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Friday 13 April, 2012

FDI in Food Processing Industries wanted


FDI in Food Processing Industries wanted

Ministry of Food Processing Industries has pointed out a few important aspects in the last weeks, one being FDI in food processing.

To increase the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the food processing sector, the Government had permitted 100% FDI in all the processed food items through the automatic route, which means that there is nor approval required, companies are free to decide. This happened several years back already.

The total inflow of FDI in Food Processing Sector during the last 3 years gives a mixed picture, it was 858 RS crore (USD 188 million) in 2010-11, 1314 Rs. crore (USD 279 million) in 2009-10, after 456 Rs. crore (USD 103 million) in the year 2008-09.

Dr. Charan Das Mahant of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has also informed about the impact of FDI on the food sector. According to him, FDI would not only complement and supplement domestic investment but also brings state-of-art technology and best managerial practices, thereby providing better access to foreign technology to the domestic industry. The integration of the Food Processing Industries with the global market would be facilitated.

India's Food Processing Industries growing by 16%


India's Food Processing Industries growing by 16%

 Indian food processing sector is on the rise. Accordig to the latest available data, the value of output for registered food processing industries was Rs. 4,46,701 crores in 2009-10, Dr. Charan Das Mahant, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries told in parliament.

The the average annual growth rate for the period from2007-08 to 2009-10 was 16.34 %.

The latest data on share of un-registered food processing industries in the GDP of food processing was 33.5% in 2009-10. As per the Annual Survey of Industries (2007-08), there were 26,221 registered food processing units in the country.

Food Safety Body Offers Support to Indian Food Importers & retailers


Food Safety Body Offers Support to Indian Food Importers & retailers
29 Mar 2012


The day two of the Images Food & Grocery Forum India 2012 saw an interactive session between food importers and an official of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Called “The FIFI Conclave: The Force Behind Unifying Gourmet Food Importers and Alignment with Modern Retail,” the event saw the FSSAI Deputy Director AIS Kumar discuss the latest food safety regulations and FBO registrations with the importers and retailers of imported food.

Kumar reassured the assembled audiences that all problems of the food importers and retailers will be taken care of by the government in due course of time in terms of getting licenses, permits, etc. “Please have patience. We are on your side,” he said.

Amit Lohani, Convener, FIFI (Forum of India Food Importers), noted that modern trade is a still a very small part of India’s retail industry. Of this, gourmet is even a more miniscule part. “Though we are competitors as importers, we approach FSSAI, a single body on the platform of FIFI, to present a united front,” he said, speaking on behalf of the food importers.

Sumit Saran of SCS Group said: “The buzz around the Images Food & Grocery Forum India 2012 shows the growing importance of this sector. India, if it has to feed its people, will have to import food. The sooner we realise, the better for all of us.”

Puneet Gupta of LCompes Impex said: “ Through this forum, we have been able to share our thoughts and issues with FSSAI, which has heard us out and given us leeway to conform to Indian laws.”

Sreejith Mohan of Godrej Nature’s Basket gave a retailer’s perspective. He said: “FIFI has made it possible for retailers like us to collaborate with different stakeholders. Thanks to FIFI, we as retailers can avoid fly-by-night operators and the grey market of imported food products and be reassured about the quality. All of this adds a lot of customer-centric value to our stores.”

Amitabh Taneja, CEO and MD of Images Group, said: “We have actively collaborated with FIFI since its inception. Through our magazine ‘Progressive Grocer,’ we have raised their issues, created new consumption patterns, and introduced new categories in the market. We have partnered with FIFI for a nine-year period for our Food Forum.” Taneja told the audiences that the game is not about competition but collaboration. “It is not about the size of the pie. It is about growing the pie so that we all have bigger slices,” he said.

Lohani said that retailers are now bound to see more genuine products enter shop shelves as grey market shrinks. Many FIFI members, however, felt that with big food retail chains such as Walmart, Metro, and Spar setting up their own imported food sections, this can be a threat to the Indian food importers. Sumit Saran of SCS Group too agreed and said that big retailers are bypassing wholesalers and becoming director importers. This is becoming a global phenomenon. Taneja of Images Group advised the food importers to evolve into entrepreneurs from merely being middle men.

-Seema Gupta

McDonald's launches McSpicy range, comprising Mexican, African flavours


McDonald's launches McSpicy range, comprising Mexican, African flavours
Friday, April 13, 2012 08:00 IST
Our Bureau, Mumbai

McDonald's has launched the Spice Fest which will run throughout April and May. Popularly known as the McSpicy range, it comprises a combination of Asian, Mexican and African spices.

Items on the menu include the Mexican Spice Chicken Burger and its vegetarian variant; Spicy Shake Shake Fries (served with a Hot Garlic Dip) and the existing McSpicy range, comprising this McSpicy Chicken Burger, its paneer variant, etc.

The Mexican Spice Chicken Burger is priced at Rs 79; and its vegetarian variant will cost Rs 69. The range will be a part of McDonald's Extra Value Meals, priced at Rs 125 and Rs 115 respectively. 

