“President de Gaulle said ‘how can you govern a country which has two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese’?” said French Agriculture and Food Commission Vice-President Eric Gande in an interview with reporters in May 12 while he was attending this year’s Trophées SOPEXA. French cuisine, including cheese is a very diverse family, and adheres to unified strict EU food safety standards. French cuisine will be the Shanghai consumers’ prime choice of both deliciousness and safety.

From its inception in 2003, the Trophées SOPEXA has been one of the major awards in the food industry. This year, under Sopexa’s promotion and the support of the French Ministry of Agriculture, China for the first time this year ushered in the Trophées SOPEXA in order to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with France.

Ever since the People’s Republic of China was officially recognized by General de Gaulle, France and China have been in a diplomatic relationship together for 50 years. The two sides continue to deepen their friendship and extend it to political, economic, cultural, as well as other fields. These years, China has witnessed and felt the rich tradition of the French culture, cuisine and other aspects such as living art. These two major agricultural countries share a great reputation in the world food industry, which laid a solid foundation for a culinary exchange. In the awards ceremony on May 12, Ms. Catherine, the French biscuits and desserts committee chairman said that France is trying to launch authentic French biscuits and desserts at the French Food Festival currently held in Carrefour and Auchan hypermarkets in Shanghai, hoping that the Shanghai consumers can also enjoy the most authentic French sweets within even leaving the country.

This year’s Trophées SOPEXA was awarded to Chinese people who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion and dissemination of the French food culture and lifestyle. This is the first time that the award was held outside of France. At the ceremony on May 12, Zhaoyu Li, the head of the French Association for grain exports in the Beijing office won the Best Entrepreneurship Award. Digital media marketing manager of France Tourism Development Agency Pengbo Gao won the Best electronic media award, and baker Li Wang from Shanghai Young Bakers shared the Young Talent Award with Yang Lv, director of Shangri-La’s wine.

Every year, the Trophées SOPEXA upholds innovation, joy and sharing as its keynotes, which are the same values shared with this year’s originator Sopexa. Sopexa has 15 years of history in China; it is the prime choice to support the Trophées SOPEXA this year. Sopexa has branches in 28 countries including China; through a thorough understanding of the local market, it thrusts the spread of French cuisine culture and art.