India is expected to Import 5mn ton of sugar

With low and below average rain fall , Sugar output from India would be low from its earlier sugar productions . This short fall has prompted government of India to Import sugar . This definitely give reason for worry to bakery owners as sugar prices would firm up in coming months as festive seasons would start from next months . Where demands for sweets , confectionery and food items would shoot up drastically .

Read Article on
http://www.flex-news-food.com/pages/25123/India/Sugar/india-import-million-tons-sugar-0910.html

China enacts rules for Food safety act

China which implemented new Food safety law from 1st of June in continuation Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has approved the Rule on the Implementation of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China. China which has major recalls on milk product due to melamine contamination . Many children died and were afffected by melamine present in powdered milk product .Chinese govt then decided to enact a tougher food safety laws.

Read Article on
http://www.chinacsr.com/en/2009/07/27/5763-china-enacts-rules-for-implementing-food-safety-law/

Indian Major food brands

Indian being a predominant agri based economy with vast food resources has no reason why it should not be a Major force in Internation food business and we would have Indian equivalents of Unilever , Kraft and Kellogg's .With proper utilisation technology , packaging and ingredients we can have world class food processing industry in India .


Here are the major Indian Major Food Companies in different categories

Britannia Industries - Bakery products , Dairy products, cakes , bread and rusk
Dabur - Health product s , Honey ,Fruit Juices , Cooking paste
Godrej Foods - Vegetable Oils , Tomatoes paste , Soya beverages
Amul - Ice cream , Dairy products , chocolates
Mother Diary - Frozen vegetables ,Dhara vegetable oil , Diary products , Ice creams
Parle - Bakery products , Confectionery , Fruit juices
ITC - Bakery products , Packaged Flour , Ready to eat foods ,Snacks
Marico - Vegetable Oil ,Jams
Haldi ram- Snacks , sweets
Bikaneriwala- Snacks , sweets
VH Group- Poultry
UB Group - Beverages
Mohan Meakins- Breakfast cereals , Corn flakes , Beverages
MTR foods- Ready to eat foods
MDH - Spices
Punjab Markfed-Canned Food , Vegetable , Rice
Rasna - Fruit juices
Milk Food - Dairy products
Heritage Food-Dairy products , Ice creams
Modern Dairies- Dairy products
Dynamix - Dairy Products
Vista Processed Foods - Frozen chicken and Vegetables

We would give details in coming blog posts on categories

Food Safety and Standard Authority Of India - Role s and Resposibility

The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI)has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI has been created for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

Highlights of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006
Various central Acts like

• Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
• Fruit Products Order , 1955,
• Meat Food Products Order , 1973,
• Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
• Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation)Order 1988,
• Solvent Extracted Oil,
• De- Oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order,1967
• Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992

etc will be repealed after commencement of FSS Act, 2006.
The Act also aims to establish a single reference point for all matters relating to food safety and standards, by moving from multi- level, multi- departmental control to a single line of command. To this effect, the Act establishes an independent statutory authority – the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India with head office at Delhi. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the State Food Safety Authorities shall enforce various provisions of the Act.

Duties and functions of the Authority
FSSAI has been mandated by the FSS Act, 2006 for performing the following functions:

• Framing of Regulations to lay down the Standards and guidelines in relation to articles of food and specifying appropriate system of enforcing various standards thus notified.
• Laying down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies engaged in certification of food safety management system for food businesses.
• Laying down procedure and guidelines for accreditation of laboratories and notification of the accredited laboratories.
• To provide scientific advice and technical support to Central Government and State Governments in the matters of framing the policy and rules in areas which have a direct or indirect bearing of food safety and nutrition .
• Collect and collate date regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, residues of various, contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of rapid alert system.
• Creating an information network across the country so that the public, consumers, Panchayats etc receive rapid, reliable and objective information about food safety and issues of concern.
  Provide training programmes for persons who are involved or intend to get involved in food businesses.
• Contribute to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards.
• Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.

Bakery manufacturers need to follow up with food authority for labelling , adultrants , additives and their permissible levels etc .

