A snapshot of Important Food Industry News
Indian Spices see a Phenomenal Demand in Global Markets
Indian spices have captured the international market in a big way as exports are likely to touch about Rs.15, 000 crores in fiscal 2014-15. In rupee terms, this is an increase of almost 8% whereas the increase in volume stands at 9%. The Spices Board has attributed the increase in volume to excellent quality and sustainability. The spices that are much in demand in the international market are chili, cumin, spice oils and oleoresins, mint and mint products, turmeric, coriander, pepper, curry powder/paste, small cardamom, and fenugreek.
While Chilli continued to be the leader in the export of spices with 347,000 tonnes and cumin came in second with the export quantity of 1,55,500 tonnes. Mint and mint products like mint oil, menthol, and menthol crystals garnered foreign exchange worth Rs.2, 68,925 lakhs as these are a money generating exports. Pepper as the King of Spices continued to surge while cardamom; the Queen of Spices saw a substantial growth this fiscal. The Spices Board is very hopeful that the national exchequer will continue to gain as these products are now the trusted brand. The only challenge is to ensure that the quality and flavor are maintained to international standards.
Karnataka set to export 5000 tonnes of mangoes
Karnataka will be exporting about 5000 tonnes of mangoes to the UK and USA. However, the Karnataka Mango Development Board is looking to increase pack – houses for storage of the mangoes. Presently mangoes from Karnataka are sent to Mumbai and Hyderabad to process them for export. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) processes about 2,400-tonne mangoes in the pack-house facilities at Kolar and Ramanagaram. Karnataka government is likely to set up new pack-houses in Kolar, Mysuru, and Dharwad.
The Karnataka government has established a Mango Development Centre at Chintamani under the Centrally-sponsored Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Karnataka Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Ltd to handle post-harvest management of mangoes. The government aims to also strengthen the domestic market in export quality mangoes. These two centers will train farmers and middlemen in the production and supply of the best quality fruit for export. The farmers in the state have also been using an organic spray on flowering mango trees made from a solution of potatoes and neem which has proved to be harmless.
New Extrusion line for Ice cream and Sandwich from Tetra Pak
Tetra pack has announced that they now have a high-capacity extrusion line for ice cream production. Extrusion technology makes it possible to produce a better and creamier ice cream that is stiffer and colder than ice cream made in the traditional way with moulding machines or filling equipment. Extrusion is a process that allows mass production of food and also ensures uniformity of the finished product. Extrusion technology is used frequently for making the unusual shapes of pasta, breakfast cereals, bread, croutons, and confectionery.
Using the extrusion technology Tetra pack will be able to produce a number of ice-cream sticks and ice cream sandwiches which have a more appealing taste and texture. The new line will have the capacity to deliver 43,200 pieces of ice-cream per hour against an industry average of 36,000 pieces. The additional benefits of extrusion technology are that, at full capacity, operational costs and manpower use are reduced. It also has a lower impact on the environment. The new extrusion line will enable manufacturers to deliver top quality ice-cream at a reduced cost.
Medjool dates to hit Indian markets in a big way
Keeping in mind the approaching holy month of Ramadan the Medjoul dates have been introduced into the Indian market. The launch was attended by importers, merchants, and retailers. There are more than 320 varieties of dates and put off these the Medjoul dates are considered the best at one time they were reserved only for the Royalty. The sale of dates peaks during the month of Ramadan because dates are used to break the Ramadan fast daily.
In the recent years there has been a steady increase in the demand for Medjouls in India even though the price is rather steep at about Rs.1, 500 – 2,000 for 500 grams to a kilogram depending on the quality of the dates. It has been estimated that the market for Medjoul was around the US $ 118 million in 2014-15. Medjoul dates are also used as an ingredient in a number of cuisines especially in salads and juices. These dates will be available presently in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore and the other cities on the anvil are Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Jaipur. Medjoul dates are also valued for their antioxidant, vitamin and mineral content as they help to maintain healthier bones and reduce blood pressure and heart-related diseases.
Maggie withdrawal to Hit Nestle By about Rs.320 Crores
The continuous withdrawal and destruction of Maggie instant noodles are going to hit Nestle hard. The Rs.320 crore loss is being seen as one of the worst branding crisis in India. Nestle India has estimated that the value of the stock in the market is around Rs.210 crore while the products in the factories and in the distribution centers amount to about Rs.110 crore. There could also be additional costs for transporting products from the market and taking them to destruction points.
The company has maintained that the instant noodles are safe and has appealed to the Bombay High Court against the test results that indicated the presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and excess lead. Reported first from Uttar Pradesh as not being a standardized product, other states also banned Maggie instant noodles. The High Court has not given a stay in the matter and a date has been set for the hearing.
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