Fresh - The Indusfood Chronicle 2021

2021 the Indusfood chronicle

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Chairman’s Message

A toast to new beginnings

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he past few decades have seen a rapid ramp up of supply and growing sophistication in F&B products across the world, so much so that the very concept of ‘food shortage’ appeared to be a forgotten relic of history.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the critical importance of maintaining robust & sustainable agricultural supply chains.

In this difficult period, the Indian agriculture sector has been a pillar of support for nations across borders, ensuring continued supply of essential commodities despite mobility restrictions. The TPCI team has diligently worked shoulder to shoulder with Indian exporters throughout the pandemic by leveraging virtual platforms to ensure uninterrupted access to global markets.

It is heartening to note that F&B exports defied the overall subdued export trend, growing by 9.2% YoY in the post-pandemic period (April-December, 2020-21). This bears testimony to India’s prowess as a leading producer of agri commodities. But it must also be recognised that India’s share of high value & value added produce within the export basket stands at less than 15%, which shows huge untapped potential in the country’s food processing sector.

Indusfood 2021 is India’s first physical format F&B trade platform after the pandemic, which could be a game changer for the industry in the post-COVID era.

As the world progressively exits the pandemic’s shadow, it is critical for India’s F&B industry to build on this positive momentum. This can have a beneficial impact on farmers’ incomes & provide them with more opportunities for growth & diversification. It is a vision that has inspired TPCI’s diverse global market outreach initiatives for the Indian F&B industry over the past few years.

Indusfood 2021, the fourth edition of South Asia’s largest integrated F&B trade show, marks a defining moment for us in this journey. We feel privileged to host the first physical format F&B trade platform post-COVID for Indian exporters, enabling them to explore global business opportunities while sitting in India.

Virtual platforms have served their purpose well in the past few months, but physical trade fairs offer obvious and unmatched advantages in terms of networking and deeper interpersonal engagements essential for business. It is time to turn back the clock to move forward and recover the lost momentum.

The show is featuring 330+ exhibitors and 800+ prominent industry buyers from 54 countries. We are honoured to host state pavilions of J&K, Haryana, Odisha & Tamil Nadu this year, which will represent the rich agro-diversity & evolving food processing landscape in these states.

With expected on-spot business worth US$ 1 billion, we are positive that this event will act as a potential game changer for the Indian F&B industry in the postCOVID era, staying true to the glorious Indusfood tradition.

I profusely thank our organising partners, Indian exporters and overseas buyers who have enthusiastically synergised with the TPCI team. This synergy has been pivotal to the event’s success despite the odds.

Wishing you all the best for a safe and successful Indusfood 2021!

PRASHANT GARG, Chairman, Trade Promotion Council of India Indusfood 2021

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Chairman - F&B committee

Thrust to Vocal for Local agri-business

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ise in trade of value added agricultural products has generated hitherto unforeseen opportunities for F&B companies. This has increased the relevance of both global value chain frameworks and production networks in the food processing sector.

India’s dynamic F&B industry is well positioned to capitalise on these opportunities, considering the rise in production capabilities, increasing sophistication and technology upgradation, enabling it to better serve the demands of discerning overseas markets. Indian F&B players are constantly working towards expanding their product range and promoting international quality standards across the value chain. The policy environment has also been playing a critical role with liberalization of FDI and interventions like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. Thanks to the ongoing evolution of the sector, producers are increasingly capable of fulfilling diverse global sourcing requirements, including native food demands of destination markets.

But to achieve this, it is critical to create more quality networking opportunities with leading global bulk importers, retail chains, HORECA players, etc. This enables them to better understand the needs of these audiences, gauge consumption trends and build deeper relationships. This naturally exposes them to the competitive landscape and regulatory requirements of these markets.

Due to the ongoing evolution of India’s F&B sector, producers are increasingly capable of fulfilling diverse sourcing requirements of key export markets.

Organized annually by TPCI with the support of the Department of Commerce, Government of India, Indusfood has emerged as a timely solution to this need gap that was urgently felt by the industry. It gives Indian F&B exporters an invaluable global platform to showcase their products. This is particularly lucrative for numerous niche F&B segments emerging in the Indian business landscape like ready to eat/cook, health foods, organic, vegan and ethnic. At the same time, it also facilitates global buyers to conveniently leverage growth opportunities through tie ups with Indian F&B players.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation has led to cancellation of major trade fairs around the world and rendered international travel impossible. While the industry has responded proactively to continue engaging with buyers and fulfill overseas demand, we have undeniably lost considerable ground.

It is indeed heartening to note that Indusfood’s 4th edition is being organized at a time when the industry is eagerly seeking global networking platforms to chart a new course of recovery. We sincerely hope that Indusfood 2021, which has blazed the trail as the first F&B trade show post-COVID, will play a pivotal role in business recovery and rekindle the country’s food & agri export growth in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Stay safe and healthy and wish you a fruitful participation at Indusfood 2021!

VIVEK AGARWAL, Chairman Food & Beverage Sector Committee Trade Promotion Council of India

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Vice-Chairman - F&B COMMITTEE

Shot in the arm for the Indian F&B industry

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ndia is a treasure trove of opportunities for the F&B industry because of both the volumes and diversity of agri-produce that it offers. It is the largest producer of milk and has the largest livestock population in the world. It is also the second largest producer of cereals, fruits & vegetables and fish. This impressive agricultural bounty has enabled it to firmly establish its credentials on the global F&B map and position itself as the ‘world’s food basket’.

With current levels of processing of agri-output at less than 10%, companies are increasingly viewing India as a lucrative food processing hub. Emerging opportunities across the food processing value chain include cold chain upgradation and capacity expansion, pack houses, trucking fleets, packaging innovations, warehousing, pulping, juicing, pickling, dehydration, canning, etc.

The government has allowed 100% FDI under the automatic route in the sector and is taking necessary steps to boost investments. One primary example of this is the Mega Food Parks Scheme, under which 37 food parks have been funded, 21 are operational and 16 are under implementation as of January 2021. With favourable policy ecosystem and private sector interest, the sector is estimated to potentially attract US$ 33 billion in investments and provide employment to 9 million people by 2024.

The ongoing COVID health exigency is viewed by many as a precursor to new business opportunities for the industry in tune with changing consumption patterns

The present COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity where the nation can cement its position further and metamorphose itself to being a leading exporter of value added products. The ongoing health exigency is viewed by many as a precursor to new business opportunities for the industry in tune with changing consumption patterns, preferences and behaviour across the world.

For instance, as doctors struggled to find a cure, the common man turned to the local ingredients in his kitchen to keep the disease at bay. Spices and herbs such as turmeric, ginger, clove, garlic & pepper became the go-to options, giving Indian spices both mind space and shelf space in global retail chains.

As restaurants shut shop, people also started consuming more ready-to-eat products, trying out new cuisines and exploring healthy food options.

The Indian F&B industry must leverage this opportunity and expand its global footprint. It should adopt a dual approach: ramping up its production capacities in line with global standards & emerging trends; and being on the constant lookout for new growth markets.

Indusfood 2021 has come up at a critical time to help Indian F&B exporters resurrect their businesses and leapfrog towards high-value added products.

Given its past credentials, I am confident that this year too, the show will be a harbinger of good times for the industry.

We extend a warm welcome and best wishes to participants attending Indusfood 2021.

ABHISHEK PODDAR, Vice Chairman, Food & Beverage Sector Committee, Trade Promotion Council of India Indusfood 2021

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Editor’s Note

The ‘mindful’ F&B enterprise If there is one realisation that has been deeply rooted in our consciousness over the past year, it’s the inevitability of change – whether it is in our circumstances, perceptions, sensibilities or world view. People tend to dread or even resist acknowledging change due to the challenges it presents. But change can be immensely positive too, as it promises new opportunities that can potentially propel you to a better future.

When we consider the industries where the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in the most profound element of ‘change’, the F&B industry easily occupies top-of-mind recall. As people became extremely mindful of their health due to the virus threat, it had an automatic impact on how they approached their food habits. The propensity towards mindful eating was prevalent even pre-COVID, but it accelerated significantly after the virus hit. In the International Food Information Council’s annual Food & Health Survey last year, four out of five consumers admitted that their food habits had changed, propelling them to cook, eat, shop and think about food differently.

Some of the common trends visible in this period included a preference for homecooked food and a return to organic, plant-based, vegan and vegetarian foods.

Organic food retailers have reported a rise in sales post-COVID in various parts of the world. Meticulous Research projects the plant-based food market to grow at a CAGR of 11.9% from 2020-2027 to reach US$ 74.2 billion by 2027. Similarly, the US$ 15.4 billion global vegan food market projects a stronger CAGR of 9% during 2021-26 according to Export Market Research. A consumer research study in the UK indicated that during the pandemic, over 25% of young millennials (aged 21-30) became significantly more attracted to a vegan diet.

India has also seen some positive trends in the business of some health and immunityoriented products like chyawanprash, giloy, amla, health juices, ashwagandha, turmeric, black pepper, ginger, etc. The same positive uptick was visible in export enquiries and numbers for products like turmeric, green tea, currants and gooseberry, moringa and amaranth. This makes prospects for organic, vegan and health categories particularly interesting at the Indusfood exhibitor pavilions this year.

There is a strong possibility that this shift to plant-based, vegan and organic products could be of a more permanent nature, especially since the ongoing health crisis propelled a rethink on climate change and sustainable living. This could breed a gamut of agricultural innovations and fuel a new wave of enterprise for the F&B industry going forward.

the Indusfood chronicle Chairman PRASHANT GARG Secretary General M. K. PARIMOO Deputy Director General SANDIP DAS Director, Media & Corporate Communication SAMEER PUSHP Editor VIRAT BAHRI Sr. Art Director PRAKASH SHETTY Editorial & Research Team NIKHAAR GOGNA, VAISHALI BHARDWAJ Designer PRIYANKAR BHARGAVA Coordination ANKIT RAI For any further information, connect: Media and Communication Department Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), 9, Scindia House, 2nd Floor, Connaught Circus, New Delhi -110001, India Email: publicity@tpci.in Ph: +91 (11) 40727272 Fresh - the Indusfood Chronicle 2021 - magazine is published by Trade Promotion Council of India for Indusfood 2021 and printed at SR Advertising, B-198, 3rd Floor, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi - 110020 All rights reserved. All writing, artwork and/or photography contained herein maynot be used or reproduced without the written permission of TPCI and Indusfood. No responsibility can be taken for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork.

The views and opinions expressed or implied in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of TPCI or Indusfood. All efforts have been made while compiling the content of this magazine, but we assume no responsibility for the effects arising there from. TPCI does not assume any liability for services or products advertised herein.

VIRAT BAHRI Editor, Fresh - The Indusfood Chronicle

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Indusfood 2021

etting down to business The 4th Edition of Indusfood is the first physical F&B export promotion exhibition to be held in India post the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Safety protocols and SOPs for organizing B2B trade expositions issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Government of India have been rigorously followed to ensure that the show is held in a safe and hygienic environment for the benefit of its participants.

In 2021, the show is exhibiting F&B products from 17 different categories. More than 350 exporters and 700+ international buyers have confirmed participation for the show in 2021.

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cknowledged globally as India’s largest integrated B2B trade exhibition for the F&B industry, Indusfood is organising its 4th edition during March 20-21, 2021. The show provides a lucrative platform for global buyers to connect, engage and conduct business with the Indian F&B industry. In first three editions, Indusfood has received an enormous response from Indian suppliers and international buyers, owing to its exclusive B2B format and its unique hosted buyer concept.

