Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF) is launching a new food plant particularly for the elderly, sick persons and vegetarians, responding to the increasing global population and the number of people suffering from illnesses and assuring them of convenience and nutritious values under international-standard operations.

Mr. Adirek Sripratak, President and Chief Executive Officer of CPF, said that a major challenge to all leading food companies is how to feed global population. The issue has become more delicate due to economic, social, environmental and political variables, which must be taken into production policies. Food companies do need to emphasize international food safety standards through research and development. Importantly, they must produce quality, healthy and safe products without putting harms on the environment and ensure traceability. Other factors to ensure long-term business growth and sustainability involve tastes, lifestyles and cultures in particular areas, aside from product variety and innovation.

The United Nations estimates global populations will rise from 7.3 billion in 2015 to 9 billion in 2050, and 22% of them will be the elderly with a large proportion living in Asia. Aside from urbanization, this poses a challenge to food companies. The answers to this trend are healthy and safe food and products for the elderly and persons suffering from illnesses. Meanwhile, urbanization sparks greater need for convenient, ready-to-eat products.

“Our key challenge lies in the fact that Thailand and several countries on earth are becoming ageing societies. In 2020, ageing population will account for 14% of global population. CPF must strive for the production of nutritious, safe and uncontaminated food and production innovation. We do realize that food matters to people’s health,” Mr. Adirek said.

He continued that in Thailand, ageing population numbers 6.5 million or about 10 per cent of population. The elderly, with deteriorating health, depend on descendants’ care and they need products suitable for their ages – the products that nurture their health and are easy to eat, digest, absorb and buy. CPF is well positioned to answer their demand thanks to the availability of quality raw materials as well as modern and state-of-the-art processing technology. CPF’s ready-to-eat products for the elderly and persons suffering from illness will bring about convenience and ease their descendants or relatives’ burden.

Aside, leading food companies need to stay alert for rapid changes in production factors, as imbalanced global environment affects agricultural outputs. They are also subjected to trade regulations, taxes and trade-related barriers. Adjustments in raw materials and technology are a must, to ensure not only quality products but also safety. Full supply-chain traceability must be assured along with the production which is friendly to the environment and nearby communities.

Mr.Adirek emphasized that food safety involves the assurance that materials and agricultural products are free of biological, chemical and physical hazards. As a leading food company, CPF ensures parallel prosperity to farmers and counterparties through the supports of production materials and modern technology for greater production efficiency and reduced risks to farmers. This is an important note to consumers, who are more knowledgeable in food and health and influence a change in consumption behavior. Today’s consumers require safety-assured food items, forcing food producers to adopt international production practices like Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) and well as other international standards. Standards are a key strategy to earn greater global recognition to the products from Thailand.

Mr. Sukhawat Dansermsuk, Chief Operating officer – Food Business of CPF, added that CPF plans smart meal – healthy and ready-to-eat – for the health-conscious and the elderly or sick persons. The Bt700-million factory for the elderly and vegetarian food line is erected in Wang Noi district, Ayutthaya province, expected to start production in mid-2017.

Differentiated from vegetarian food, the items for the elderly and sick persons are designed as thick soups. Made from healthy materials – chicken, fish, shrimp and riceberry, the soups are easy to eat, swallow, digest and absorb. Shrimps contain proteins which prevent osteoporosis due to calcium deficiency among the elderly. The factory’s daily capacity for the soup is 70,000 tons.

Five menus will be on offer in this category – 1 chicken soup, 2 pumpkin soup, 3 riceberry soup, 4 mixed-vegetable soup and 5 tomato soup. Japan is expected to be the first market where the soups will be exported to. The new business is projected to generate Bt1,200 million in revenue in 2017.

The products for the vegetarians will come in a form of frozen food. Made from healthy materials – flower of salt instead of salt, coconut sugar instead of plain sugar, and other toxic-free items, the products are based on a belief that good food keeps you away from diseases or help lessen illness. With the products, the health-conscious consumers are offered healthy food all year round, not just during the Je Food Festival or not only by specialized shops. The first seven menus, from 12 in total, will be unveiled in November. The factory is capable of producing 500,000 packs of this food line per month.

CPF is an integrated agro-industrial and food conglomerate, incorporating the manufacturing of animal feed, animal farming and processed food. This ensures quality and traceability throughout the supply chain. Through research and development, CPF is committed to offering a variety of food products and recipes in response to consumers’ preferences and market demands in its bid to become “The Kitchen of the World”.