Food & Beverage News: F&B Specials - An organised show for unorganised sector

The Indian bakery industry is the largest among the processed food industries. The current estimated market is about Rs 3,295 crore and is expected to cross Rs 4,308 crore by 2012.

At present, the bread & biscuit industry accounts for 82% of the total bakery products in the country. To represent this gigantic processed food segment – Hospitality First, one of the leading business consultants for hospitality & food service industries in India, has organised the fourth edition of “Bakery Business 2009,” the consecrated event for bakery sector. The event will take place on November 11-13, 2009, at World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.

The fourth edition will get support from the country's leading bakery associations – All India Bread Manufacturers Association (Aibma), the Society of Indian Bakers, Tamil Nadu Bakers Federation, the Gujarat State Bakers Federation (GSBF), the Indian Bakers Association, All Goa Association of Bakers and Bombay Bakers Association.

At present, the annual production of bakery products which include bread, biscuits, pastries, cakes, buns and rusk, most of which are in the unorganised sector, is estimated to be in excess of 3 million tonnes. The production of bread and biscuits in the country both in the organised and unorganised sectors is estimated to be around 2.6 million tonnes. Of the total production of bread and biscuits, only 35% is produced in the organised sector and the remaining is manufactured in the unorganised sector.

Broadly, the bakery market is divided into the rural market and the urban market. The market share is about 22.5% (rural) and 77.5% (urban) in the country. Further, the market can be segmented into cakes, pastries and unpackaged biscuits. The unpackaged biscuits market is valued at Rs 2,071 with a CAGR of 5%, whereas the cake and pastries market growing at 10% (CAGR) and valued at Rs 1,088 crore and Rs 136 crore respectively.

“Today, bakery is considered as one of the largest among the food processing sectors in India and witnessing significant growth. What set us thinking is the sheer absence of a dynamic and professional platform that would showcase the technological advancements and consumer changes transforming the industry.

Based on our research and years of industry experience in staging professional business shows in the hospitality & foodservice sectors, we decided to respond and fulfill this gap. Through “Bakery Business” we broke new ground in 2006 in Pune,” Pradeep Gopalan, director, Hospitality First, told F&B News in an exclusive interview.

The three-day exhibition will highlight bakery equipment, ingredients, packaging machinery & solutions, refrigerated display, coffee machines, chocolates and other bakery technology.

After 3 successful editions, the organisers decided to take Bakery Business to Mumbai. According to the organisers, Mumbai is the perfect venue to bake a great business idea. It is the commercial capital of India with the highest density of bakeries in the country. The potent mix of new age entrepreneurs, internationally successful concepts and an unparalleled growth in retail trade are a few other reasons to bring the show in Mumbai. Says Binu Varghese, director – business development and marketing, AB Mauri, “The Mumbai bakery market is one of the priority markets for Maharashtra/India and it’s very important for us to be present in this market. With Bakery Business now moving to Mumbai from Pune it will be very useful for the promotion of our products.”

About 100 exhibitors and 6,500 trade visitors participated in the last edition of the event. Gopalan says, “The bakery & confectionery sector is growing swiftly. Many international manufacturers are looking to enter this sector. We are expecting over 65 national exhibitors, including the companies representing international brands and more than 4,000 trade visitors.” The fourth edition will also encompass contemporary display of futuristic bakery technology and ingredients, interactive programmes, live demonstrations, educative and business seminars and a professional artistic pastry & bread competition.

“With Bakery Business 2009, we are attempting to establish a genuine, professional, business platform, where the industry has access to the latest in bakery technology and ingredients. At the same time the event will allow participants to network transact business and upgrade skills through the various knowledge seminars, bakery theatres, technical presentations and demonstrations that have been planned. This show will provide immense benefit to suppliers and help them reach existing, emerging and unorganised markets,” Gopalan added.

India Bakery & Pastry Challenge:
According to www.bakerybusiness.net, the organisers’ official website – India Bakery & Pastry Challenge (IBPC) is a professional bakery and pastry display competition to be organised at the national level, involving senior and apprentice chefs from hotels and bakery/pastry chains.

The first edition of IBPC is being staged alongside the fourth edition of Bakery Business 2009 on November 12-13, 2009. IBPC is being organised by Hospitality First under the close guidance and technical partnership from the industry's most premier culinary body – the Western India Culinary Association (WICA).

WICA is represented by some of the industry's most senior and internationally renowned bakery & pastry professionals. “The primary objective of IBPC 2009 is to establish a professional platform where bakery & pastry professionals across India could display their individual and combined skills and creativity, learn and share experiences, partner and network in a purely business like and competitive environment,” the organisers said.

Professionals and experts from wholesale bakery plants, retail outlets/malls/hypermarkets, in-house supermarket bakeries, catering companies, restaurants/hotels, resorts & country clubs, cafes, artisan bakeries, home bakers, snack producers, biscuit & cookie producers, sweetmeat marts & shops, cash & carry stores, convenience stores and distributors/importers of food & drinks are likely to participate in the show.

For more information contact:
Pradeep Gopalan
director – Hospitality First
(M) - 9821162231/
022 2495 5356/76
E-mail: pradeep@hospitalityfirst.in