Page 24 - Food & Drink Magazine April 2019

SHOW WRAP
Trending in Taiwan
In June, at the Food Taipei international food show, many of Taiwan’s food machinery makers and manufacturers will be looking to extend their reach in international markets, including Australia. If the local trends are any indication, they’ll do this with healthier products and customisation in mind. Kasey Clark reports.
AS the Taiwanese food manufacturing sector prepares to share its cutting-edge equipment, select ingredients, quality products and strong reputation on the international stage, two definitive trends have emerged. Companies are either answering the consumer call for healthier food options or customising products to suit individual customer – or country – needs.
HEALTH-CONSCIOUS COMPANIES
I-MEI Foods is a major Taiwanese food company, specialising in manufacturing, distributing, exporting and importing food products. The company boasts more than 2000 products, including confectionery, savoury snacks and food gift packs for both the domestic and tourism markets. But in response to consumer demand for healthier products, I-MEI has in recent years shifted its focus to developing healthy foods.
Operating under the philosophy ‘let thy food be thy medicine’, I-MEI is developing more natural, non-GMO foods that are better for the body and contain no additives and no preservatives. That means, for example, producing sauces with no thickening agents artificial colours or flavours, and creating healthier oils that are rich in omega-3s. I-MEI’s research, laboratory testing and even collaboration with hospitals and health professionals in Taiwan contribute to achieving its goals.
Another company eager for consumers to feel secure in the food they eat every day, Taiwan Semiconductor established its subsidiary Anyong Biotechnology in 2018. Anyong aims to help customers supply fresh fish, such as Australian barramundi, using its unique freezing technology: Cells Alive System (CAS). CAS is a Japanese technology that uses electromagnetic fields and mechanical vibrations to limit
ice-crystal formation that destroys food texture, preserving the quality, freshness and nutritional value of the seafood. The company also uses no additives and no chemicals on the fish.
TAILORED TOOLS
OF THE TRADE
Also trending in Taiwan are manufacturers who are customising products to suit the individual needs of customers. SunnySyrup is a producer and exporter of bubble tea beverages and products, shaved-ice products, tea leaves and drink powders. Products include tapioca pearls (for bubble tea), ‘Popping Boba’ (balls of juice contained within a skin of seaweed extract), concentrated juices and syrups, and jelly toppings. And customisation – for individual bubble tea shops – is at the heart of its business. SunnySyrup tailors everything from ball size, thickness of the seaweed extract, degree of sweetness, flavour and scent to
24 | Food&Drink business | April 2019 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au