Food & Beverage News

Sahai spells out agenda for FP
11th Plan will give a big push and achieve the goals set for Vision 2015. In an exclusive interview with Sabyasachi Samajdar of Food & Beverage News, Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries

AIFPA wants anomalies in FSSA removed
All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA) was established in the year 1943. At present AIFPA is the premier organisation of the food processors in India and its member industries account for a large percentage of the total production

Keep up the good work
I am glad to know that Food & Beverage News is achieving another milestone and the kind of service, which this magazine has rendered to the food industry, is indeed unparallel.

The problem is scarcity amidst plenty
The right to food is a human right and is a binding obligation, well-established under international law, recognised in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Indian food industry - a profile
India is one of the most interesting and fastest growing markets in Asia. The agriculture sector amounts 25% of the Indian economy. The remaining 75% are divided into 25% industrial sector and 50% service sector.

Chidambaram calls for new farm strategy
Union finance minister P Chidambaram has stressed the need for the adoption of a new development strategy for agriculture And for addressing the needs of the farming community.

Pawar talks tough, asks states to follow cane price norms
Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has asked state governments which fix their own rates for sugarcane, such as Uttar Pradesh, to follow the Centre's guidelines regarding cane prices paid by sugar mills to farmers.

Pawar defends fresh wheat import tender
Pawar has defended the floating of a fresh wheat import tender on government account, even while noting that domestic prices are ruling lower compared to last year.

Put the buck where the mouth is
Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry (CIFTI) was set up by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in 1985 to cater specially to the needs of the food industry and trade.

Solutions to Indian food manufacturers, Hahn way
G C Hahn & Co., present in 34 countries across the globe, is one of the most reliable food industry partners, especially when product development is concerned.

FP industry needs a big push
More talk, less action (or no action) seems to be the fate of food processing, hailed as the sunrise industry in the country.

Hunger-free India - A Mission unfulfilled
It is with introspection and "sadness" that eminent agricultural scientist Dr M S Swaminathan, father of India's Green Revolution and founder chairman of the M.S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai

Growth in RTE food is due to several socio-economic developments
ITC Limited's Foods Division is at the forefront of product development and innovation. The division is represented in four categories: Ready-to-eat (RTE) staples, confectionery and snack foods.

How true is the sugar sector's Catch-22 situation?
The proceeds of an efficiently managed sugar factory are large enough to meet even the comprehensive cost of production. There should be no difficulty for the factories in paying at least the statutory minimum price fixed by the Union Government

Nabard package benefits M'rashtra sugar mills to beat crisis
The sugar industry in Maharashtra is the biggest beneficiary of the series of reliefs announced by the Centre. It has cleared the entire cane arrears due to the growers, and is all set for another bumper crop of 850 lakh tonnes of cane

AP sugar mills seek full decontrol
Private sugar industry in Andhra Pradesh has started chanting the decontrol mantra, just two years ahead of the general elections.

Alcohol industry concerned over dual regulation, multiple taxes
Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) is the apex body of the branded segment of the Indian liquor industry.

Mother Dairy targets $1billion by 2010
Mother Dairy India Ltd, the New-Delhi-based subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board, aims to have yearly revenues of $1 billion (about Rs 3,930 crore) by 2010 up 45.55% from its current annual sales of Rs 2,700 crore.

We need to focus on enhancing domestic consumption of coffee
Coffee scenario in the country is on a positive note and the international arena and domestic consumption are looking up. But there is a need to increase the domestic consumption

Evolution of the low calorie market
The increasing incidence of obesity (as high as 50% amongst adult Americans) and consequent growing calorie consciousness, has sparked off a growing consumer base of low calorie products.

CFTRI chief: Focus on nutrition through innovation
The food and beverage processing sector is vibrant and promising, with a huge market opportunity. However, the R&D in the sector, besides a thrust on cost, must focus on nutrition through innovation since consumer awareness

Biscuit market is huge but per capita consumption is low
Britannia Industries Ltd is a major player in the Indian foods market with leadership position in the Bakery category.

Making poverty history
Two central goals of the economic policy in India at independence were poverty alleviation and self-sufficiency. But India learned the hard way that the two goals were in conflict with each other.

The Fading of a pioneer
In 1888, Lever Brothers, England, exported the first crates of Sunlight soap bars to India, followed by other now famous brands Lifebuoy, Pears, Lux and Vim.

Utterly, Butterly Amul girl turns 40
The Amul moppet turned 40 this year and she was birthed by two dads, ha ha. Two ad men, to be specific. Eustace Fernandes, art director, and Sylvester da Cunha of Advertising and Sales Promotion Company (ASP)

Modernisation of cashew processing and packaging in India
India has an enviable place in history that it evolved the processing of cashews. Cashew (anacardium occidentale) has a delicious kernel covered by a hard shell.

United Spirits closer to the numero uno position
The Indian spirits market is poised to take off in a big way as the economy leaps forward, with greater disposable incomes and overall economic wellness.

Finewinesmore direct to consumer
Finewinesnmore (FWM), which is an F&B management company and one of the distributors and marketers of imported wines and spirits in India, offers a wide bouquet of wines from its 130 labels, some of which are exclusive.

VIJAY MALLYA India's showman par excellence
All work and no play makes Vijay a dull boy. So, don't be fooled by all those pictures of skimpily clad models on Vijay Mallya's yatcht, modelling for the Kingfisher calendar.

MMTC floats wheat tender
PSU trading company MMTC has floated a global tender to buy up to 3.5 lakh tonnes of wheat from overseas markets to beef up the government's buffer stock.

Rs 9,000 cr more for fertilizer subsidy
The government plans to provide an additional Rs 9,000 crore as fertiliser subsidy this year, taking the overall outgo on account of the subsidy in 2007-08 to Rs 46,451 crore.

KISHORE BIYANI The Sultan of Retail
At the Retail Leadership Summit held on the occasion of the first ever India International Retail Convention (IIRC) 2007 in September in Mumbai, Kishore Biyani, Chief Executive Officer of the Future Group

RAMESH CHAUHAN Man with the Mida's touch
The principal sponsor at the concurrent conference programme at this year's Annapoorna - World of Food India International Exhibition and Conference for the Food and Beverage Industry is Bisleri, the Indian market leader in mineral water.

Fortified eggs to hit market soon
After salt, sugar and wheat, it is the turn of the egg to get fortified. There will be eggs, brown and white, fortified with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acid at the food and vegetable bazaars soon.

PVR aligns with Amit Burman for food courts
Theatre chain PVR has taken up 30% stake in a joint venture with Amit Burman, one of the promoters of the Dabur group, and plans to set up food courts.

RAJEEV SAMANT Spreading the taste of Indian wine
Rajeev Samant, one of India's leading young entrepreneurs, loves music. Although I haven't heard him myself, am told he's quite the virtuoso at tinkling the ivories. But then, it's all in the genes, isn't it.

New hygiene norms for food soon
Poultry, egg and egg products, fresh fruits, and vegetable will soon be subjected to new hygienic standards in global trade.