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Simultaneously, TPCI is also holding virtual BSMs to facilitate buyers who are unable to travel for the physical event due to stringent travel restrictions in place to check the spread of the pandemic. The virtual platform showcases booths featuring key products of different exhibitors from the industry. This enables exporters and buyers to have initial discussions on potential synergies and possible modalities of engagement.

The Indusfood app has also been developed to facilitate seamless interactions between buyers and exporters.

With features like scheduling appointments, business matchmaking and messaging platform, it enables participants to engage with each other in an efficient manner and make optimum use of their participation at the event.

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INDUSFOOD IN NUMBERS

SOUTH ASIA’S LARGEST INTEGRATED F&B MARKETPLACE

20+

sessions s

B2G and B2B

PARTICIPANTS

POTENTIAL

IN THE SESSIONS

330 800+

Exporters

INTERNATIONAL

Buyers

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1Billion

BUSINESS CONDUCTED US$

14,000

sqm

EXHIBITION SPACE

INDUSFOOD NUMBERS

Major Buyer

Delegations Afghanistan

Egypt

Nepal

Tajikistan

Bangladesh

Iraq

Palestine

Turkey

Belarus

Lebanon

Russia

Uzbekistan

GLOBAL RETAIL CHAINS

PARTICIPATING

» » » » » » »

Apna Foods (US) SLT Foods (US) Nesto (GCC) Grand Hypermarket (GCC) LuLu (GCC) Savings (GCC) Al-Safeer Hypermarket (GCC) » Carrefour (GCC & France)

» » » » » »

X-5 Retail (Russia) Rewe (Germany) Lidl (Germany) GFT (Germany) Swapno (Bangladesh) BIM Supermarket (Turkey & Morocco) » Finest Superstore (Afghanistan)

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INDUSFOOD IN NUMBERS

PRODUCT CATEGORIES Sweets & confectionery

Organic & health food

Spices Fruits & vegetables

Oil & oilseeds

Dairy

Pulses & grains Non-alcoholic beverages

Dry fruits

Indian ethnic food & snacks

Tea & coffee

Wine & alcoholic beverages

Meat, poultry & seafood

Sugar and Flour

Consumer foods

Vegan food

STATE PAVILIONS Government of Jammu & Kashmir

TAMIL NADU 8

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ODISHA

UT OF J&K

HARYANA

STATE PROFILE

Advantage Tamil Nadu: Emerging food processing hub of India Tamil Nadu is ripe for investments due to high production volumes, deep industrial culture, skilled manpower, favourable agro-climatic conditions & connectivity.

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Vishu Mahajan IAS, MD, MSME Trade & Investment Promotion Bureau (M-TIPB), Tamil Nadu

he agricultural sector of Tamil Nadu contributes 12% to the economy and provides livelihoods to around 40% of its population. Tamil Nadu is India’s leading producer of mangoes, bananas, turmeric, papayas, rice, maize, sugarcane, coconuts, groundnuts, cashews, beans, and grapes. It is the largest producer of tapioca and tamarind, second largest producer of poultry and eggs, third largest producer of tea and coffee, and fourth largest in marine fish production.

With total food grain production regularly exceeding 10 mn MT, the state is home to over 24,000 food processing firms classified as MSMEs as well as 1,100 medium and large units. It is ranked 2nd in terms of food processing units & contributes around 8% to India’s national food processing output.

Tamil Nadu is also among the leading exporters of marine products, rice, cereal products, dairy products, etc. The sector provides exciting business opportunities for developing infrastructure pertaining to agro processing clusters, food parks, coastal aquaculture parks/clusters, food testing & quality control labs and capital goods manufacturing. Tata Coffee, Britannia, Nestle, Pepsico, Lotte, Suguna foods, HUL and ITC are among the leading MNCs present in Tamil Nadu.

The state offers a favourable business habitat for integrated storage and warehouses, cold storage infrastructure, and packaging & barcoding of food products. Tamil Nadu has built a huge talent pool through a network of agricultural colleges and research centres.

Companies can explore avenues for technology infusion in fruits, vegetables & marine products, milk products, ready-

to-eat products, medicinal herbs & aromatic extraction, edible oil extrusion plants and cashew nut processing.

Currently, the level of processing of food commodities is less than 2%, and the government is working to raise it to 10%.

It is setting up 6 mega food parks and 15 small food parks/agro processing clusters where units will be eligible for capital investment subsidy and other incentives as per the new Industrial Policy 2021 for large investors and MSME Policy 2021 for MSMEs. The policy is focused on promoting innovative measures for group cooperation in adoption of pre- and post-harvest technologies, change in cropping patterns, upgrading processing standards, providing financial assistance to entrepreneurs, speedy infrastructure development and removal of legal/ statutory hurdles to growth.

State infrastructure development agencies SIPCOT and SIDCO offer developed lands and ready to occupy plug-and-play facilities along with infrastructural facilities like dedicated power, water, drainage, STP/ETP, telecom, banking, etc on long-term lease (99 years) to large industries and on outright sale and short-term lease (30 years) to MSMEs. In addition to various taxation/ stamp duty/interest payment/market fee exemptions/marketing promotion incentives, necessary technical assistance is provided to food processing industries in branding, exports, packaging, and training. All statutory clearances can be applied and received online through the single window portal. M-TIPB will function as facilitating agency for single window clearance system for new investments for speedy and timely clearances.

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VANTAGE POINT

INDUS EXPRESS “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” goes the popular adage.

F&B industry stakeholders elucidate why Indusfood show is the perfect platform for Indian exporters to reenergise their global outreach.

Indusfood has grown phenomenally through its three previous editions.

This year, the fourth edition is likely to be more vibrant.

The event has tremendously helped Indian businesses find newer contacts for augmenting external trade.

Today, Indusfood has become synonymous with global events like Gulfood and SIAL Paris etc.

I wish the event all success!

NATHI RAM GUPTA President, All India Rice Exporters Association

As the economy gathers steam again after a crippling pandemic, events like Indusfood 2021 have a critical role to play in providing an important platform with linkages and connections with all stakeholders. This is also key towards the realisation of the Government of India’s stated objective of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. I wish the organisers and participants all the very best for the event!

RISHABH KOTHARI President, Fragrances and Flavours Association of India

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I am delighted that the fourth edition of Indusfood will be held in March, 2021. In the last one year we have witnessed unprecedented challenges arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak, which have severely disrupted the Indian economy.

The tea sector was fortunate to be able to resume operations with adherence to all the safety protocols after the first fortnight of the lockdown. The worker management partnership in dealing with the pandemic has helped us to face the emerging challenges and sustain operations even in the most adverse circumstances.

Tea exports continue to be vital for long term sustainability of the tea sector. I congratulate the Trade Promotion Council of India for organizing this event which provides an opportunity for the Indian F&B industry to showcase its produce to the global community. I wish Indusfood 2021 a grand success!

VIVEK GOENKA Chairman, Indian Tea Association

As we emerge from COVID-19 restrictions, the 4th edition of Indusfood in its robust form assumes a special significance as India’s leading food export promotion event. It provides an ideal platform for deliberations, backed by our collective experiences of withstanding the pandemic, on prospective evolution of the F&B industry through beneficial associations and convergence.

The Indian spice industry would like to strengthen its position as the global leader in spices, by focusing on food safety and quality across the supply chain. It wishes to highlight the immunity boosting properties of spices and the emerging opportunities in nutraceuticals, ethnic cuisines, health management, etc. I’m pretty sure the stakeholders of the sector with their diverse products and capabilities will make the best use of opportunities through Indusfood.

Indusfood 2021 holds an immense opportunity for food industry stakeholders for winning relationships with global business partners for state-of-theart produce.

DR. SUBODH JINDAL President, All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA)

D SATHIYAN IFS Secretary, Spices Board India

We see a strong push coming for hygienic & packed food products globally. Green shoots of a strong demand for packaging coupled with its positive multiplier effect on the economy are likely to emerge in short to medium term. Indusfood 2021 is a great effort in bringing the food & beverage industry, its buyers & suppliers together.

BALLABH PRASAD AGGARWAL President, Indian Biscuit Manufacturers Association

India is at the cusp of an extremely exciting agroeconomy. With a record output of foodgrains forecast for the coming year, we could well be the ‘Annadaata and Food Factory’ to the world. Given this context, Indusfood is an excellent platform for India to showcase its prowess in the global F&B community.

It is one of the most comprehensive trade shows that would help stakeholders from the industry to promote their business.

DR. DAVISH JAIN Chairman, The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA)

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vantage point

INDUS

WORLDVIEW Participating trade & investment promotion organisations from across the world express their thoughts on Indusfood 2021.

We are confident that the 4th edition of Indusfood 2021 would play a catalytic role to give a muchneeded lifeline, support & promotion for the vulnerable MSMEs, agri-based industries & farmers and especially to revitalize economies affected by the pandemic.

SHEKHAR GOLCHHA President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI)

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Indusfood 2021 has given us hope and refreshment in this current market situation. The concept and trend of consumer buying behaviour has changed due to the economic effects on income. This expo will help us to study and understand new developments in the consumer food category. It will also help us select products according to our market. We are very hopeful that this expo will help in growth of our new markets.

We look forward to expanding trade between the two countries through the show and eagerly await to see the opportunities that it brings for our companies.

RAJESH KAZI SHRESTHA President, Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC)

SANJAR FAZLITDINOV Chairman, Uzbekistan Food Industry Association

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The Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry is delighted to participate in Indusfood 2021 with Palestinian companies. We appreciate this endeavor to bring together various stakeholders of F&B industry and facilitate the laying of a strong foundation for robust partnerships in these tough times.

ABDO IDREES, PRESIDENT, Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI)

As the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, world food markets will stabilize and the needs of many countries for different types of food will increase.

Therefore, Indusfood will play an increasingly important role in the development of international agricultural and food trade.

DMITRY BULATOV President of the National Union of Food Exporters, Russia

Indusfood 2021 is a significant event for the food sector as it’s a platform for all key buyers & exhibitors of the food & beverage community to come together at a common place.

It is committed to providing a competent and hygienic environment to all participants for doing a safe protocol and B2B meetings.

MR. TEVFIK DÖNMEZ Chairman, Foreign Economic Relations Committee, MUSIAD

BAPA is pleased to participate at Indusfood F&B-2021 with a strong delegation of over 35 companies. Undoubtedly, Indusfood 2021 will facilitate strong business linkages due to participation of large number of food-related business around the world. It will facilitate networking, information exchange & collaboration within & among the private sector, public sector and civil society; something of great importance to achieve sustainable food security & nutrition goals in a globalized world.

A F M FAKHRUL ISLAM MUNSHI President, Bangladesh Agro-Processors’ Association (BAPA)

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indus Brand Connect

Cornitos is creating products keeping in mind the healthy snacking trend

Vikram Agarwal, MD, Greendot Health Foods Pvt. Ltd. (Cornitos) takes a walk down memory lane and shares how his brand launched a popular Mexican snack with an Indian twist in the country. : What is the story behind the genesis & growth of Greendot Health Foods Pvt Ltd? What inspired you to launch your company?

Vikram Agarwal: It was in 2009 that Greendot Health Foods Pvt Ltd was born. The story behind its birth goes back to my business trip to the US when I had crunchy tortilla chips as snacks.

This led to the idea of launching this popular international snack (tortillas)

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with an Indian twist to appease the palate of the domestic audience and well-traveled Indians. In a country where traditional namkeen still rules the taste buds, bringing in the quintessential Mexican snack was a leap of faith. But our passion towards our work, coupled with the insatiable appetite to succeed has paid off. : Being the first company to

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launch Nacho Crisps (tortilla) in the Indian branded snack food market, what were the impediments to growth that you faced initially? What business strategies did you use to overcome them?

