Snapshots of Food Industry News
Superfood ‘Teff’ Launched by CFTRI in Two Varieties
The superfood ‘Teff’ has been launched in Karnataka by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), the premier Indian food research institute, located in Mysuru. Teff, also known as Williams lovegrass or annual bunch grass, is an annual grass that is native to Ethiopia and Eritrea in Africa and is the staple food crop of these countries. Teff is a whole-grain cereal crop, is gluten-free, has high-resistant starch and low glycemic index. It is therefore highly suitable for patients suffering from celiac disease, diabetics and for the weight conscious. Teff contains all the essential amino acids and is particularly rich in albumin, which is the same protein found in egg white and is packed with micronutrients such as calcium, iron and vitamin C, amongst others. Teff can be used in dosas, roti, porridge, and gluten-free bread. Superfoods like Teff have the potential to not only eliminate nutritional deficiencies but also help to tackle lifestyle diseases like diabetes. Experts believe that this crop will help to address the malnutrition problem in India.
CFTRI has developed an agro-technology that has made possible for Teff to be adapted to Indian conditions. Teff is a drought-resistant, high-yield crop, and the two varieties can be grown in both seasons i.e. Kharif (June-July) and Rabi (October-November). Importantly, the new technology developed by CFTRI will enable India to grow its own supply of Teff and not depend on imports, which will increase its availability and affordability by reducing the cost appreciably. CFTRI already has an impeccable track-record for developing agro-technologies that have been used successfully for production of affordable chia and quinoa and is confident that its technology for Teff will also succeed.
Heritage Foods Plans to Expand its Milk Processing Units
Heritage Foods, the dairy and retail firm founded by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is planning to expand its milk processing units at a total investment of Rs. 150 crores. Five more milk processing units will be added over the next five years to achieve a turnover of Rs. 6,000 crore or $ 1 billion by 2022. These new milk processing units will each have a capacity of 50,000 – 70,000 liters per day. The investment per plant will be to the tune of Rs. 25-30 crore. Moreover, the capacities of the 14 existing plants will also be increased, which have a collective processing capacity of 19 lakh liters of milk per day. Heritage Foods predicts that the revenue turnover will increase from its current 24% to 40%. The company is also planning on re-branding with a fresh new logo, taking into account its recent acquisition of Reliance Dairy.
Patanjali Going Global!
Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. is all set to expand globally. This was announced at a recent event organized jointly by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). This event – the “Made in India – Food Buyer Seller Meet” was organized to bring together international buyers and Indian sellers to discuss business prospects of India becoming a global player in food marketing. The meet was attended by prospective buyers from the Middle East, South-East Asia, Europe, and Africa. Above 1500 buyer-seller meetings took place at this event and has generated a business of approximately Rs. 100 crore. Patanjali representatives have requested major companies in the food processing sector to promote healthy food products. The company is looking to address the problem of food adulteration at the global level. This is likely to be expedited by the fact that its global footprint has been expanding in recent years. Patanjali has stressed that its initiative is aligned with the Prime Minister’s “Make in India” campaign, hence, would be beneficial for India’s economy.
Jacqueline Fernandez Invests in Cold Pressed Juice Brand RAW Pressery
Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has recently become an investor in RAW Pressery – India’s largest cold-pressed juice brand. She has invested half a million dollars as an initial investment. Jacqueline believes in eating and drinking healthy, keeping fit and living natural – qualities that make her identify herself with the ethos and philosophy of the company and plans to integrate with the brand. The company claims that there are no “bad” things present in the juice, highlighting that the product contains raw juice and nothing else – no preservatives, artificial flavors, colors or sugar. Due to this reason, the actress has been inspired to invest in the brand, who believes in all things fresh and natural – unpeeled, unadulterated and untreated. She was initially introduced to the brand while shooting for a film, and now it has become a part of her daily routine. She is also a strong supporter of a clean environment and a healthier tomorrow. This outlook has prompted has to support the RAWCYCLE initiative, which recycles PET bottles for manufacturing wearable items for deprived children of the economically weaker sections of society. With Jacqueline on board, the brand is planning to foray globally, starting with the Middle East.
New KIDi BITES Omega-3 Supplements Launched by Anlit
Anlit, the Israel based nutritional supplements company with worldwide partnerships has launched an omega-3 supplement, rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which are essential for brain health. This product is specially formulated for children and toddlers and will be showcased at Vitafoods Europe-FPE in Geneva, early next month. Market analysts indicate that health supplements are dominating the brain health sector at a staggering growth rate of 230% between 2011 and 2015.
Since small children like to consume chocolates, KIDi BITES have a chocolaty taste and texture. Each single-serving chew contains 60 mg DHA and 90 mg EPA and is without the unpalatable taste of fish oil, the natural source of these omega-3 fatty acids. Importantly, this was a major challenge in developing these supplements by the R&D team of Anlit. An added feature of these chocolate flavored supplements is that they are fish-shaped, making them more attractive for children, who don’t like to take tablets or capsules, the conventional mode of consumption of health supplements. The company is optimistic that these chews will be an instant hit with children and adults alike, especially due to their palatable qualities as well as the added health benefits.
Leave a Reply