Tuesday 10 April, 2012

Anushka says eating less stupid

Anushka wants to set right example, says eating less stupid
Mumbai, April 6 (IANS) Actress Anushka Sharma, who is popular among the youth for her perfect figure, suggests to young girls not to follow any body-type blindly. She feels that they should try to be fit and follow their instructor.

"Fitness has become such large part of our lives. There are gyms at every nook and corner. There are such wonderful trainers. You need to get the right assistant and follow what is right for you. Don't try to become like me or Deepika (Padukone) or Priyanka (Chopra)," she said.

"Eating less is stupid. If you are eating every two hours, you are increasing your metabolic rate so you will digest things faster. Eat healthy and eat every two hours," she added.

As a celebrity she feels she should set the right example.

"Not really my responsibility, but as much as I can, I will try to be responsible that whatever I do sets the right example in front of young girls," the 23-year-old told reporters Thursday while unveiling the Inaugural cover of India Today Women Health Magazine.

Anushka warns youngsters against blindly following someone else's body type.

"You should be very comfortable the way you are. If you are comfortable with what you are, let the world go to hell. They are not going to feed you or cut down on your food intake. If you are happy with the way you look it's completely okay.

"Yes, fitness is very important because when you grow older you will have problems, you will not be able to be that active. Blindly trying to become somebody's body type is just stupidity," she said.

She also says that she is naturally lean.


SOURCE:

Monday 9 April, 2012

Instant Tea Karobaar Mae Tazgi Ki Aas


10 Examples of Fast Food in Other Countries


10 Examples of Fast Food in Other Countries
Often we hear that other countries don’t have the quantity of fast food restaurants that the United States does, but one look will tell you those numbers are growing.  The number of restaurants isn’t the only thing expanding though, by the looks of some of the menu offerings in other countries I’m pretty sure their waistlines are steadily increasing too.  See if any of these items that are available in various parts of the world look like something you’d like to see make it to the U.S.



     1.    Camembert fried cheese nuggets: These look yummy, I must say, but I think they would be cost prohibitive in the U.S.  These gooey cheesy wonders are only available in France, which has the most McDonalds franchises of any country, other than the United States of course.  To make a go of it there McDonalds had to really think about how the French like to eat.  They don’t rush through a meal so there is a lot more seating so people can linger over their meal.  They have a McCafe attached to the main restaurants for enjoying coffee and sweets, and just hanging out like in a coffee shop.  Oh, and feel free to order a beer to go with your cheese nuggets because McDonalds serves beer in France.

     2.    Double Prosperity Burger: This is either two chicken breasts (not breaded or fried) or two beef patties in an oval shape served on a hoagie type bun.  They are dripping in a pepper sauce and have raw onions on the top.  Their big push was to eat this in Malaysia during the Chinese New Year.Beef Tortilla Pentagon: This interesting item is brought to you by KFC and only served in China.  Explain to me why KFC, an American chicken place, is serving ground beef wrapped in a tortilla to form a pentagon shape?  It seems like they channeled a little Taco Bell with this food creation.

     3.    Spicy Chili Cheeseburger: Can you guess who might serve a burger with chili on it?  Yep, it’s Wendy’s.  This concoction of 2 single patties, cheese, lettuce, onion, chili and jalapenos is available to order in Japan.  You can probably envision an offering like this here in the States, but what about a foie gras burger?  It costs $16 U.S. dollars and it’s a burger with duck on it.

     4.    Meat Monster: Burger King must be trying to kill off Japanese people from the inside out.  They are serving a sandwich made up of 2 burgers, 1 chicken breast, cheese, bacon, and toppings.  This amongst others is a heart attack on a bun.  They also had their Windows 7 Whopper that had 7 patties on the bun.  That is not a typo, I said 7.  I guess you could feed a family of four with just one burger.

     5.    Trio Poutine: Do you want some fries with that?  Or maybe some fries smothered with cheese curds and gravy instead.  This side dish is available from McDonalds in Canada.  Other Canadian offerings look very similar to their United States counterpart.

     6.    Mini Corndog crust pizza: Yep, just like it sounds, instead of the crust being stuffed with cheese the whole edge of the pizza is made up of little crust encased hot dogs and then the center has pizza toppings.  Pizza Hut is the creator of this gem and it’s served for your dining pleasure in Japan.

     7.    Hash brown burger: Jollibee’s is the Philippine’s answer to American fast food restaurants.  They offer an interesting menu where most things are served with a big scoop of rice instead of French fries.  I could see the hash brown burger being made in the U.S. if we wanted.  All you need to do is take two hash browns, a little bigger and squarer than what McDonald’s serves with breakfast, and treat them like the bun.  Top that with a burger and toppings and you have a hash brown burger.

     8.    Hamburger topped with fried egg: This burger comes with black beans, rice or French fries on the side and is the signature dish of a place call Giraffas in Brazil.  The cost is about $6.50 USD.  It is not acceptable to eat food with your hands in Brazil so Giraffas was the first fast food place to serve their meals with steel knives and forks.  They also serve the food on regular plates if people are dining in.  Just another way that places adapt to fit in with local preferences.

