors from more than 120 countries. Italy's Perfetti Van Melle, New Zealand's Open Country Dairy, France's Yoplait and representatives from Unilever's headquarters are participating in the event for the first time. Eight Italian artisanal gelato and equipment manufacturers are exhibiting as a group and giving live gelato-making demonstrations.

Buyer delegations from India, Uzbekistan, Brazil and Sri Lanka are the largest on record.

In the equipment and related processing sector, more than 100 companies are showcasing next-generation production lines. Commercial freezer manufacturers including AUCMA, Hiron and Xingxing are showcasing smart, energy-efficient and low-carbon products. According to the China Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association, China accounts for about 90% of global production capacity for commercial ice cream display freezers, while exports of commercial freezers reached around 10 million units in 2025.

Zhang Xiaohong, director of the expo's organizing committee, said the event has been held for 28 consecutive years and is the world's only professional expo covering the entire ice cream industry chain. It serves as both a platform for industry development and a window for international cooperation, while also reflecting the growth of China's ice cream industry.

(By Tang Yuxian)