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sPeciAl Interview

Innovation - The Asian market is These trends and the subsequent
renowned for its cutting-edge ingredient, challenges are discussed and evaluated
texture and flavor innovation. We expect with our supplier partners, who support
to see this trend continue in years to our application technologists in designing
come. and developing smart solutions. With this
newly acquired knowledge, we then create
Ethical foods - Ethically positioned foods concept demos/Ready To Use (RTU)
are not currently common in Asia and we kits that satisfy the latest market trends
expect to see this market develop within to showcase our suppliers’ innovative
the next 10 years. speciality ingredients and solutions to our
customers.
Challenges
In the year ahead, we see challenges We believe that this transparent
in terms of traceability, allergen control, collaborationis crucial to respond to the
contamination prevention and food trends, opportunities and challenges
safety. These issues will become more in the market in a dynamic and a
prevalent as more trade channels open, solution-driven way.
creating new opportunities to cross-
fertilise innovations around the world AFB : How will customers benefit from
and across Asia. IMCD understands IMCD’s efforts to keep up with the trends,
the need to balance these competing opportunities and challenges?
factors and is therefore compliant
to international standards such as Mr. Michael Petersen : By understanding
ISO 9001, 22000, and 14001. We these trend evolutions, we believe we
work with many of the world’s most can help our customers’ R&D by offering
reputable manufacturers to guarantee formulation expertise that meets their
our customers are served with integrity. needs. We bring these solutions via
our Ready To Eat (RTE) kits, where we
Food safety and transparency are top conduct taste trials together with the Food safety and
concerns for Asian consumers. The customer to help them benefit from the transparency
role of the government in regulating latest formulation expertise and ultimately
and enforcing new food ingredients and allow them to achieve an edge in their are top concerns for
applications is essential to protect the competitive markets. This is only possible Asian consumers.
safety of consumers and build trust with if we also understand the latest processing
the food industry, while at the same time opportunities and how this would fit with The role of the
allowing advancement in technology our customers’ facilities. government in regulating
to serve the ever-growing needs of the
consumer at an optimized cost. We believe that it is this trend-based and and enforcing new food
application-specific expertise, combined ingredients
AFB : How is IMCD responding to these with the latest functional ingredient and applications is
trends, opportunities and challenges? developments of our suppliers’ R&D
teams, that ensures our customers develop essential to protect
Mr. Michael Petersen : IMCD innovative ideas and products. the safety of consumers
continuously tracks and monitors the
latest developments in the market place. and build
trust with the food
industry

52 Asia FOOD BEVERAGE Thailand