Page 84 - FoodFocusThailand No.159 June 2019

SITE VISIT

“We have to walk along today’s ever-changing world in order to Currently, CPF has reported sales revenues
operate the sustainable business. We founded the CPF Food Research for more than THB 130 billion
& Development Center, not just looking at these days, but for decades in food sectors. THB 90 billion of its
to come. The center provides the new generation with opportunities to
join the research team to embrace, extend knowledge on food income came from an overseas market and
accumulated generation upon generation and transfer to the next THB 30 billion from its home markets with
generations. The center has focused on the quality of life of consumers a growth rate of 10-12 percent
by developing healthy foods that are suitable for consumers in each
age group, including patients.” said Mr.Sukhawat Dansermsuk, Chief per year. One percent of income
Executive Officer (CEO) - Food Business and Co-President, CPF. He has set aside for R&D
also added that other than the development of food that is tasty,
convenient, and nutritious, CPF aims to develop healthy diets in the and importation of modern production
proportion of 30 percent of the New Product Development (NPD), in technology from abroad.
line with the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals. The
revenue is expected to reach more than THB 130 billion in 2019.

Food Research & Development Building
The food research & development building has received tax benefits Public Health. That means the food products can legitimately be produced
or BOI. They are designed to be an energy efficient building with a and marketed promptly. The effort will be geared to support production
solar rooftop and a solar hot water system. The food research & experiments for small and medium enterprises. All that can be considered
development focuses on the innovative raw materials and foods that as a One Stop Service for research & development of food products for
meet the needs of consumers both in taste and nutritional value both domestic and international markets.
including food safety to further develop into consummate food Within this pilot plant, there is one of the latest advanced food
production. The research involves with the following aspects: processing technologies by employing the microwave technology for
• Food Biotechnology: Conveying knowledge and understanding sterilization of ready-to-eat products. This technology has been transferred
about utilization and benefits of microorganisms and various enzymes from Tops Foods, CPF’s subsidiary in Belgium. By filling rice and course
applied in the researches. This includes a production of alternative eaten with rice into a closed container and sealed it with film for 12 minutes
protein, functional protein, as well as to source and select natural raw in sterilizing process, the food can be stored for up to 1 year without losing
materials to be used as substances boosting product properties. nutritional value.
• Food Analysis: Study in-depth characteristics and structure of
raw materials and food products. The studies will benefit an analysis Health Foods... Accomplishment Delivered by the Food
of types, quantity, properties of extracts, and developed products, both Research & Development Center
in chemical and physical attributes, such as concentrating the extracts, As a result of continuous research & development, new food products are
analyzing the type and quantity of the interested substances, etc. regularly marketed. In the first quarter of 2019, the following health foods
• Food Application: Prototype of food products has been “Smart” were introduced:
developed by improving specific properties, for instances, temperature Smart Meal: Vegetarian product is a health-conscious alternative,
resistance, study of raw materials to be substituted and supplemented 100% no meat and contain natural ingredients such as saltiness from
for properties improving and nutritional benefits. flower of sea salt, sweetness of coconut sugar, and cooking with coconut
• Food Product Innovation and Test Lab: Performing sensory oil. Importantly, no preservatives added.
analysis is to indicate product characteristics such as color, flavor, Smart Soup: Healthy soup made from 100% highly selected natural
texture, as well as product preferences. This includes (1) Sensory test ingredients and using the innovative food processing techniques. It is an
preparation section (2) Multi-purpose group conversation, such as ideal choice for consumers who have problems with chewing and
conducting a focus group to get information and in-depth opinions from swallowing, such as patients being fed through the tube, patients at the
panelists or running a workshop to come up with new ideas and new recovery stage, and the elderly.
products. Smart Sauce: Sriracha chili sauce comes out with a unique taste,
• Kitchen Lab: The food product development laboratory is perfect blend of spicy, sour, sweet, and salty. The products contain selected
equipped with an abundance of state-of-the-art equipment to initiate finest ingredients: fresh red chilies with a smooth skin, unique aromatic
a number of tasty food menus. The laboratory can also test products rice vinegar and sea salt. No color, no MSG, and no preservatives added.
in various aspects with advanced analytical instruments. Smart Drink: A functional beverage is a drink blended with ingredient
• Office of Packaging Research & Development: The strategic like fruit juice suitable as a benefit of the product offered, easy-to-drink,
plan is to make an effort to become Food Packaging Solution which with all functions available in tune with lifestyle for which individual
consists of Food Packaging Lab and Food Packaging Design to create customer needed, such as Good Night drink that help to sleep comfortably.
innovative food packaging that responds to consumer needs in terms In addition, numbers of researches are currently on processes, such
of usage, image, and food safety. Through co-innovation, packaging as Asiatic Pennywort (Centella asiatica), a Thai traditional plant that is
solutions determine to reduce environmental impact, such as plant- well known to have curative properties for an inner pain, build up good
based biodegradable plastics and recyclable plastics. microorganisms in the stomach, nurture digestive and gastrointestinal
tract systems. Recently, it has been discovered that Asiatic Pennywort
Pilot Plant Building contains essential substances that are good for nourishing the nerves
The pilot plant building has been placed as a home of modern and reducing memory loss. The research team is conducting an additional
machinery, but minimize the size to support production at the lab scale. study and will be further developed into various products such as
The facilities cover the production lines of all food processing industry, beverages, foods, nano-capsule, nano-cellulose, probiotic drinks,
including fishery products, poultry (chicken-duck), sausages, pork, considering as an alternative to consumers.
ready-to-eat products, sauces and seasonings, egg and bakery “Success is not just about notion, but vital that you can take real
products, as well as foods for elderly, patients, and for good health. action. We are committed to be a leader in researching and developing
The pilot plant is being able to support CPF’s expansion in restaurant foods that are not only delicious, but also nutritious, coupled with
businesses. The pilot plant has received Certificate of Production and continuous innovation and achieving food security issues to become the
Distribution from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ministry of kitchen of the world.” concluded Mr.Sukhawat.

84 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND JUNE 2019