Vikram Agarwal: Initially, there were some hiccups like choosing the correct variety of corn kernels, setting up an international level production unit, and overcoming distribution challenges to

market a new category in India.

At the outset, the brand did extensive marketing activities like conducting sampling in top modern retail outlets, running advertisements in cinema halls, organising healthy snacking awareness activity in schools, and sharing nacho recipes through food blogger events across India. All these measures helped the brand to gain popularity and product acceptance. In order to stay in trend with the ongoing digital world, we also launched shop.cornitos.in so that consumers can shop from the comfort of their homes. : How do you see the healthy snacking trend across the domestic & international market over the past few years? What factors are driving this trend and how are you servicing this demand from consumers?

Vikram Agarwal: Healthy snacking has emerged as a major trend in the past few years and even during the pandemic, we could see a rise in the demand for healthy snack products.

Consumers across the globe are healthconscious, and keen to know all the details of a snack before consuming it. Superfood-based snacks like super seeds, cashews and almonds have become consumer favourites across the globe, post-COVID. As a brand, Cornitos focuses on healthy snacking. Cornitos Veggie Nachos come in four variants – Spinach, Beetroot, Melange & Quinoa – made

from natural vegetable extracts and super grains blended with Corn Masa & seasoned with delicious spices. Roasted cashews & almonds, long peanuts, roasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coated green peas and a range of super seeds are flavourful healthy snacking options. : Which key products do you export from India? How have customers across the globe warmed up to these products? Who are your key target markets?

Vikram Agarwal: All Cornitos products are exported to over 30 countries. The focus markets currently are UK, Middle East, Australia, and Africa. The brand also aspires to reach out to consumers in the US, Russia, and more countries in South East Asia.

The main export product is Nacho Crisps. Global consumers have accepted the brand with an open heart and showcased their love for the numerous product offerings that the brand has. These include Nacho Crisps, Veggie Nachos, Taco Shells, Dips, Mexican Delights, Nuts & Seeds, Combo Packs, Festive Packs, and Tortilla Wraps.

Global consumers have accepted the brand with an open heart and showcased their love for its numerous product offerings.

: What impact did COVID-19 have on your business in terms of exports & local consumption? How did you tackle the challenges that came up due to the pandemic and what unique competitive advantages have helped you establish your business presence?

Vikram Agarwal: Cornitos faced operational difficulties on multiple fronts – labour, raw materials, transportation, and a dip in sales. Post-lockdown, the revival of demand, increasing production efficiency and availability of the product have been the key challenges. However, with the launch of the e-commerce website – shop.cornitos.in – and strong marketing strategy, the brand is overcoming them. : What are the product or market expansion opportunities that you envision for your company in the global market at present? How do you plan to leverage these opportunities in the coming years?

Vikram Agarwal: Given how the markets are moving to the digital space and emphasizing the health aspect of the snacks, we intend to venture further into it. The brand will also be expanding its product range as well as capacity.

We’ll be introducing a line of value-formoney products in the forthcoming times revolving around healthy snacking.

Lastly, we’ll launch campaigns for DIY Kits, a product that is truly unique and has not been seen by the industry yet.

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INDUS VIEW

The top

post-COVID trends in the F&B industry

Over the past one year, there is hardly any activity, which has been left untouched by the effects of COVID-19 with food and agri being no exception. This article explores some promising trends that the pandemic has fuelled, which could have strong implications for the sector. by nikhaar gogna

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: AN INITIATIVE BY THE PRODUCERS The Food & Agriculture Organization states that the world’s population is projected to grow to 9.3 billion in 2050 & subsequently, food production will need to increase from the current 8.4 billion tonnes to almost 13.5 billion tonnes a year. So the agriculture sector, which faces the double whammy of exploding population & shortage of cultivable land, needs to embrace sustainable practices.

The voices for sustainability have grown louder post the COVID pandemic, given the growing

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emphasis towards climate-friendly practices across industries. Moreover the disruption of supply chains and trading has also sensitised nations to the need to prepare for future volatility.

a growing number of retailers, brands, suppliers and investors have already started supporting good agriculture practices globally.

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For producer countries like India, it is indubitable that the food sector can play an integral role in enabling a sustainable economic recovery & supporting livelihoods.

Santhosh Jayaram, Partner & Head - Climate Change, Sustainability and CSR Advisory, KPMG, India explains, “Sustainability as a concept entails value enhancement not just for the company, but also for all stakeholders.

These stakeholders include nature and future generations also.”

Farmers could explore techniques

such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP farming); permaculture & vertical farming, which are likely to benefit producers and consumers. Therefore, a growing number of retailers, brands, suppliers & investors have started supporting these practices globally.

One such company in India is Farm Fresh Exports, a leading exporter of fresh fruits and vegetables. Its Director, Rajaram Sangle, notes the benefits brought about by GAP farming for his business, “GAP has helped us increase

our market share by increasing confidence of our customers through establishing traceability. At the same time, we have also educated our farmers regarding unnecessary use of pesticides. This has enabled them to effectively use natural resources and enhance the quality of produce.”

A popular model is the ‘ValueChain Approach’, which integrates principles of sustainability through the entire value chain. All stakeholders are accountable for the judicious use of

resources. Under ‘Circular Economy’, economic growth is decoupled from resources used through reduction & recirculation of natural resources. This promotes circular loops as far as the material used is concerned. Yet another approach is ‘Deforestation-free Supply Chains’, which means protecting forests in producing countries. This helps prevent biodiversity loss, curb greenhouse emissions, and protect rights and livelihoods of communities inhabiting forests.

ZERO WASTE COOKING: MICROMANAGEMENT AT ITS BEST Approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted (2013), as per the FAO. It is estimated that 30% of all food worth US$ 48.3 billion, is thrown away each year in the US. Around 32% of all food purchased per year, i.e. 6.7 million tonnes, is not eaten in the UK while in Australia, food wastage amounts to around US$ 5,000 per capita/year. Post-harvest food losses in Sub-Saharan Africa are estimated to be worth around US$ 4 billion per year. According to another report, around 67 million tonnes of

food is wasted in India every year, valued at around Rs 92,000 crores.

This situation became worse all over the world due to the pandemicrelated supply chain disruptions. The World Economic Forum (WEF) notes

zero waste cooking is the efficient use of every part of an ingredient used in cooking to save costs, reduce wastage and promote a sustainable planet.

that heaps of food, including eggs, milk and onions, were wasted as shuttered restaurants, cafés and canteens led to a drop in demand. Further, in developed nations like the US & the UK, the pandemic-related food wastage occurred mainly as people hoarded food ahead of the pandemic.

Given these stark realities, people are becoming wary in terms of reducing food wastage. One possible gamechanger is the trend of zero waste cooking. It is essentially the efficient use of every part of an ingredient used in cooking in order to save costs, reduce wastage and promote a better and sustainable world in the long term.

While chefs like Anthony Bourdain, Manu Chandra & Anahita Dhondy were already incorporating this idea in their restaurants, zero waste cooking has struck a chord with millennials too.

Now, kitchen scraps are becoming exciting ingredients to experiment with as people undertake the challenge of making discards palatable. Carrot leaves, watermelon peels, fish innards, pork blood, meat bones – all have become tools to give wings to their imagination & creativity and create culinary gems. It is hoped that this sustainable practice is here to stay as the planet collectively works towards a self-sustaining food ecosystem.

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INDUS VIEW

HEALTHY EATING: A CONSCIOUS CHOICE The State of Snacking: 2020 Global Consumer Snacking Trends Study states that as billions of people were home to avoid being infected by the novel coronavirus, there was a global growth in snacking. 9 in 10 global adults (88%) admitted to snacking more (46%) during the pandemic than before it. It also suggests that twothirds believe “the current pandemic will have a long-term impact on how we consume snacks as a society” (65%). It also points out that over half of global adults have relied on snacks for nourishment during the pandemic (54%) & have more control over the portions they eat, because they are snacking at home more often (66%).

This trend is popular in India too.

Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach, notes, what he considers a silver lining during the pandemic: “When no medication, drug, or vaccination worked, we turned to ingredients already in our kitchen.

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Turmeric, garlic, onion, black pepper, fenugreek seeds, tulsi, cumin, ginger – turned out to be the most powerful immunity-boosting foods.” EY’s study confirms that there was a significant rise in demand for packaged food & immunity boosters. It also states that there will be an increased focus on health and wellbeing and higher demand for value brands.

Jasmine Kaur, CEO & Co-Founder – The Green Snack Co., remarks: “We’ve witnessed that consumers have been opting for healthy snacks more often post-COVID, as consumers want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

kitchen ingredients like Turmeric, garlic, onion, black pepper, tulsi, cumin & ginger – turned out to be the most powerful immunity-boosters.

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Kausshal Dugarr, Founder and CEO of Teabox, India’s luxury premium tea brand, adds: “Healthy lifestyle themed teas or wellness are increasingly becoming the norm, as people are extra cautious with what they are having in this post-Covid world.”

Export data substantiates this argument, indicating a rising preference for health/immunity boosting products.

For example, India’s turmeric exports during April-November, 2021 rose by 28.73% YoY reach US$ 161.56 million; green tea exports rose 13.08% YoY from US$ 15.21 million to US$ 17.2 million; currants & gooseberry exports rose 74.9% from US$ 0.16 million to US$ 0.28 million; amaranth & other cereal exports rose 4.22% to US$ 9.6 million; and moringa & other extract exports rose 13.79% to US$ 216.54 million (Department of Commerce).

This could therefore prove to be a promising growth segment for the F&B industry as we move forward.

READY TO EAT FOOD: A MODERN SOLUTION TO A MODERN PROBLEM The global ready meals market size was pegged at US$ 159.15 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% between 2020 & 2027.

Considering the rising preference among customers for packaged food, the scope for the food processing sector is quite vast in domestic and international markets. Furthermore, India has a demographic advantage and a surplus of raw materials.

The Godrej Food Trends 2020 Report traces the rise of convenience foods in modern Indian households. It states that 61.8% of the respondents prefer healthy packaged snacking solutions, 40.2% of them prefer ready

India’s processed food exports in the last three years 0.4 0.35

0.35 0.3 0.25

0.32 0.26

0.28

0.29

0.31

0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

Processed vegetables Processed fruits, juices & nuts Source: APEDA. All figures in US$ billion.

solutions for special diets, & 39.2% of the respondents like traditional Indian ingredient-based meal solutions.

According to consulting firm RedSeer, the ready-to-eat market was estimated at Rs 2,100 crore in 2019, and is projected to reach 4,800 crore by 2024. However, the COVID pandemic may have just given the sector a heavy dose of growth steroids. During the lockdown period in particular, people got tuned to hoarding items, with restaurants shut down and fresh food supply also highly erratic.

Established brands found it difficult to replenish supplies. This created unmet demand at retail shelves, that a number of smaller, hitherto unknown brands were able to successfully fill.

According to FnB News, retailers admitted to witnessing a 60-70% growth in the ready-to-eat and frozen foods space in the initial months post the pandemic. Products in demand included frozen foods like fries, patties, meat and fish products, curries, batter, pastes and desserts.

Exporters also saw a rise in queries for Indian ready-to-eat products.

This gives considerable scope for expansion for Indian ready-to-eat exports. Moreover, the heavy distrust for products from China opens up a potential market opportunity for frozen food items that producers can explore.

India has a wide variety of regional cuisines that need to be propagated even beyond the conventional chicken tikka, rajma masala, chana masala, etc. One such example is Gujarati cuisine, which offers a variety of sweet and savoury vegetarian items, that are both healthy and appealing to the taste buds. There is a need to explore their potential amongst mainstream native consumers of importing markets as well, especially considering that the US$ 15.4 billion global vegan food market is projected to post a healthy CAGR of 9% in the next 5 years.