Food laws in India

Numerous laws has been stipulated by ministry of food and related ministry to check consumer interest and stop malpractices by manufacturers
Following are the acts inacted by govt of India

• Food Safety and Standards Act , 2006
• Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) 1954 and Rules (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare).
• The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976, and Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977
• Agriculture Produce (Grading & Marking) Act (Ministry of Rural Development).
• Essential Commodities Act, 1955(Ministry of Food & Consumer Affairs).
• Fruit Products Order (FPO), 1995.
• Meat Food Products Order, 1973 (MFPO).
• Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992.
• The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992 and Rules 1993.
• The Insecticide Act, 1968.
• Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963.
• Environment Protection Act, 1986.
• Pollution Control (Ministry of Environment and Forests).
• Industrial Licenses. • BIS Act, 1986.
• VOP (Control) Order – 1947.
• SEO (Control) Order -1967.

With need to stream line various agencies and laws Indian parliament passed a bill of Food safety and standards Act , 2006 .Single authority has been constituted for handling food related issues . Above mentioned acts ( few related to food safety )will remain enforced till notifications are issued by Food safety and standards authority of India .( FSSAI)

Please check the status on acts and regulation on the official site of Food safety and standards authority of India ( FSSAI)

Apart from above food related laws Bakeries in India have to adhere and following laws for their smooth business.In addition to Commercial licenses and registration following are major laws to be followed by bakeries

Factories Act ( Occupational related issues )

Boiler Act ( Safety )

Air and Water pollution Act ( Pollution Control )

Petroleum Act ( Storage of ldo , hsd , and lpg in factory premises)

Sugar prices to increase in coming months

Sugar which is a major ingredients in bakery products along with flour and fat hence any price increas impacts bakery manufacturers .Its prices varies due to numerous factor .

Sugar prices would firm up in coming months up due following developments in International market

• Drop in sugar production in Brazil , Mexico and USA .


• Monsoon Failure in India where India is one of largest consumer of sugar impacting international sugar price.


• Imports by India to cover deficit sugar production .

Current Price of refined sugar in market is around Rs 25- 27/kg and is expected to cross Rs 30/- per kg mark by next month as festival season are to start from next month. Bakery manufacturers have to cover their stocks with forward buying contracts and have to keep track on the developments .
Read Article on ET
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Market-News/Sugar-stocks-running-on-empty/articleshow/4791384.cms

Indian Govt ban wheat export

Wheat exports are banned for now . Indian government has declared taking in the view about poor mansoon and its effect on domestic prices even when International wheat prices are lower than Indian market . Low rains can reduce wheat output aand in turn increase the prices .Bakery manufacturers have to keep a close watch on these developments to cover their cost of production as wheat flour covers almost 60-70% of raw material cost

Read Complete article
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-India-Monsoon-blues-Wheat-export-licences-scrapped/articleshow/4774253.cms

Internet Online advertisement and marketing-Retail bakery chain

A news article which drew my attention was that big three of american retail food chain namely
StarBuck , Mcdonalds and Subway rely heavily on internet social media platform like My space , Face book and Twitter for advertisement ,customer service and brand promotion .

Indian Bakery retail chain has to adopt these sales techniques to garner customer loyalties and see upswing on their toplines .

Read this article
http://capico.blogspot.com/2009/07/starbucks-subway-and-mcdonalds-were.html

India's Major Biscuit Brands

With lots of enquiries and searches for major brands of biscuit in India, we checked from market and their portals to list few of them . Find few major brands of biscuit in India .The Majors brands are from Britannia , Parle , ITC foods , Surya Foods



Britannia s

Good Day,Tiger,Marie Gold,50- 50,Choco -chips,Choco - nuts,Little Heart,Nutri Choice,Bourbon
Nice Time,Pure Magic,Milk Bikis,Jim -Jam,Cream Treats,Time Pass,Digestive


Parles

Parle G ,krack Jack,Monaco,Hide n Seek,Magix,Kreames,20 -20,Nimkin,Chox,Digestive,Marie,
Milk Shakti


ITC FOODS (SUNFEAST)

Milky magic,Marie,Golden Bakery,Dark Fantasy,Glucose,Dream Cream,Snacky,Sweet n Salt,Nice,Vita,Special


Surya Foods ( PRIYA GOLD )
Butter Bite,Classic cream,Kids Cream,Bourbon,Marie Lite,Big Boss ,Magic Gold,CNC,Cheese Cracker,Snacks Zig Zag,Don,Coconut Crunch,Cheez Bit,Chat Patta

Other Regional brands