Food Marketing & Technology - India July 2019 | Page 55

www.fmtmagazine.in What is the key driving forcebehind innovation for bakery industry? This industry has seen development of technological expertise and also tremendous entrepreneurship development. There have been significant improvements in baking equipment. Though, imported automatic/semi-automatic equipment continued to grow, but same Indian bakery equipment manufacturers are competitively providing most innovative equipment to bakers. These are most visible technologies in bakeries in India. Moreover, new technology has resulted in safe and economic bakery products. Throw some light on the current trends witnessed by the bakery industry. The health and nutrition segment of bakeries and patisseries products has emerged significantly. The demand for gluten-free, sugar-free, low sodium and protein bakery products has increased three folds in last five years. What are the alternatives being used in place of controversial additives in the bakery? Provide some suitable examples. There are several innovative and approved ingredients that are available. I feel some ingredients become controversial due to lack of education on the usage and product profile. It is important that bakers should be educated on usage and functionality of various ingredients. What is the impact of modern retail outlets on the growth of bakery goods? The organized Retail Bakeries have seen significant growth over last few years. Key branded bakeries and retail bakery chains have significantly expanded their reach by opening around 1,500 new Retail Bakery Stores, offering variety bakery products from minimum 30 products to 300 products. The Modern Retail Outlets have also emerged a next level of success for bakery products. They are paly playing role in promoting big brands and regional brands by making available a variety of products. Wholesome basic ready for consumption baked products are available at affordable prices in these retails. Value added products for taste and richness, and indulgence category goods are now being offered at various retailers. In addition, live baking counters in many of modern retail has also been growing, as consumers want fresh and healthy bakery products. Tell us about the role of bakeries and bakery cafés in India. Are these well-accepted by Indian consumers? Indian bakery industry has been labour intensive over last many years. With change in aspiration and education level, bakery industry is striving hard for low cost labour who are usually trained during jobs or work. The bakery industry, specially small and micro bakery industry need to be educated that they should hire certified and skilled bakers to ensure production of quality and safe products. At the same time it is necessary to alleviate the problem of a shortage of trained professionals by training and certifying bakers/chefs. What is the impact of rising prices of flour (maida), the major ingredient, and other raw materials such as oil, fat and eggs on the retail prices and sales performance? The rising prices of flour and major ingredients will continue to be key a issue for production of reasonable and saleable bakery products. The most critical is 18% GST on most consuming bakery products in comparision of 5% GST on halwai products. The Indian Bakers Federation has been advocating on behalf of all bakery fraternity with the Governent of India. Though sourcing of quality flour and key ingredients is a key challenge for bakers to produce sustainable and healthy baked products. Bakers are ready to pay the dividend price, but availability of quality raw material needs to be ensured. Food Marketing & Technology 55 July 2019 There is an immense growth and potential in the bakery industry. Where do you see the industry five years from now? a. Baked products will play an important role in providing wholesome and healthy ,easily available, economic, hygienically packed, ready to eat foods for all segments of population. b. Healthy bakery products market is expected to grow significantly over the years. c. Bakery products have been catching up with the popularity trend as the lifestyle of Indians is rapidly changing. It will continue to grow at 12-15% over the next five years. d. Frozen dough and frozen bakery products are expected to grow by 10% in the next five years. e. The knowledge and usage of ingredients is very low with Indian bakers. Though, current scenario and availabity of world standard bakery institute, will play big role in education of bakers. f. Though, Sourcing of quality flour and key ingredients will remain challenge for bakers, as only a few flour mills are able to produce and supply specialty flours to bakers. g. Bakers will need to obtain a critical mass of proficiency that will allow them to create new products, improve the quality of existing products, produce produce baked products at lowest possible costs. h. Bakers will need to work on availablity of more nutritious and others more indulgent to match with world quality standards i. Food Safety and Standard Authoirty of India (FSSAI) has proposed to limit the maximum amount of trans fat content in vegetable oils, vegetable fat and hydrogenated vegetable oil to 2 per cent by weight as part of its goal to make India trans fat-free by 2022. It will further lead to healthy bakery products. Bakers will need to ensure that bakery products are trans-fat-free.