Food & Beverage Asia December 2020/January 2021

ON THE TABLE 31
they choose to put into their body in a
quest to stay healthy. Plus eating healthy
is something consumers can have direct
control over at a time of much uncertainty
in their lives.
This health consciousness will increase
even more over time, which puts the
onus on ensuring food products meet the
evolving needs and desires of consumers.
This is where innovation with US dairy
ingredients can help out, and USDEC and
US dairy suppliers can collaborate with
South East Asian manufacturers to create
winning delicious and nutritious new,
local-friendly products.
At the same time, more staple and
indulgence-oriented products such as
baked good, confectionery and snacks
which use dairy ingredients like permeate
and milk powders have also been soughtafter
during these challenging COVID-19
times. Also, as consumers cook more
frequently at home or order takeaway
instead of dining in restaurants, this is
also a new opportunity area for US dairy
ingredients like whey proteins.
Looking ahead, we as USDEC will continue
to focus on supporting food and beverage
manufacturers’ supply and innovation
needs to create nutritious, delicious and
sustainable foods that appeal to wideranging
consumers. This also includes
enhanced focus on ready-to-eat or readyto-prepare
meals that can be consumed
at home.
US Centre for Dairy Excellence opens in Singapore
The US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) has
unveiled a new chapter for its presence
in South East Asia with the opening of
the new US Centre for Dairy Excellence
(US CDE). As its first overseas physical
investment by USDEC, the US CDE in
Singapore is funded by US dairy farmers
and processors, and envisioned as a
gateway for collaboration between the US
dairy community and South East Asia’s
food and beverage stakeholders, the
culinary sector, health professionals, and
other partners.
Joining the virtual opening event was Tom
Vilsack, president and CEO of USDEC,
who commented: “The US CDE creates
an education hub and meeting place
where relationships can be developed
and strengthened, where we can share
market intelligence and insights, spark
ideation, lead research, and share the
story of US dairy’s sustainable production.
It represents a long-term commitment by
the US dairy industry to the region and
exports, and recognition of the importance
of South East Asia as an innovation hub.”
As today’s technological and societal
changes continue to drive and reshape the
food and beverage industry, the US CDE
will focus on inspiring regionally tailored
nutrition and innovation solutions with
US dairy ingredients and cheeses to meet
evolving consumer needs. The investments
in the centre will also pave the way
towards the Future of Food, committing
to sustainability, deploying technologies,
strengthening collaborations, and applying
the latest consumer research.
Dalilah Ghazalay, regional director, USDEC
South East Asia, added: “US dairy has
played a crucial role in the food ecosystem
and economy of South East Asia over
the past two decades. Its versatility and
adaptability to South East Asian food and
beverage applications is unparalleled.
As a key part of our programmes, we will
focus on glocalisation by innovating with
local ingredients to better suit local taste
preferences.” FBA
The new US CDE facility solidifies US dairy industry’s in-region base, elevating customer-centric, innovation-approach to collaboratively seize Future of Food
opportunities
FOOD & BEVERAGE ASIA DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021