Indusfood 2021

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INDIAN CUISINE Black Rice (chak-hao)

Untapped potential of Indian ingredients in international markets India has adapted a range of imported ingredients and cuisines through history.

But it’s now time to give Indian native ingredients their due opportunity to shine.

I

t might come as a surprise to you if I say that some of the most popular dishes, both internationally and domestically, are based on ingredients that are not even indigenous to India! A crazy thought isn’t it? Let me cite a few examples.

Tomatoes, one of the core ingredients for a majority of famous Indian curries – was introduced by the Portuguese.

Similarly, potatoes, which have found a place in nearly every dish in any state in India, are a native

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from South America. And even the famous ‘paneer’, the go-to protein for vegetarians and a quintessential part of modern Indian cuisine, was introduced through Turkish-Afghan influences in the 16th century. Cheese, made through the breaking of milk was actually considered to be taboo in ancient India, as it was made through ‘spoiling’ the milk!

At the same time, with its rich biodiversity, India is home to some truly untapped and wonderful ingredients

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that not only open connoisseurs up to dishes with unique flavours, but also boast of incredible health benefits. But unfortunately, they are not much talked about. It’s high time to bring these lovely ingredients and dishes to the limelight! Let me discuss a few

Kachampuli

indigenous ingredients which can bring glory to Indian cuisine in the global arena.

Let’s start with Black Rice (chakhao) from the North-East. Not only is its appearance striking, it has an interesting nutty taste and possesses great health benefits due to its anticarcinogenic properties. Its bran can soothe inflammations arising from allergies and asthma. Typically served during feasts, it is commonly enjoyed in the form of Chak-hao kheer.

Touted as the Indian Super Food, Amaranth (rajgira) is a grain that’s packed with health benefits.

It’s difficult to pinpoint which Indian province it would have originated from, considering how pervasive and versatile an ingredient it is. With a sweet and nutty flavor, you can add it to everything from rotis, parathas, kadis, to pooris and even laddus. It’s high time that chefs work on this indigenous super food rather than running after quinoa, the South American import.

Another interesting ingredient indigenous to India’s Western Ghats, is Kokum - a fruit that is dried and then used. It has a peculiar tart taste unique to it and even imparts a deep red/purple color when mixed in water.

It is generally used as a souring agent in curries and even as a substitute for tamarind. But it can also serve as an interesting ingredient to experiment with dishes. Also, it can be used in marinades and drinks.

Kasundi, the Indian version of mustard sauce, is native to Bengal, used as dip for a variety of dishes. It is more deliciously pungent than any other variety of mustard sauce you can find. Plus, it can be easily substituted in place of English mustard, Dijon mustard or wholegrain mustards used in various international cuisines.

There’s Kachampuli (also known as Malabar Tamarind), the Indian answer to Balsamic vinegar. It imparts a beautiful dark colour to nonvegetarian dishes, with a lip-smacking tang to boot.

Kokum

Amaranth (rajgira)

Nolen Gur

And really who needs Maple syrup when there is the Bengali Nolen gur?

Extracted from the date palm tree during winter, it has its own texture and mellow sweetness. This is why it is a favourite among Bengali sweetloving connoisseurs! It is high time now that this ingredient gets its due share of importance.

India’s long-spanning history and intermingling with other cultures meant that the country has learnt, adopted and spun its own twist onto the ingredients and cuisines that were introduced to it. While it has enriched Indian culture wonderfully, it is time to give the country’s native ingredients their due opportunity to shine. And what better way to promote them than by sharing recipes?

Gourmet chefs & foodies alike have taken to unearthing little known, region specific ingredients, showcasing them through pop-ups and food festivals to celebrate them. Their efforts have led to unearthing of age-old family recipes that would have otherwise been

forgotten. These native ingredients can help in achieving higher interest in local ingredients and resultant demand for sustainable farming.

By spreading this budding appreciation for local ingredients, #VocalForLocal, not only are we bettering our environment but we can also bring to the world a new side to Indian cuisine. These could be exciting times for Indian cuisine and ingredients to conquer the world’s palates.

CHEF ANANYA BANERJEE Chef Ananya has been awarded the best home chef for achieving excellence in Bengali cuisine.

She also has a penchant for painting.

Indusfood 2020

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BUYER SPEAK

We are on course to be among the top 5 retailers Dr Anvar Ameen Chelat, MD, Grand Hyper, talks about how the company is keen to explore possible business partnerships at Indusfood 2021, from key procurement deals to large scale private label signings. : What is Grand Hyper’s current business size, key product segments & market presence? What retail formats have you explored?

Dr Anvar Ameen Chelat: Grand Hyper offers a world class multi-format shopping experience, satisfying 200,000 customers & 100+ nationalities daily across the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman & India, with over US$ 750 million turnover. Its retail formats include fresh stores, express stores, hypermarkets and a grand shopping mall.

Our constantly modernized and rigorously elevated standards of operation make sure that the customers are greeted with best-inclass shopping experience every single time.

Dr Anvar Ameen Chelat MD, Grand Hyper

Grand Hyper has started really well in India with firm steps to meet an exponential growth momentum to roll out 30 stores by 2025.

: What role has digitization played in expanding your customer base?

Dr Anvar Ameen Chelat: Our winning digital strategy relies on being customer-centric and blending digital and physical shopping experiences. For instance, with over 3 million users, our loyalty program, Grand Me, is not only one of the most powerful weapons in our digital arsenal, but also a rich source of insights on user preferences, behaviour trends and shopping habits.

While customers are in store, we track their location with Wi-Fi/bluetoothenabled devices and send personalized recommendations & alerts on deals, etc.

Lastly, from Apple Pay to the region’s best payment solutions, we continue to improvise with innovative payment solutions. : What are your expansion plans in the coming years?

Dr Anvar Ameen Chelat: Grand is well on

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course to be among the top 5 retailers of the region by 2025. Giving a thrust to omni-channel presence and generating an additional e-commerce revenue of US$ 500 million by 2025 are the exciting new challenges that we are working on.

Riding on the enormous possibilities of a well laid out infrastructure, Grand has a seamless frontier to explore with ease. Our R&D team is at work to finalize locations in the African continent to have a mighty presence of at least 50 stores by 2025. The feasibility analysis of Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda is nearing completion to kick-start the proceedings in near term. We have started really well in India with firm steps to meet an exponential growth momentum to roll out 30 stores by the end of 2025. : What are your views on how Indusfood can help capitalize on this potential?

Dr Anvar Ameen Chelat: Within a short span, the organizers of Indusfood have been extremely successful in branding the trade fair as India’s global event. Being a prominent Middle Eastern retail player, we are more than elated to explore the possibilities of a post-COVID world food scenario through this year’s Indusfood event. An event which saw on-the-spot signing of US$ 2.1 bn worth of deals in 2020 is testament of the popularity of the show over past editions. From key procurement deals to large-scale private label signings, we are looking forward to make the most of this year’s stunning event.

INDUS SHOWCASE

MUST HAVES IN

YOUR KITCHEN

Ingredients, flavours, cereals, snacks, sweet treats... these products will add an unmistakable zing to your meals.

SHADANI INDIA PVT. LTD.

Mango Bite

RKG GHEE

Agmark Ghee TRDP HAPPY WORLD PVT LTD

Rusk

SGR (777) FOODS PVT LTD

Madras Sambar Powder

SHRI LAL MAHAL BASMATI RICE GROUP

Basmati Rice

HINDUSTAN HING CO

Hing & Shahi Biryani / Pulao Masala JAGDISH FOOD ZONE PVT LTD

Bhakharwadi

PATIDAR EXPORTS PVT LTD

Samosa

ANMOL INDUSTRIES LTD

Bizko Cookies

SONYA FOODS PVT LTD

Almond Butter

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The IndusFood Initiative

Power Brands, Jan 8-9, 2020

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BUYER SPEAK

Nesto Hypermarket has a 3D model duty, development & dedication Siddique Palollathil, MD, Nesto Hypermarket, talks about the brand promise that the company offers to its customers that sets it apart.

Siddique Palollathil Managing Director Nesto Hypermarket, GCC & India

India plays a major role in producing commodity products in different ranges. The forecast for growth in this market is phenomenal.

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: What is Nesto Group’s current business size, number of outlets, key products, market presence and customers it caters to?

Siddique Palollathil: Nesto Hypermarket has evolved from having modest beginnings to being one of the most renowned names in the region’s retail industry. Currently, it has a chain of over 87 outlets across the UAE, KSA, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait & India. It has established a strong presence not only across multiple countries in the GCC /India, but also in millions of hearts, in just a few years.

All the hypermarkets are located in prime locations across these regions, which will cater to high profile products for local and expatriate customers’.

Nesto Hypermarket has set new benchmarks of accomplishment with its unique business strategy. The brand places an uncompromising emphasis on convenience, accessibility and providing top quality products at competitive prices to customers.

It offers the widest range of quality products at greater value. It offers ‘a complete shopping experience under one roof’. : What is the brand promise that Nesto hypermarkets offers to its customers that sets it apart from the competition?

Siddique Palollathil: NESTO stands for ‘Nimble’, ‘Ethical’, ‘Sturdy’, ‘Trustworthy’ & ‘Optimistic’. To be the leading retail brand across the GCC countries and India, Nesto Hypermarket follows a 3D model - Duty, Development & Dedication - with exemplary leadership skills, synergy in processes & customer-centric approach that delivers

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profitability and growth in a sustainable manner to the stakeholders. : What are your expansion plans in terms of products, number of outlets and new markets?

Siddique Palollathil: Driven by the passion to extend our expertise to new horizons, we have set upon an ambitious expansion plan to open 100 outlets before 2022. We identify locations based on intensive research and local insights. We plan our product and service mix based on the demographics.

Our unique blend of quality, value, choice and service is set to win over the hearts of customers beyond boundaries. : How do you see India as a sourcing hub at present for F&B products, and its potential in the future? Any particular products where you see untapped potential?

Siddique Palollathil: India plays a major role in producing commodity products in different ranges. The forecast for growth in this market is phenomenal. Forecasted high growth products include; rice, pasta and noodles, breakfast cereals, ice cream and frozen desserts, savory snacks, dairy products, edible oils, baby food, processed meat and seafood, processed fruit and vegetables, spreads etc. : What products are you looking to source from Indusfood this year?

Siddique Palollathil: We expect to add fresh food exporters from Indusfood this year as India exports a lot of perishable items each year to the region.

Indusfood 2021

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A world of INDUSFOOD 2021

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7 Photo captions: (1) & (5) Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Hon’ble Minister of State for MSME and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, inaugurated the show with the auspicious lamp lighting and ribbon cutting ceremony.

(2) Hon’ble Minister giving the inaugural speech and (3, 6) visiting the exhibitor pavilions; (4) Development Commissioner MSME, Devendra Kumar Singh; (7) Vivek Agarwal, Chairman, F&B Committee, TPCI and (9) Abhishek Poddar, Vice Chairman, F&B Committee, TPCI

Indusfood 2021

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INDUSFOOD IN ACTION

INDUSFOOD 2021

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Indusfood 2021

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Indus Food’21

INDUSFOOD IN ACTION

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INDUS SHOWCASE

HEALTH ON PLATTER A healthy body is the foundation for a healthy life. Look out for these health-friendly, nutritious & delectable products at Indusfood 2021.

BLG International Hing Pvt. Ltd. Khrishika Hing

Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd. Mixed fruit juice

Allied Natural Product Organic Honey

Candor Foods Pvt Ltd

Chhabee Nutricos Industries Llp

Chocolate Protein Shake

Kracknut

Morriko Pure Foods Pvt. Ltd. Pineapple Bar

Indigene Protein Foods Pvt Ltd

Sareen Impex Pvt. Ltd.

