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Bringing manufacturers & suppliers directly to Kerala
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Saturday, 24 May, 2008, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Meghanadan S, Mumbai
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FoodTech Kerala is an exhibition on international food and hotel equipment. The target of the event is to provide an opportunity to firms/companies from processed food and hospitality industry and other allied sub sectors like food manufacturers, agriculture companies or processing firms to showcase their products to the prospective customers. Apart from this there would also be seminars and meetings for buyers and sellers to facilitate business associations between them
The second edition of FoodTech 2008 is being organised by India Exhibition & Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd (IECS) at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Kadavanthra at Kochi in Kerala from May 30 to June 1. At the same time another event HotelTech 2008, Kerala, is also being organised by IECS. It is being endorsed and supported by Association of Approved & Classified Hotel of Kerala and Kerala Hotels & Restaurants Manufacturers Association (KHRA).
IECS, in association with South India Culinary Association (SICA), is also organising the Culinary Challenge 2008 as part of FoodTech 2008.
FoodTech2008, an exposition exclusive for the booming food and hotel industry, is being held in Kerala at a time when the food processing and tourism sectors are witnessing a record boom. The exposition will showcase the best in food and beverages, ingredients, additives, spices, processing/packaging equipment, equipment for bakers, restaurants and supermarkets, hotel supplies and other services.
The average Keralite is a high spender on food and processed food products. Ninety per cent of the 31 million population are non-vegetarians. During the last 6 months, Kerala has witnessed a boom in the tourism industry with the increased arrival of tourists. There has been a steady increase in arrivals of foreign (30% in the last quarter of 2006) and domestic tourists (6 million in 2005) and higher investments in hotel properties by national and international players. This has resulted in many international and local hotel chains in new hotel properties and upgrading existing ones.
The bakery industry has also been witnessing a boom, with a large number of bakery units diversifying into food retailing business.
With an estimated 2 million non resident Keralites fuelling consumerism among relatives back home and large format infrastructure projects like Vallarpadam Container Terminal, Marina Project, International Cruise Terminal, LNG Terminal & International Ship Repair Yard round the corner, Cochin is gripped by a virtual mega projects mania. Mall construction is going on at a hectic pace, with some of the leading retail chains announcing plans to open outlets. Holiday Inn has started construction of their 5-Star Hotel, while Muthoot Group plans to set up a Rs 150 crore 5-Star Hotel at Kochi, Kerala's commercial hub. According to estimates, the total mall based shopping area in Kochi city alone is expected to be 1.2 million sq. ft.
"Kerala is home to five of India's export promotion/ commodity boards including Spices Board, Coconut Development Board, Cashew Export Promotion Council, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and Coir Board," says Joseph Kuriacose, director, India Exhibition & Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd. The state has the largest penetration of bakery in India and according to BAKE's (Bakers Association of Kerala) projection there are more than 1,00,000 bakery outlets in Kerala. Kerala produces the lion's share of various food products like coconut, cashew, seafood, and tea, he added.
The presence of food processors and suppliers, retailers, wholesalers and agents, supermarkets and retail chain stores, export houses, international buyers and Importers, hotels, restaurants, bakers, resort, houseboat and plantation owners would give a new dimension to the entire sector bringing the global spice chest and international food factory on a single platform.
"The event will serve the food and hospitality sector in Kerala," Kuriacose says on the objective behind organising FoodTech 2008, "so that buyers can visit and see the various products and services related to their sector in Kerala. We are making the sourcing and identifying of suppliers easier for the buyers, by bringing the manufacturers and suppliers directly to Kerala. More than 60-70% of the products are currently being brought from outside the state in this sector."
The exposition is being organised with the support and endorsement of The Classified & Approved Hotels Association of Kerala, Kerala Hotels & Restaurant Association (KHRA), Bakers Association of Kerala (BAKE) and Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (ICCI). KHRA, the 100,000 strong premier body of the hotel sector in the State, BAKE, the nodal agency representing the bakers and Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, one of the oldest industry associations in the country and the foremost body for exporters in the state, will open up a two way channel for the food and hotel industry.
Leading players like Hindustan Unilever, WinterHalter India, IFB Industries, Siemens, Nestle, Bunge India, Man Machine India etc are participating in the exposition. IECS aims to establish FoodTech Kerala as the leading platform for trade in the related sectors and will be an annual event for food and processing sector in this state.
Visitor profile
The targeted visitors at FoodTech Kerala would be delegates from the whole food and hospitality industry which include:
■ Caterers & food servers
■ Bakery
■ Importer/distributor/ wholesaler
■ F&B managers/executive chefs
■ Retailer/department store
■ Interior design/furnishing consultant
■ Food service agencies
■ Hotels/resort management
■ Supermarkets/grocery & convenience store
■ Restaurant/bar/club/cafe management
Cullinary challenge
The Culinary Challenge is organised for the first time in Kerala and renowned Chefs from Kerala, Chennai and Bangalore are specially invited by the South India Culinary Association (SICA). Alan Palmer, World Renowned Chef & Member of the World Association of Chef's Societies (WACS) will be the Chief Judge for the event.
"FoodTech and HotelTech will be the platform for leading suppliers of food processing equipments and the hospitality sector. The event will witness around 60 exhibitors participating from India, UAE, Sri Lanka and Thailand and is expected to have around 3,500 odd business visitors. The theme for FoodTech 2008 is 'Coconut Oil', the edible oil from Kerala. The exhibition will have seminars consisting of four sessions spread across the first two days. Also there will be session on benefits and usage of coconut oil," informs Rizwan Khan, assistant project manager, IECS. Last year HotelTech was part of FoodTech but after the overwhelming response this year we decided to organise HotelTech as a separate event, Khan added.
FoodTech & HotelTech will be an ideal networking platform for national and international food processing equipment and hotel suppliers to establish their presence in Kerala.
The event aims to give exhibitors an excellent opportunity to effectively reach out to target clients. Whether a food manufacturer, an agriculture company or a processing firm, FoodTech offers exhibitors a platform not only to boost its presence in the market but also to strongly attract the interest of major customer.
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