Nestlé has also gone down the innovation route with the launch of its Cool Pro beverage dispenser. Speaking to Caterer Middle East, Nestlé Middle East FZE head of beverages Nestlé Professional Ahmad Popal said: “Cool Pro is a solution that allows you to dispense high quality fresh-tasting products at the push of a button. So drinks like lemonade and ice coffee that would typically require a lot of time and skill to prepare can now be served at high speed so it’s ideal for QSRs or pool bars. We provide the full solution which includes the machine, the product and the after sales service. So as an operator so never have to worry about delivering a beverage.”
More innovations came from Fabbri 1905. The Italian specialist producer of bases and ingredients for gelato, yoghurt and bakery products launched a line of animal-free ingredients for cakes and jams. “Some of the customers that we have follow a certain food consumption dictated by either a religious belief, such as halal food, or by a moral philosophy, such as vegan food,” declared Nicola Fabbri, a fourth-generation member of the company’s founding family who currently runs the company alongside three other family members.
He said: “Our newest innovations include our line of vegan ingredients, especially the vegan base to make a proper cake — meaning the sponge cake or the custard cake. This base substitutes all the other ingredients which have any kind of animal ingredient. This allows customers to have a fantastic Sacher Torte, for instance, but which is completely vegan. There is no difference in taste and quality and richness of the food.” Fabbri added: “It’s a growing niche everywhere and being a market leader, you always have to be one step ahead of the market demand, so we worked very heavily on this line.”
Wellness
More than a trend, the wellness sector is thriving and shows no signs of slowing down. Advantage Austria project manager — international trade fairs Franz Ernstbrunner said: “Our small and medium-sized companies are strong and they have new wellness, organic and health products and all different kinds of aspects including sugar-free and fat-free.”
When asked about the reason behind their growth despite the higher cost of the products, Ernstbrunner explained: “People like to have good products for their families and for their children. Maybe they spend more because our products are not cheap but the variety and the innovations are very good.”
Another country riding the wellness wave was Peru as the country reinforced its superfood credentials during Gulfood 2017 with the launch of its “Superfoods Peru” brand. The campaign celebrates Peru’s status as one of the world’s top producer of superfoods highlighting the quality, variety and benefits of the country’s food offering. Peru has a variety of agricultural produce that is synonymous with healthy living.
“Six years ago, when we opened the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, it was so difficult for me to explain what quinoa was,” Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru director Alvaro Silva-Santisteban F. said. “However, with today’s consumers seeking healthier choices and new culinary experiences, we see strong export potential for Peruvian produce. Our government anticipates export volumes for superfoods will triple to US$15 billion in the medium term as a result of the campaign. We also expect to see up to 15% annual growth in cropland dedicated to superfoods,” he added.
| Advertisement |