Pink Himalayan Rock Salt

Companion Workout Bar

Orgrain India

Gulkand & Immuni-T Tea

VR Industries (P) LTD

Gluten-free corn flakes

Indusfood 2021

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INDUS BRAND CONNECT

We are working towards

establishing our presence in 50 nations R. P. Gupta, Business Head, TRDP Happy World, talks about the journey of the company from being a small business house for Hukkah-type tobacco to becoming an internationally acclaimed FMCG brand.

: How has TRDP Happy World travelled the journey from a small business house producing Hukkah type tobacco to becoming an international FMCG brand?

R P Gupta: The TRDP (Tej Ram Dharam Pal) group was founded in 1949 by Tej Ram ji and is today one of the leading tobacco manufacturers and exporters of India. Over time, we also entered into the khaini business and then sold it under the brand name “Ganesh”. Thus, over a span of 70 years, the group moved from being a small business house for Hukkah-type tobacco to the smokeless tobacco industry. However, six years ago, the company diversified into world class food products like rusks, noodles and biscuits. These products have numerous internationally acclaimed recognitions like Food Safety System Certification 22000, FDA Food Safety, BRC Global Standards & Halal. They have managed to create a mark not just in the domestic market but also overseas.

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The Indusfood Chronicle

: What were the impediments How have customers across the globe our strategy to win to your business diversification warmed up to these products? What customers is to consistently strategies have helped you establish a from Hukkah-type tobacco? What branding & marketing strategies did deliver premium quality using competitive edge in export markets? you leverage to overcome these?

R P Gupta: Our products are exported world class technology.

R P Gupta: In 2014, after a lot of to 30 countries across the world. These market research, the TRDP group include Australasia, the United Kingdom, decided to launch Mario Rusks & Mario few European countries, the US, Canada, Instant Noodles. These products are manufactured in and the GCC countries. We are working towards establishing its modern factories with latest technologies through our presence in 50 nations. Some of the key products that automation. However, when Mario Instant Noodles was are exported include rusks, instant noodles and biscuits. entering the noodles market 6 years ago, there was a One strategy to get customers to like our products is to controversy surrounding the noodles of another brand, consistently deliver premium quality products using world when the domestic food safety authorities detected some class technology. We also participate in international food objectionable content in their product. exhibitions and market visits & approach embassies and consulates to tap new markets.

This was a setback as it led to a temporary blanket ban and : You have created ‘diet rusks’ for those wanting severe testing of all other types of noodles being sold in the healthier accompaniments to their tea. How do you country until they were deemed fit for human consumption see the healthy snacking trend across the domestic & by competent authorities. However, the ban was lifted international market over the past few years? eventually and with the right branding and marketing R P Gupta: People are becoming conscious about their strategies, coupled with the fine quality of products, we health these days and looking for healthier alternatives overcame this initial hurdle. to what they eat. Taking this fact into consideration, we : What impact did COVID-19 have on your business developed diet rusks. In fact, we were the first ones in the in terms of exports & local consumption? How did you market to come up with this product. Going forward, we tackle the challenges created by the pandemic? expect this trend to persist.

R P Gupta: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the : What product/market expansion opportunities entire world and there is hardly any business that has been you envision for yourself in the global market left untouched by its impact. One of the main problems at present? How do you plan to leverage these that the company faced was that the pandemic led to opportunities in the coming years? a halt of its exports. This was a major dampener to the R P Gupta: We see a lot of untapped export potential in export performance of the company. However, once the the markets of African, South East Asian and European restrictions were eased and exports resumed, we started countries and therefore, we plan to establish our presence in seeing a rise in international demand. these areas. Further, we are also exploring opportunities to : Which key products do you export from India? introduce new innovative products in the market.

Indusfood 2021

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UT PROFILE

Jammu & Kashmir: Exploring the food paradise Jammu & Kashmir offers a veritable treasure trove of exciting opportunities to F&B businesses.

K

Ankita Kar (IRAS) Managing Director, JKTPO

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nown for its exquisite landscapes and rich agro-diversity, Jammu & Kashmir offers a veritable treasure trove of opportunities to F&B businesses.

Foodgrain production has trebled since 1950-51. Rice is a staple crop, while farmers also cultivate corn, millet, pulses, cotton, wheat, barley and numerous temperate fruits & vegetables.

While the Jammu region is home to high quality ‘Basmati’, ‘Rajmash’, Black Caraway (‘zeera’) etc., Kashmir is rich in high quality Saffron, ‘Zeera’, fresh and dry temperate fruits & commercial floriculture. Kashmiri Saffron, in view of its unique aroma and flavour, is recognised as the most expensive spice in the world. It is considered the world’s best spice because of its scientifically proven superior qualities.

In 2018-19, an approximate area of 3.31 lakh hectares was under horticulture production. Apples, pears, peaches, walnuts, almonds, and cherries are among the major exports of J&K. Horticulture products of J&K are well known for their quality and taste in international markets.

The government of J&K has taken a number of capacity building initiatives, such as introduction of improved varieties, mechanization, establishment of fruit mandis, technological support, awareness & publicity and research/ extension etc. Low-cost greenhouse technology and hybrid vegetable production in the open have been given a special thrust. Commercial floriculture and cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants, development of apiculture & mushrooms, on-farm irrigation management and diversification to high

The Indusfood Chronicle

value agriculture have shown substantial growth over the years.

Being the highest producer of temperate fruits, J&K offers entrepreneurs with lucrative opportunities for processing of fruits like apples, cherries, apricots, pears, plums, etc. Businesses can also explore avenues for processing of spices like saffron, red chillies and cumin, dry fruits like walnuts and almonds, as well as cereals like rice, wheat and maize.

The J&K Draft Agriculture, Horticulture & Food Processing Policy aims to attract investments for units in agri-business, food processing and horticulture sectors.

The government of J&K Union Territory has envisaged a number of policy interventions in this regard. It is planned to set up an agri-export facilitation cell to handhold food processing and agribusiness units for exports.

Moreover, benefits under the existing scheme of Government of India viz; Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana shall be applicable to potential investors as per the scheme guidelines. Apart from this, relevant provisions under the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021 shall also be applicable.

J&K is currently processing nearly 1% of apples and 25% of walnut produced and has 3 food parks, ample developed and raw industrial land bank and over 1 lakh MT of CA storage capacity, providing ample investment opportunities. The Union Territory of J&K extends a hearty welcome to interested businesses to explore the rich agro-diversity and synergise with the J&K Government’s endeavours to bring lasting prosperity to its citizens.

INDUS SHOWCASE BIKANERVALA FOODS PVT LTD Crunchy Munchy

CAPITAL VENTURES PVT LTD Parliament Gold Basmati Rice

BADSHAH MASALE Pav Bhaji Masala

POWER BRANDS

AMUL INDIA French Fries

Products may come & go, but a brand lives on in the customer’s mind space. We present the Power Brands participating in Indusfood 2021.

SUHANA - PRAVIN MASALEWALA Meat masala

SUPPLETEK INDUSTRIES PVT LTD Zeeba Basmati Rice

PARLE PRODUCTS PVT LTD Nutricrunch Lite Cracker

VADILAL INDUSTRIES LTD Vadilal Bakery - Kharis and Cookies BIKAJI FOODS INTERNATIONAL LTD Rasgulla

Indusfood 2021

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Indus Brand connect

E-commerce exclusive

brands & brand extensions are offering more choice CK RANGANATHAN, FOUNDER CHAIRMAN, CAVINKARE, OBSERVES A CLEAR SHIFT IN CHANNEL DYNAMICS OF CONSUMPTION TOWARDS E-COMMERCE AND DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MODELS.

: What USPs & marketing strategies of CavinKare helped it become the successful home-grown FMCG brand that it is today?

CK Ranganathan: The genesis of CavinKare, in 1983, was based on choosing the road less taken to help democratize access to personal care products in India. CavinKare quickly emerged as a leading player in the shampoo market in South India. Over the years, the company has expanded its footprint in the personal care space, while also diversifying into F&B categories, both in domestic and international markets.

The core strength of the company is its ability to be rooted to its heritage and traditional values while simultaneously being in vogue with the times. This enables CavinKare to continue to be a brand of choice among consumers. The company leverages adroit marketing strategies to ensure clear product positioning while looking at expanding the product portfolio to meet consumer needs. : What challenges did you face during this journey and how did you overcome them?

CK Ranganathan: One of the key challenges faced in this journey is how to remain the preferred choice for our consumers over the years and into the future. CavinKare effectively tackles this challenge, by continually listening to our consumers, seeking their valuable inputs and by simultaneously anticipating their present and future requirements while maintaining effective communication. : Innovation is one of the core principles of your brand. Given this philosophy, what major F&B innovations have you undertaken over the years?

CK Ranganathan: Innovation is at the heart of CavinKare.

With a dedicated state-of-the-art R&D center, which caters to

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The Indusfood Chronicle

every business segment that we operate in, innovation gets primacy at CavinKare.

CavinKare introduced first-of-its-kind packaged milkshakes in the country, which were not only thick and creamy but also had a long shelf life without refrigeration, thereby creating a new segment of products in that category. A recent example during the pandemic was when CavinKare supplemented its milkshakes range with added Vitamin A, D and Zinc, which are known to support a healthy immune system.

Another topical product that CavinKare recently launched is the farm-to-table “H-Milk” which, for the first time in India, brought to retail shelves, bottled cow milk with no cream removed, sourced directly from farms. It provides the highest quality product at an affordable price point. : Which key products do you export from India?

What are your key target markets?

CK Ranganathan: In the F&B space, some of the key products that we export include milkshakes, fruit juices, pickles, snacks, UHT milk and ghee. With respect to our key target markets, APAC and GCC regions are our mainstay, while we have also focused on key diaspora markets like the US, the UK and countries in the EU. We have received an encouraging response to our products, especially milkshakes and ghee among mainstream consumers in our export markets. : What interesting food and beverage consumption trends are you observing in India and around the globe of late?

CK Ranganathan: Health and hygiene as a category rose to prominence during the pandemic. The demand for readyto-eat (RTE) and ready-to-cook (RTC) products has rapidly increased. Additionally, consumers are looking for products

that provide various health benefits. Another trend that we see is a change in the purchasing habits of rural consumers who are switching towards branded products from loose products.

In global markets as well as in India, there is a clear shift in channel dynamics of consumption towards e-commerce and direct-to-consumer model. This has given rise to e-commerceexclusive brands and brand extensions, giving more choice to consumers. : What product/market expansion opportunities you envision for yourself in the global market in the present situation?

CK Ranganathan: Based on the positive response our products have received across our export markets, we have lined up new products both, in existing categories as well as in

new categories. These products include ready-to-cook (RTC) & ready-to-eat (RTE) range, differentiated dairy offerings as well as organic range of products. With respect to market expansion, we are leveraging the opportunity available today by working with global e-commerce marketplaces to further increase our reach in key target markets.

CK Ranganathan, the Founder Chairman of CavinKare, was born in the coastal town of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. Over the years, CK Ranganathan has been conferred with a multitude of prestigious awards including “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award by the Economic Times in 2004.

He was also the Winner of 2018 “ICIS World Surfactants Awards”. He has very recently also been elected as the Chairman of CII Southern Region for the current year.

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SECTOR FOCUS

An investment in health, nutrition & profitability India is witnessing a steady growth in production and exports of fruits & vegetables. Ongoing efforts to enhance value addition & processing, coupled with the lucrative domestic consumer market, make the sector ripe for investment. by vaishali bharadwaj

A

s per the Food Association of Agriculture (FAO), India is the 2nd largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world.

Diversified agro-climatic conditions have supported the availability of various fruits and vegetables in the country throughout the year.