     9.    Blini filled with red caviar or salmon roe:  In Russia, Teremok is the place to go and serves lots of fast food dishes, but the filled blini is their signature dish and costs about $8.30 USD.  A blini is a triangular shaped wheat pancake that is wrapped around a filling.  Other things like soup and porridge are on the menu as well, but the favorite is the blini.
     
     Source

Friday 6 April, 2012

5 surprising things that make you slim

5 surprising things that make you slim
Five unexpected things that can help you lose weight

Chocolate
It may not be the first food choice that springs to mind when embarking on a diet, but research findings suggest that eating chocolate in moderation could actually make you slim. The study conducted by the University of California tested the theory that, as chocolate is believed to increase your metabolism, these benefits may cancel out the calories consumed. The results suggested that chocolate may not only be calorie neutral; it can also help you lose weight. The researchers discovered that adults who consumed chocolate frequently had a lower BMI than those who didn’t, despite them often eating more calories and not exercising more.

Fried food and cakes for breakfast

If you’re experiencing cravings for dessert or fried foods, the good news is you can indulge – so long as you do it first thing. Researchers from Tel Aviv University found that participants who ate a 600-calorie breakfast which included dessert lost an average of 40lbs more than those who had a smaller 300-calorie one. Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Alabama found that eating a fried breakfast followed by a lighter lunch and evening meal could help with weight loss. Experts believe that this is because the body’s metabolism is faster in the morning, making it the best time to indulge. Furthermore, giving into cravings first thing can help banish them for the rest of the day.

Beer

According to The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), one third of people believe that beer has more calories than other alcoholic drinks. However, this is actually a myth, and research by Camra has found that swapping wine or alcopops for beer could in fact help you lose weight. While taking up a drinking habit will clearly do your waistline no favours, the study suggests that making the switch to beer could help keep regular drinkers trim. In fact, Camra’s research findings show that swapping wine for beer for just one week could save as many calories as you would burn in a half-hour jog.

Fatty foods

We’ve all heard that fatty foods are bad for us, but the truth is this all depends on the kind of fats you eat. Foods rich in good fats such as omega-3 fatty acids can not only boost your health, they can also help you lose weight. Studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids can increase feelings of satiety and fullness, helping you to eat less. Furthermore, a study by the University of South Australia found that participants who took omega-3 rich fish oil and exercised three times a week lost more weight than those who exercised alone. It is believed that this is because omega-3 improves blood flow to muscles, increasing the benefits of exercise and helping you to burn off more calories.

Eating more frequently

You may think that skipping meals will keep you slim, but eating more frequently could in fact help keep off the pounds. While eating too much food can cause you to gain weight, eating too little can also make it surprisingly difficult to shed those pounds. As your body has a natural instinct to protect itself, it will automatically go into starvation mode if not given enough fuel, causing the metabolism to slow down and the body to hoard fat and calories. Rather than skipping meals or lowering your calorie intake too drastically, opt for regular small and healthy meals alongside regular exercise.

Burger King sold to buy-out firm for $3.26bn (£2.1bn)

Burger King is being sold to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26bn (£2.1bn), it has been announced.
Burger King has struggled during the recession


The fast food chain, with 12,100 outlets worldwide, had been the subject of takeover rumours for days.

Burger King floated on Wall Street in 2006, four years after being bought by a group of private equity firms.

The group - TPG Capital, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Funds - still own 31% of Burger King shares.

The deal, worth $24 a share, comes after Burger King's stock price surged more than 15% on Wednesday and opened on Thursday up 23% at $23.25.

In a statement, the companies said that the deal represented a 46% premium to Burger King's share price before news of a possible takeover surfaced.

3G will also take on Burger King's debt, valuing the deal at $4bn in total.

Source:

Burger King leaves work experience scheme for jobless

Fast-food chain Burger King has become the latest firm to pull out of the government's controversial work experience scheme for jobless people.
Burger King said it withdrew from the scheme following "recent concerns expressed by the public"


It said it had registered to take on youngsters at its Slough headquarters but withdrew due to "public concerns".

Critics say the project is a form of "slave labour" because people work for nothing, while keeping their benefits.

The government said those campaigning against it should think carefully about the consequences of their actions.

Burger King said it registered for the voluntary Get Britain Working programme six weeks ago, but had not recruited anyone since.

"Given the recent concerns expressed by the public we have decided to no longer have any involvement in the programme," it said in a statement.

Burger King to relist on New York Stock Exchange


Fast-food giant Burger King is to relist on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Burger King is continuing with a menu and store overhaul programme

It follows the announcement that its owner, private equity group 3G Capital, is to sell a 29% stake for $1.4bn (£881m) to UK-based investment vehicle Justice Holdings.

Once the sale is complete, Justice Holdings' shares will suspend trading on the London Stock Exchange.

Shares in Burger King will then be floated on the NYSE.

This is expected to take place within the next two to three months. It is not yet known what percentage of shares will be sold.



Source:
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