Intermalt from Vietnam became new VLB member The Vietnamese malting company Intermalt, based at the Port of Cai Mep in Ba Ria in the southern province of Vung Tau, became member of the international network of VLB Berlin in October 2019. The successful young company was founded in 2017 and has a production capacity of currently around 100 000 t of malt per year. (ew) The VLB network in Vietnam is growing: Sabeco started in 2013 – back then, the country’s biggest brewery became VLB member. And after the Saigon-Kien Giang Brewery (brand name KGB) from Vietnam entered the VLB family in January 2019, the Vietnamese company Intermalt followed in October 2019. No surprisingly, since the country has around 96 million inhabitants and is meanwhile an economic growth driver in the Southeast Asian region. Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in Vietnam with an outstanding number of local brands. Thus, it is not surprising that the brewing and malting industry plays an important role, resulting in a close connection between the VLB and the Vietnamese brewers and maltsters over the past years. Largest facility in Southeast Asia Intermalt Vietnam (IMV), which belongs to the Interflour Group based in Singapore, opened its facility in July 2017 alongside the Cai Mep Port, about 80 km outside Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The 15.1 m deep harbor location gives Intermalt‘s supply chain control when importing barley from a variety of internatinal origins, such as the EU, Australia and Argentina. Equipped with modern technology, it is the largest malting facility of its type in Southeast Asia and offers customers just in time deliveries via bulk, tanker and bags. The plant has a capacity of around 100 000 t per year and supplies around 20 % of the Vietnamese market. It sends around 10 % of the production to nearby markets in Southeast Asia. From the very beginning, Intermalt was aware that malt quality was a priority and thus purchased the latest equipment. Furthermore, they trained young and enthusiastic employees unter the watchful eye of master maltster Matthias Benz, who has been active in the indus-
try for over 25 years. Matthias Benz listed factors that led to the choice of Vietnam for the construction of the first malt factory within the Interflour Group. “Vietnam is a stable country where you can invest and do business. The Vietnamese beer market has a long history of solid growth and the brewers were keen to embrace the superior supply chain efficiencies provided by a local supplier.“ “Long term relationship” On the occasion of the membership, VLB Managing Director Dr. Josef Fontaine and Markus Wildegans, Head of Customer Service at the VLB Research Institute for Raw Materials, awarded the VLB membership certificate to Hoang Trong Nghia and Matthias Benz at BrauBeviale in Nuremberg in November 2019. Josef Fontaine was happy about the new member in Vietnam: “It is an honor for us to welcome Intermalt within the VLB family. I am pleased that our network in Asia is growing.” Hoang Trong Nghia, Manager at Intermalt, appreciates the support of VLB: “Especially related to HACCP, training, advisory, QC and the good personal relationship, I hope our cooperation will be for long term.”
Photo: oh
from left: Markus Wildegans, VLB, Matthias Benz and Hoang Trong Nghia, Intermalt, Dr. Josef Fontaine, Managing Director VLB VLB Berlin was involved in setting up the Intermalt laboratory in October 2016. Since then, a close cooperation between the two companies has been established, mainly in the fields of training and analysis. Training in this partnership means theoretical and practical implementation of malt analysis, especially in compliance with EBC and MEBAK standards. Technological advice relates to analytics and new methods.
The Intermalt factory site at the Port of Cai Mep
Brauerei Forum International – May 2020
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Photo: Intermalt