India is the world’s top producer for fruits like bananas, mangoes, guavas,

40

lemons and papayas. Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh account for 34.1% of the total mango production in India. Banana production is led by Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra, while Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Odisha are the best performing states for papayas. India’s success in fruit production is attributed, in part, to its small towns & districts. For

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instance, some areas with remarkable production of fruits include Nagpur (Maharashtra), Anantpur (Andhra Pradesh), Nalgonda (Telangana) and Baramulla (Jammu & Kashmir).

India is a leading producer of okra and the second largest producer of tomatoes, onions, potatoes, cabbages, brinjals, etc. Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal accounted for around 30% of

Top fruit producing countries 50

44

45 40 35 30 25

30 26 20

17

Banana

3

3 Mexico

6

3

China

Orange

Lemons and limes

Citrus Fruits

Brazil

1

Dominican Republic

India

1 India

India

China

Mango, Mangosteen & Guava

10

China

3 Brazil

3 Indonesia

India

India

Indonesia

7

0

14

11

India

12

Brazil

20 15 10 5

China

A GROWING BOUQUET India is witnessing a steady rise in production of fruits and vegetables over the past few years. Production of vegetables increased from 129 million tonnes during 2008-09 to 184 million tonnes during 2017-18, growing at a CAGR of 4.02%. Similarly, production of fruits rose from 68 million tonnes during 2008-09 to 97 million tonnes during 2017-18. Area under production for fruits witnessed an increase from 6,101 thousand hectares to 6,506 thousand hectares during the same period. For vegetables, area increased from 7,981 thousand hectares to 10,259 thousand hectares.

Data further shows a shift in preference of farmers from food grains to horticulture crops (of which fruits and vegetables are a prominent part). During 2007-08, production of horticulture products was 211.2 million tonnes, while that of foodgrains was 230.8 million tonnes. However, by 2017-18, horticulture production (311.7 million tonnes) overtook food grain production (284.8 million tonnes).

One of the reasons for the growing interest in horticulture products is the short duration of production, which

China

the total production of vegetables in the country in 2018.

Papaya

Source: FAOSTAT, production in million tonnes for 2019

ensures quicker returns. Also, they can be cultivated on small farms, and 86.2% of the farmers in India own small and marginal land holdings.

Demand for these products has also been rising due to improving incomes and increasing consumption, backed by a rise in the trend of eating healthy food and rapid urbanization.

HORTICULTURE EXPORTS With a large base for production of horticulture products, India has strong potential for exports. During 2009-19, exports of India’s horticulture products grew at a CAGR of 4.31% to reach US$ 3.19 billion in 2019. Some of

the major destinations are the UAE, Netherlands, the US & Saudi Arabia.

Some products have outperformed vis-a-vis average export trends of horticulture products. These include onions, potatoes, chilled or fresh vegetables n.e.s., grapes, etc. Various factors have contributed to this growth.

For instance, exports of fresh grapes (ITC Trade Map) have increased from US$ 68.23 million in 2009 to US$ 307.97 million in 2019. Initiatives like agri-export zones and GrapeNet (an online service by APEDA for testing and certification of grapes) have helped improve exports.

Furthermore, improvement in

Top producers of vegetables

Tomato

Onion

Potato

Cabbages & other Brassicas

Cauliflower & Broccoli

Okra

Egypt

India

China

Mali

Nigeria

India

USA

India

China

Russian Federation

India

China

Russian Federation

India

China

USA

India

China

Turkey

India

China

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Brinjal

Source: FAOSTAT, production in million tonnes for 2019

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SECTOR FOCUS India’s exports of fruits & vegetables 1,600

265

600 400 200 0

614

800

798

1,000

1,035

1,200

1,094

1,487

1,400

3 Edible fruits and nuts

Edible vegetables and roots

Exported value in 2009

Preparations of vegetables and fruits

Exported value in 2019

Source: UN Comtrade, figures in US$ million

logistics and infrastructure for exports is also contributing to growth. For instance, the air cargo facility in Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam (set up in 2018) provides farmers in the region desired access to the international market for agro products. In early February 2021, Nagaland also dispatched the first consignment of 1,300 kg air cargo for fruits and vegetables from Dimapur.

Similarly, potato exports increased from US$ 12.8 million in 2009 to US$ 76.02 million in 2019 owing to significant increase in production.

Post-lockdown, according to industry data, exports of fruits surged by 2535%. Banana exports alone grew from 1.01 lakh metric tons in 2018 to 1.95 lakh metric tons in 2020.

Some products in which India has a comparative advantage are shown in table 1. They include cucumbers, gherkins, coconuts, cashewnuts, chickpeas & leguminous vegetables, which offer strong potential for exports and business investment.

NEW VISTAS FOR EXPANSION According to National Accounts Statistics – GoI-2019, value of horticulture crops was Rs 4.69 trillion in 2011-12 at constant prices, which increased to Rs 5.54 trillion in 201718. Share of horticulture crops in

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relation to value of all agricultural crops increased from 39% to 42% during the same period. Productivity of these crops has increased from 8.8 tonnes per hectare in 2001-02 to 12.3 tonnes per hectare in 2018-19.

Value addition holds the key to boosting exports, which promises numerous advantages to stakeholders. Besides enhancing the shelf life of the product & reducing food wastage, value addition leads to higher monetary return for the food & beverage industry. This will also mean higher incomes for farmers as exports and profits increase. A research by ICAR on the value added potential of arid fruits like ber, kachra, ker, khejri pods, amla, pomegranate and carrot shows the possibility of higher profit margins by 40-80%.

Prof Jagdish Sheth, Goizueta School of Business, illustrates, “One product category that comes to mind is pickles. In fact, there are companies in

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India, which package pickles for private labels in America. The second largest pickle packing company worldwide named Global Green, is surprisingly in India. They make a guar pickle and apparently, the western world loves it.”

Value addition of horticulture products is undoubtedly a key focus area for the government and industry in the coming years. India has a liberal FDI policy for the food processing sector, with 100% FDI permitted under the automatic route. Also, 100% FDI is allowed through the government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce with respect to food products manufactured or produced in India. Loans to food & agro-based processing units & cold chains have been classified under agriculture activities for priority sector lending (PSL).

The government announced the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana during 2016-20 to ensure

horticulture Products with high export potential PRODUCT

PRODUCT NAME

TOP IMPORTING MARKETS

71140

Cucumbers and gherkins, provisionally preserved

France, Japan, Belgium, Russian Federation, Spain

71220

Dried onions, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder

Germany, Japan, UK, Indonesia, Canada

200110

Cucumbers and gherkins, prepared or preserved

Canada, Germany, USA, Netherlands, France

80119

Fresh coconuts, whether or not shelled or peeled

Thailand, USA, Malaysia, UAE, Hong Kong

80132

Fresh or dried cashew nuts, shelled

USA, Netherlands, UK, China

71360

Dried, shelled pigeon peas "Cajanus cajan"

USA, UAE, Nepal

70310

Fresh or chilled onions and shallots

China, Bangladesh, USA, Pakistan

71320

Dried, shelled chickpeas "garbanzos"

Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE

71390

Dried, shelled leguminous vegetables

China, Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh

71320

Dried, shelled chickpeas "garbanzos"

Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE

71390

Dried, shelled leguminous vegetables

China, Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh

Source: CATR Analysis (based on revealed comparative advantage) and UN Comtrade

creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. This included setting up of mega food parks, integrated cold chains, creation and expansion of food processing/ preservation capacities, infrastructure for agro-processing clusters and creation of backward and forward linkages. The government has funded 39 Mega Food Parks and so far, 22 are operational. In addition to this, the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme has been introduced to introduce new technology, apart from affordable credit to assist small entrepreneurs penetrate new markets.

FDI in food processing industries was estimated at US$ 10.24 billion between April 2000 and December 2020, accounting for around 2% of total FDI inflows into India. Ministry of Food Processing Industries cleared 20 projects worth Rs 363.4 crore under two central government schemes, for infrastructure projects. These are expected to raise the processing level of agriculture and horticulture produce.

The Union Cabinet announced a new central sector scheme of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. Under this scheme, banks and financial institutions will provide financial support in the form of medium-long term debt financing aggregating to Rs 1 trillion for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets. This will encourage farmers to grow more horticulture products.

In addition to the rich resource base, India is also home to the sixthlargest food and grocery market globally. Therefore, it provides a lucrative market characterised by growing purchasing power and discerning consumer preferences, rising urbanisation and increase in internet penetration. That is indeed the ‘cherry on the cake’ for companies looking to invest in horticulture processing facilities in the country.

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BUYER SPEAK

Indian F&B players are in the best position to compete globally Anil Kumar Verma, COO, Savings Hypermarket, UAE, is optimistic of engaging with suppliers of organic, gluten-free, diabetic, GMO-free products at Indusfood 2021.

Anil Kumar Verma COO, Savings Hypermarket, UAE

I am expecting to meet many suppliers during my first visit to Indusfood and hopefully, there will be a new beginning

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: What changes is the pandemic driving in customer purchase preferences and habits and how are you adapting your business strategy?

Anil Kumar Verma: All businesses are severely impacted and food retail is no exception during this ongoing pandemic.

The COVID situation has transformed the buying habits to a larger extent. Visiting a hypermarket for weekly shopping with the family used to be a social event here in the UAE. However, the scenario has completely changed now. People have adopted online shopping as a new normal now. The current ratio of buying is almost 40% online and the balance 60% is only offline now. Earlier, it used to be around 15% online. We are soon launching our user friendly e-commerce platform to meet the growing demands of customers who want to buy online.

We have expansion plans to launch smaller format stores across the UAE with a clear focus on fresh and organic products. We believe that the ‘eat healthy’ concept is gaining popularity now. People are ready to invest in their health and are more cautious now to consume healthy food even if it costs a little extra. : How does Savings Hypermarket stand out among the competition?

Anil Kumar Verma: Our name, Savings, represents that our customers must save on their purchases due to the very competitive prices compared to other retailers in the market. We have several ‘Saving Shelfs’ in each aisle of our store, which are very popular among customers due to the products and

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prices we offer. Our customers take the benefit of our loyalty programs, wherein they get cashbacks on top of the cheapest prices in our weekly promotions. : How do you see India as a sourcing hub at present for F&B products, and its potential in the future?

Anil Kumar Verma: India is among the top exporters of foodstuffs to the UAE and has very strong ties with the local distributors to supply most of the popular brands. I believe the organic food market is going to pick up now and can see several suppliers who are going to participate in Indusfood with a wide range of organic, gluten free, diabetic, GMO free products. I spoke to some of the suppliers during a virtual meeting organized by TPCI and was impressed with the innovative products developed by several suppliers, which they will showcase in Indusfood now. : What are your views on how Indusfood can help capitalize on this potential?

Anil Kumar Verma: I believe theat Indusfood is a great platform to organize a buyer & seller meet since several years now. Food is something which everyone needs daily, hence this business will never die. Indian suppliers are in the best position to compete with any similar international products worldwide. I am expecting to meet many suppliers during my first visit to Indusfood and hopefully there will be a new beginning of importing some of the niche products to sell in our hypermarket soon.

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HEALTHY BITES

Post-COVID Dietary Changes in India A silver lining from the pandemic was that it not only changed nutritional choices but our entire approach & relationship towards eating.

W

hile a lot of people insist that 2020 was a bad year, that shouldn’t be our perception. There are people who also said that the year was great and a game changer for their health, among other things. What we see, watch & hear becomes our perception, but it may not be true.

There are people who believe that Type 2 diabetes cannot be reversed and, guess what, they will live with it throughout their lives, while it causes more complications & damage within.

