Food Bev Asia

“I’ve been told it’s big, but it’s different when you’re already here,” a fellow journalist from Eastern Europe said. “I know!” Everyone else chorused in different accents. We and a number of other correspondents were at a table for lunch hosted by the Association of Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI). We didn’t know each other, but interpack’s sheer size never fails to break the ice. Yes, as usual interpack occupied 19 halls with each about the size of a football field. I’m tempted to use the word ‘ginormous’ – only because I will never be able to use that word to describe anything else related to my work, as far as I know. Me and my blistered feet know. For the past 56 years, Messe Düsseldorf has been hosting interpack, a major packaging and processing exhibition held in Germany every three years. While I cannot compare it to previous shows, I believe the 2014 edition was as huge, and as curious. interpack sees a participation of 2700 exhibitors every time.

The April 2014 issue of Food Manufacuturing Journal - Middle East & Africa puts the spotlight on Africa. As you know, 2014 has been declared the Year of Agriculture and Food Security by the African Union, which has set impressive targets of one day seeing Africa produce its own food to becoming a net food exporter. It has targeted zero hunger by 2025.  Africa has a long way to go, given the current situation and the challenges that food and beverage companies face such as storage, infrastructure, and other logistical difficulties. Whether or not Africa can accomplish its goals by then, the important thing is that governments now have initiated more programmes to accelerate agriculture, particularly in the sub-Saharan region, and have been partnering with more private companies to address food security.

This is an exciting time for everyone at Ringier as we finally publish our first supplement for the Vietnamese food and beverage industry this March.   We have also added a Vietnamese section on our website. Food processing is one of the industries experiencing rapid growth in Viet Nam, thanks in part to government policies that favor both local and international companies. For our first issue, we feature packaging for convenience foods. With a growing population – now at more than 92 million – the country is a market with huge potential for food and beverage companies. Like their Asian neighbours, Vietnamese consumers are demanding higher quality convenience foods, interested in imported food products, and are increasingly becoming sophisticated in their choices. Recently, McDonald’s opened its first outlet in Ho Chih Minh city. (Right, people have mixed feelings about it, health-wise, economy-wise, etc.) It seems late in the game for the fast-food g

According to the National Confectioners’ Association (NCA) in the US, 69% of Americans prefer chocolate over flowers on Valentine’s Day. The NCA surveyed over 1,300 consumers, with 83% of men saying they preferred chocolate, while only 59% of women chose sweets over flowers. Inside the box of chocolates, the most loved flavour is caramel (34%), according to NCA. This is followed by chocolate-covered nuts (24%) and cream-filled and chocolate filled chocolates (both 13%). In a random survey I made on men and women (Asians) I know, there seems to be an overwhelming preference for flowers for Valentine's. So I’m thinking maybe cultural differences impact this simple choice. Are Asians more romantic and Americans more practical? Or do Americans have a sweeter tooth than the Asians? But Asians are heavy eaters, and chocolates are also a favourite. No one I know says No to a piece of chocolate, especially these days when the choices are so wide and varied. You just have

What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur outside your own country?   In the February 2014 issue of FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal , we find out from Reynald Ricafrente. This Filipino sought a position in IT in a New Zealand firm a few years ago, where he is happy right now. But on the side, he has put up his own cake shop/restaurant serving Filipino dishes. Proof of a successful concept, he has expanded the business in Australia as well.   It seems unusual for someone with your background to be launching a major food business. How did it all start? The business simply started as a small university café called “Café 79” at Unitec Institute of Technology in Mt. Albert, Auckland, back in March 2010. I love cooking and baking. So, my business partner, Omar Ramos from Sydney, Australia, encouraged me to explore the food industry. Now, we have four stores under Gold Ribbon Foods: Café 79 (which is inside the university and caters to students), Kelston branch (a

What is the Asian market like for food & beverage ingredients makers? FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal February 2014 has its own answers. This issue contains our Outlook report on ingredients, which packs exclusive interviews with companies – Chr. Hansen (Stern Estrup), Corbion Purac Asia Pacific (Edwin Bontenbal), DuPont Nutrition & Health (Kobus de Klerk), Frutarom Health (Holger Riemensperger ), LycoRed (Eran Shani), and more. We also feature a Ringier one-on-one with Michael Brennan, vice president of Novozymes China. That’s not all. We have a Beroe report that weighs in on cocoa bean sourcing. If your business relies heavily on cocoa products, should you be considering alternate sources for these ingredients? In this issue, we also gathered some of the latest news on immune health and cholesterol in Health & Nutrition . We sum up the health feature with an article on fortified water products in Beverage . That's just a sneak peak. T