And then, there is another group of

46

people who perceive Type 2 diabetes differently. They make lifestyle changes, knowing that it can be reversed and they do overcome it.

While the pandemic was hard for many, a silver lining from it is that it not only changed our nutritional choices but our entire approach & relationship towards eating. This article focuses on some of the major changes that I observed in the eating habits of Indians in the aftermath of COVID-19.

INDIAN SPICES & REMEDIES While immunity became the buzzword,

The IndusF f oo oo dd CC hh rr oo nn ii cc ll ee

it was always the foundation of health for kids, the elderly, and seniors.

We needed a pandemic to realize this! When no medication, drug, or vaccination worked, we came back to the Indian system of medicines and looked for ways to boost and strengthen immunity naturally. And what did we come back to?

Simple foods that were already lying in our kitchen – turmeric, garlic, onion, black pepper, fenugreek seeds, star anise, tulsi, cumin, ginger – turned out to be the most powerful immunityboosting foods. They are scientifically

& medically proven as well.

We have also gotten back to brewing the age-old kadha, powerful Indian superfoods like chyawanprash, giloy, ashwagandha and realized how powerful these ancient remedies are.

Furthermore, a simple diet of diverse foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, legumes – forms the basic fundamental diet required for our health and immunity. Superfoods and powders flying in from abroad might be great to add-on, but this shouldn’t take us away from the basics.

FIXING LOW VITAMIN D3 This vitamin was overlooked for so many years, while it has been medically and scientifically linked to your immunity, skin, bones, hormones and so much more. And now, when all the pharmaceutical drugs didn’t work, we hear about Vitamin D3 all over again, for the right reasons.

No amount of superfood or immunity-boosting powders will ever work if your body doesn’t have the basics it needs to maintain immunity.

People maintain their vitamin D levels at 30 or below 30, which is a clear gateway for every single disease, because low levels of vitamin D mean low immunity, and immunity is the first and last line of defence.

LESS IS MORE We were spoilt for choice before the pandemic. With the lack of options to eat out – restaurant food, café food, variety, etc – we learned how to live simply and be happy and grateful for basics like rice, dal, khichdi, sambhar, rasam, and seasonal vegetables.

We learned how to be okay with eating home-cooked food, which is really the healthiest way of eating.

Did anyone die of depression due to non-availability of restaurant food?

Absolutely not! In fact, so many of us embraced home-cooked food and also learned to cook from scratch.

As a lifestyle change, 80% of our

meals should be home-cooked, because living healthy doesn’t mean following extreme paths, but keeping things in balance. All of us like variety, but before the pandemic, we were overdoing it.

The truth is, we have complicated nutrition way too much – fad diets, too many restrictions, calorie counting, and lots more. While they may be required in specific clinical cases, some of the most effective nutrition plans to build immunity & health are also the simplest.

TRUTH BEHIND FOOD CRAVINGS Often people beat themselves up for indulging in late-night snacks, and for not having self-discipline. During the lockdown, so many people got their eating schedules messed up, indulged in emotional eating, etc. As it turns out, cravings aren’t only about self-discipline. Just as eating healthy is necessary, so is having a fixed time table or schedule around it. The later you are awake at night, the more you trick your body into thinking that it is awake, so it will ask for more food.

So, Googling top fat-burning foods or supplements isn’t the answer to weight loss. Fixing your eating schedule and honouring the Circadian rhythm surely is.

FAMILY AND HYGIENE Throughout the pandemic and lockdown when we were forced to sit at home and work, we learned how to eat meals with family at the table, the way it was always supposed to be. It is not just about what you eat, but also how you eat.

Eating meals with family and having pleasant conversations can have a significant effect on digestion and absorption of food. At the same time, it improves family bonds and relationships.

We also re-learnt the importance of

basic but essential habits of cleaning and washing hands before meals. This was taught to us by our grandparents, but the pandemic reinforced it in a huge way, which is good.

These are some of the learnings from the last year. However, just learning isn’t enough. We have got to be smart, adopt these learnings and bring them back to our lifestyle. Today we are fighting with one virus, and as optimistic as we want to be, who knows what lies ahead of us? We cannot rely on a vaccine to save our life every time.

While the medical world has come up with real breakthrough inventions, we need to get the basics of our dayto-day living right. Times may have changed, but what our body requires to stay healthy hasn’t. If this pandemic doesn’t change us, our mindset, our approach to health and food, then we really don’t know what will.

LUKE COUTINHO

Holistic Lifestyle Coach – Integrative Medicine

Indusfood 2021

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INDUS RISING STARS Jigar Desai

Founder Partner & CEO AIO Ventures LLP (Bitobite)

STARTUPS

OF THE YEAR Dynamic & enterprising, these luminaries are introducing new and innovative products as well as ways of doing business. The rise of these F&B startups is a sign of the promising future that beckons for the industry.

Anand Mani Tripathi

CEO & Founder Aryavarta Organics Pvt. Ltd.

Ravikumar Mangukiya

Owner, Swara Natural Food Products (LNV Exim)

Gautam Dhakad

Founder, Khushi Agro Pvt Ltd

Tanmay Bipin Shah

Founder & MD, Morriko Pure Foods Pvt. Ltd.

Giriraj Agarwal

Founder, Orgrain India

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The Indusfood Chronicle

Sharad Setlem

Co-founder & COO, Indigene Protein Foods Pvt Ltd

STATE PROFILE

Progressive Haryana: Towards new growth horizons Haryana promises unprecedented opportunities for food processing businesses seeking to ramp up production and explore India’s lucrative consumer market.

H

aryana is one of the largest contributors of food grains to India’s central pool with a share of around 15.6%. It has accorded high priority to agriculture & allied sectors since its creation in 1966.

Strong infrastructure facilities, coupled with support for agricultural research and efficient network to disseminate information related to improved farm practices to farmers, have yielded tangible results. It has transformed from being a food deficient to a food surplus State. The main crops of the State include rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, oilseeds, pearl millet, gram and barley. More than 60% export of Basmati Rice from India is contributed by Haryana alone.

Agriculture is one of the biggest employment generators providing jobs to more than 50% of the people in the State. Even in case of industrial employment, share of agriculturebased industries is more than 31%. The ‘Food Processing’ sector is the sunrise sector in the State with more than 3,000 operative food processing units. Two fully functional food parks at Rai and

Saha and 2 Mega Food Parks at Barhi and Rohtak are being set up with state-ofthe-art common infrastructure facilities.

9 cold chain projects are currently being implemented. Out of these, 4 projects have already been completed.

Furthermore, Haryana is also evolving as a frontrunner in the field of horticulture and looking to catalyze growth in other allied activities of agriculture such as fisheries, animal husbandry, forestry and irrigation.

Enhanced incentives have been offered to the sector under the new Haryana Enterprises and Employment Policy-2020.

The policy includes capital subsidy for creation, expansion and diversification of units, developing cold-chain and valueadded infrastructure and developing backward and forward linkages in rural areas and SGST reimbursement amongst other provisions.

New drivers of growth such as agromarketing reforms, establishment of mega & mini food parks, special support to farmer producer organizations (FPOs), backing to agri and food processing cooperatives and promotion of start-up initiatives in this sector have also been given due emphasis by the State.

Haryana has also notified the dedicated ‘Haryana Agri-Business and Food Processing Policy, 2018’ which endeavours to give the required impetus to the food processing industry in the state. Further, by establishing efficient forward and backward linkages, it aims to create greater employment opportunities across the entire food value chain, thus promoting agriculture and rural prosperity.

The State promises unprecedented opportunities for food processing businesses seeking to ramp up production capacities and explore India’s lucrative consumer market.

The content is prepared by Department of Industries & Commerce, Haryana.

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SPOTLIGHT

These leading international brands have worked passionately to promote Indian F&B products across borders.

ARIF PATEL PARDEEP K. SALWAN President/CEO, Apna Foods Imports Co. USA KEY INTERESTS: Consumer foods, Indian ethnic food & snacks, spices

CHANDER SAIN DUDEJA CEO Gulf Processing Industries LLC UAE KEY INTERESTS: Dairy, pulses, grain, flour & sugar, sweets & confectionery

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The Indusfood Chronicle

Director, Calicom Trading 346 (PTY) Ltd SOUTH AFRICA KEY INTERESTS: Rice, dairy products, confectionery, spices & snacks

LUIS ADOLFO POZUECO AGREDA Director Pozuecoy Agreda SPAIN KEY INTERESTS: Oil & oilseeds, pulses, grains, flour & sugar, sweets & confectionery

GOVIND JIVRAJANI MD, Zaika Pay N Smile Supermarket Ltd NIGERIA KEY INTERESTS: Consumer foods, pulses, grains, flour, sugar & spices

DHIRAJ SAHETA General Manager Global Foods Trading Ltd UK KEY INTERESTS: Indian ethnic food & snacks, rice, pulses, grains, branded products, flour & spices

VANDANA JYOTI Managing Director Food Asia Group Ltd. UK KEY INTERESTS: Organic & health food, pulses, grains, flour, sugar & spices

HARESH LALWANI Managing Director Picasso Poland Sp.zo.o.

POLAND KEY INTERESTS: Indian ethnic food & snacks, pulses, grains, flour & sugar

Indusfood 2021

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SPOTLIGHT

Prominent retail chains from major export markets across the world attend the show to explore raw, as well as processed and value added F&B sourcing opportunities from India.

ANIL K VERMA

COO Savings Hypermarket UAE KEY INTERESTS: Indian ethnic food, pulses, grain, flour, sugar & spices

DR ANVAR AMEEN CHELAT MD, Grand Hyper MIDDLE EAST

KEY INTERESTS: Consumer foods, fruits & vegetables, Indian ethnic food & snacks

MATIUDDIN KAZIMI General Manager Finest Limited AFGHANISTAN KEY INTERESTS: Consumer foods, dairy, dry fruits

MIN BAHADUR GURUNG Chairman & MD Bhatbhateni Super Market & Departmental Store Pvt. Ltd. NEPAL KEY INTERESTS: Consumer foods, oil & oil seeds, organic & health food

SIDDIQUE PALOLLATHIL MD, Nesto Hypermarket GCC & INDIA KEY INTERESTS: Consumer foods, health food, ethnic, organic & snacks

POLYAKOV NIKOLAY Director LLC Dobrada BELARUS KEY INTERESTS: Oil & oil seeds, spices, organic & health food

Indusfood 2021

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SPOTLIGHT

Indusfood is earning recognition as the perfect destination for new buyers from around the globe to connect with enterprising F&B suppliers from India.

AMAR PANDEY Director Adval Limited KENYA

KEY INTERESTS: Ethnic food

ALTAF GANDHI

Executive Director Gandhi Foods Inc USA KEY INTERESTS: Ethnic food & snacks, pulses, spices, grains, flour & sugar

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The Indusfood Chronicle

MANISH MADAN Managing Director Swagat s.r.o.

CZECH REP.

KEY INTERESTS: Consumer foods, Indian ethnic food & snacks, pulses, grains, flour & sugar

SHYAM SINGH RAJPUROHIT President Sartaj Co Ltd JAPAN

KEY INTERESTS: Indian ethnic food & snacks, spices, alcoholic beverages

KARAN GOEL

GM, Nippon International General Trading UAE

KEY INTERESTS: Indian ethnic food & snacks, pulses, grains, flour & sugar, spices

MOHINDER SINGH MALIK Director Pick Buy N Save GHANA

KEY INTERESTS: Consumer foods, pulses, grain, flour, spices & sugar

SUNIL I. SHAH

MD, Kamili Packers Limited KENYA

RAM WADHWANI

KEY INTERESTS: Dry fruits, pulses, grains, flour, sugar & spices

General Manager SM International, SA PANAMA KEY INTERESTS: Indian savoury food items, Indian sweets and desserts Indusfood 2021

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SPOTLIGHT

These international representatives play a key role in expanding Indusfood’s outreach.

DR. NEELAM SURESH DAME

AMIT SAWHNEY

Director, Individual, Entrepreneur BELARUS

Director, Nippon Global SPAIN

MOHD HEIZA

Director Misr Vision EGYPT

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The Indusfood Chronicle

ATUL UPADHYAY

Director, Star Overseas RUSSIA

STATE PROFILE

Odisha: A rising star in the food processing industry Home to diverse food crops and backed by government support, the food processing sector of Odisha holds enormous potential, particularly in maize, fruits & vegetables, milk products, rice and cashew.

O

disha, the eighth largest state of India in terms of area, is heavily reliant on farm produce. Its agriculture sector contributes around 30% in the Net State Domestic Product.

The major crops cultivated in the state include rice, pulses, oil seeds, jute, coconut and turmeric. Crops like tea, cotton, groundnut, tur, arhar, and rubber hold great economic importance too.

It has 10 agro-climatic zones with a cropping intensity of 167%. The state leads in production of cashews while its contribution to India’s total rice production is 10%. It was the 10th largest producer of eggs and 12th largest producer of milk in India in 2018-19. In the horticulture sector, vegetable crops contribute around 74% of Odisha’s total production.

Exports of food products from Odisha have risen over the past few years, with the export value increasing from US$ 1.94 million in 2011-12 to US$ 31.79 million in 2019-20. Some of its major exports are non-basmati rice, groundnuts and wheat.

A large number of manufacturing SMEs have been set up in the food and the allied sectors. The state is also home to two mega parks, MITS Mega Food Park and IDCO Mega Sea Food Park.

The potential of agricultutre in the state is huge, with a wide scope of exporting agro products. The government has allowed 100% FDI in food processing through the government approval route for trading and provided exemptions on taxes such as services tax, GST, and income tax.

Further, the government has

launched Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana, 2021, to commercially develop Odisha’s agriculture sector, by building a sturdy base for production of valueadded agro-food products for the domestic and export markets. It supports entrepreneurs in setting up their industrial units. Furthermore, the Odisha government is focussed on utilising the full potential of the food processing sector. In this sector, only 0.6% of the food production was getting processed in 2016, and the government aims to raise this to 25% by 2025.

Odisha Food Processing Policy (OFPP), 2016 was introduced to increase investment flow in the sector, reduce wastage and increase the shelf life.

The government has committed itself to setting up Food Processing Parks at Deogarh, Bhadrak, Bargarh, Nawrangpur, Sambalpur, Ganjam, Bolangir, Kandhamal and Kalahandi and to develop common infrastructure near existing food processing clusters.

In the coming years, this sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11%.

Food processing potential is particularly strong in maize, fruits & vegetables, milk products, rice and cashew.

To encourage value addition, the government provides fiscal and nonfiscal incentives and facilitates credit to the sector. It also encourages enterprises to obtain quality certification in order to make the sector competitive at the national and international levels.

The content is prepared by the MSME Department, Government of Odisha.

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PRODUCT LAUNCHES

OFF TO A FRESH START Novelty is the foundation that keeps the wheels of progress turning.

Watch out for these new product introductions at Indusfood 2021 that are sure to take your taste buds on an unforgettable ride.

PRODUCT: MUTHIYA COMPANY NAME: TALOD FOOD PRODUCTS PVT LTD This popular Gujarati snack is a delight for the calorie conscious. It is the perfect synchrony of sweet and savoury flavours made from wheat flour, salt, sugar, Indian herbs, spices and oil. Steamed dudhi muthia is then sautéed in oil with mustard, sesame seeds and curry leaves.

PRODUCT: GARLIC CORIANDER NAAN BREAD COMPANY NAME: NOBLE DEHYDRATES Noble Dehydrates’ “Garlic Coriander Naan Bread” can be an excellent addition to your next India-themed meal!! Garlic Coriander Naan is a type of flatbread popular in India, South Asia and Indonesia. This culinary delight is baked in a super hot clay tandoor oven where the bread gets puffy, bubbly and truly delicious. The fresh farm-grown garlic & coriander leaves give it a uniquely Indian flavour.

PRODUCT: MULTIPLE COMPANY NAME: MEHROTRA CONSUMER PRODUCTS PVT LTD Organic Tattva presents a new range of Organic Instant Mixes - Rava Dosa, Rice Dosa, Masala Upma, Masala Rava Idli, Vada & Khaman Dhokla. Now, whip up crispy, fragrant and nutritious South Indian dishes in no time.These products are produced in state-of-the-art facilities, using the purest organic ingredients with no preservatives and no pesticides.

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PRODUCT: MINT SAUNF COMPANY NAME: NATURAL CONSUMER CARE MARKETING PVT. LTD. Mint saunf fennel seeds are coated with sugar and help in better digestion. This crunchy, sweet and yummy mouth freshener has a refreshing taste with a cardamom zing.

PRODUCT: WAFRIO TIME

PRODUCT: CAVIN’S TURMERIC LATTE COMPANY NAME: CAVINKARE PVT LTD With a rich blend of real turmeric extracts and cow’s milk, every sip of Cavin’s Turmeric Latte provides you with the time-tested goodness of curcumin, enriched with black pepper and honey!

COMPANY NAME: MY KINGDOM FOODS PVT LTD My Kingdom Foods proudly presents the new top seller with four layers of centerfilled crunchy and crispy wafers stacked and coated with chocolatey goodness.

Wafrio contains wheat milk and soya hypersensitive ingredients best for instant hunger relief. The combo of crisp wafer and delicious melt chocolate enlivens your mood and sparks the lighter side of life.

PRODUCT: QUINOA KHICHDI PORRIDGE COMPANY NAME: VEDANT ORGANICS Organic Quinoa Khichdi Porridge is made from gluten-free organic ingredients such as sprouted quinoa, blend of rice and moong dal along with the flavour of cinnamon, no added preservatives and sugar for babies above 6 months. This product is a good source of micronutrients such as iron, calcium & vitamins like A, D and E. Also it is a good source of protein and fiber, which helps in keeping the digestive system healthy.

PRODUCT: CHAPTE (PAPER BISCUITS) COMPANY NAME: TRDP HAPPY WORLD PVT LTD Feels like paper, tastes like biscuit but too delicious to resist! TRDP has created an innovative product, “MARIO CHAPTE.” The company has leveraged stateof-the-art technology to produce the thinnest biscuit ever. It has replaced the wafers with biscuits, and they’re baked, not fried. Its delightful taste makes ‘sharing’ a tough challenge!

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INDUS SHOWCASE

INNOVATIVE

PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR

“The best way to predict the future is to create it,“ as goes the famous proverb.

These products being exhibited at Indusfood 2021 could well sow the seeds of some exciting F&B trends in the coming years.

Pure Temptation Pvt Ltd Pure Choco Blast Gold

Global Brand Resources Desert Salt

Goeld (Shri Bajrang Alliance Ltd) Goeld Quinoa Patty

G.D. Foods Mfg (I) Pvt Ltd Extra Virgin Olive Oil Green Chilly Pickle

Indigene Protein Foods Pvt Ltd Snore Relief Powder

Indian Traditional Foods FZCO Pongal Chhabee Nutricos Industries LLP Flavoured oats milk

Candor Foods Pvt Ltd Kracknut

Vedant Organics Organic sprouted Ragi porridge

PARTNERING FOR

GROWTH

AFTER OVER A YEAR OF GRAPPLING WITH A GLOBAL CRISIS, IT’S TIME FOR FRESH BEGINNINGS FOR THE INDUSTRY. TPCI ENTERED INTO MOUS WITH SOME KEY NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS AT THE INDUSFOOD SHOW.

(Above) Signing of MoU between TPCI and MUSIAD, Turkey and (below right), signing of MoU between TPCI and JKTPO

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TÊTE-À-TÊTE

@INDUSFOOD B2B ENGAGEMENTS

INDUSFOOD 2021 ENABLED BUSINESS INTERACTIONS FOR OVER A DOZEN INTERNATIONAL BUYER DELEGATIONS WITH STATE & INDUSTRY DELEGATIONS FROM INDIA.

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(1) B2B Session with Odisha state officials/exhibitors (2) Meeting of Bangladesh Agro Processing Association officials with TPCI’s Sectoral Committee on Food Processing Technology (3) B2B Session with J&K state officials/exhibitors (4) B2B Session withTamil Nadu state officials/exhibitors (5) Meeting of Russian delegation on processed food with TPCI’s Sectoral Committee on Food Processing Technology

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OTHER MOUS/MEETINGS

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Signing of MoU between TPCI and Hebron Chamber of Commerce & Industry

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B2B Roundtable with Turkey Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Palestine Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Russian Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Bangladesh Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Nepalese Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Afghanistan Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable/business interaction with Buyers from EU

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B2B Roundtable/business interaction with Buyers from the Middle East

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B2B Roundtable with Uzbekistan buyers Delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Tajikistan Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Belarus Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Lebanon Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Iraqi Buyers delegation

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B2B Roundtable with Egypt Buyers delegation

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indus adda

BUSINESS

BYTES We have come with 38 business delegates representing 35 companies working in the food sector. We would like to thank the Indian government for introducing us to Indusfood. Also, we would like to thank TPCI for organising the show. We are looking to improve relations between Palestinian & Indian companies in the near future.

NUMAN B. SEYOURY Head-Mission, Hebron Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Palestine

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Buyer delegations from across markets including US, UAE, Canada, Russia, Turkey, Oman, Egypt, Nepal, Bangladesh, etc. visited the show. Some of them interacted with the FRESH team to share their experiences at Indusfood 2021.

It is my second visit to Indusfood and I love this event.

In Nepal, we are highly dependent on India in terms of plant and machinery.

Indusfood is a supermarket where you have so many opportunities.

Thank you TPCI for organising Indusfood in the middle of the pandemic, and we are hopeful that IndiaNepal trade will grow.

SUMIT KEDIA Executive Committee Member FNCCI, Nepal

The Indusfood Chronicle

My purpose for visiting Indusfood is to promote black pepper business.

Indusfood is a great effort, given how the pandemic cast a shadow on the F&B industry. It is very well organised.

I congratulate TPCI for the great effort to make Indusfood 2021 happen despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

HOANG THI LEIN Executive Director, International Pepper Community

Thank you TPCI for organizing this event. Such events are very crucial to our business as we get to access new business opportunities and partners. After the pandemic, we want to restart business. We see that a lot of people want to do business with India. Hope that the event will be lucrative for India and all business partners all over the world.

MOHANNAD ARAR Arar Trading Co. LLC, Dubai

Jaleel Distribution is an FMCG group in Dubai, basically into cash and carry, distribution, etc. We look forward to Indusfood as an opportunity to align with partners planning to expand in the Middle East.

Indusfood helps us refresh our relationships with existing clients. We come to know about revolutions in the food industry and the opportunities we can leverage to enhance the experiences of our customers.

PURUSHOTHAMAN M.N GM, Jaleel Distribution, UAE

My impression of Indusfood is that there is a huge variety of products from India, which are very interesting for importing to Peru.

Thank you for this opportunity. Hope to see you again soon.

SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ-MARIATEGUI Director Gerente, B Natural Resources, Peru

We are here at Indusfood to promote Indian cuisine in Mexico. We are meeting a lot of exporters as well as Indian manufacturers, who have collaborated with TPCI to organise this show. We are looking forward to this opportunity, especially since the pandemic impacted many F&B companies in Mexico.

PRADEEP AGARWAL CEO, India Plaza S.A. de C.V., Mexico

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See you at Indusfood

2022

#IndusFood

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