ANGLISS ASIA
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FOOD & DRINK
Food and
Fortune
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its societal impact across the world, we speak to Johnny Kang, CEO of Angliss Asia, about the company’s adaptation and development in the Asian food and beverage industry Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Kyle Livingstone
We don’t just serve food – we serve people.” Johnny Kang, CEO Asia of Angliss, joined the company 18 years ago and his opinion has not changed since. From its establishment in 1946, Angliss has mainly focused on the supplying of frozen meat to customers through wholesalers and distributors, in Hong Kong and Singapore. However, the market has changed from that time. With the objective of introducing new initiatives, and new people with fresh ideas, the Angliss group invited Kang to join its Hong Kong branch in order to take its business to the next level.
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ANGLISS ASIA “I believed that in addition to the supplying of frozen meat, the company must also develop horizontally to provide more diversified and comprehensive services,” he tells us. “After successfully turning the company in this direction we then built and expanded into China, Macau, Malaysia, and recently Vietnam.”
ANGLISS LOCATIONS – CHINA Across China, Angliss has locations in a multitude of major cities, including but not limited to: Beijing
Xiamen
Tianjin
Shenzhen
Shenyang
Xi’an
Shanghai
Hunan
Hangzhou
Haikou
Guangzhou
Sanya
Chengdu
Nanning
Chongqing
Zhengzhou
Kunming
Wuhan
SERVING THE PEOPLE With seven decades of experience as a food and beverages business in the Hong Kong market, Angliss offers a full suite of quality products and excellent customer services to a vast network of over 8,000 value customers. Angliss now enjoys business channels in the foodservice, hotel and clubs, pastry and confectionery, wholesales, bulk sales, casual dining, retail, airline catering and theme parks sectors. “We offer a wide range of products, including but not limited to frozen and chilled meat, Japanese and European fine food, Italian gourmet, high quality organic food, dairy, seafood, wine and many others,” Kang informs us. “Angliss has a wide global sourcing network that allows customers to enjoy a consistent supply of quality food products from around the world.” On top of distribution offices in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, Angliss boasts 27 major city locations in China, with approximately 600 employees in Hong Kong alone, and over 2,000 covering the whole of Asia.
Bel Fromagerie The Laughing Cow® was born in 1921 in the Léon Bel factory in France. For consumers, it was a revolution: the first portioned processed cheese that could be easily preserved and transported, thanks to its unique aluminium packaging. Another new feature was the hilarious cow-shaped logo illustrated by Benjamin Rabier. Following the immediate success, in 1929, the round box began to be sold abroad with its unique taste and creamy texture. Sold in 120 countries across five continents, the brand offers 110 different recipes to satisfy the local needs of its consumers. The Laughing Cow® caters to the nutritional needs of various populations. In some markets, it offers products enriched with vitamin D and calcium, while in other markets, it offers products with low salt and fat content. The Laughing Cow is 100 years old and still laughing! According to a study conducted by the Laughter Observatory and our favourite cow, those over 50 years of age are 25 percent more likely to consider that the older we get, the more we laugh. Bel’s mission - “Champion healthier and responsible food for all” - guides its 12,400 employees in rolling out a responsible and profitable business model that places the consumer and shared valued creation at the heart of its decisions.
www.groupe-bel.com
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100 YEARS! The laughing cow, French cheese makers since 1921.
www.groupe-bel.com
ANGLISS ASIA CUISINE AND CULTURE Asian food culture is well-known for being both incredibly vibrant and diversified, as Kang comments. “It is very much in the centre of our daily life and plays a great importance in our society,” Kang elaborates. “People love knowing their food and they expect it to be good at every level, from a simple noodle dish all the way to three-star fine dining.” However, with the impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused border closure and limited travelling between countries, people
are prevented from moving from their homes and cities. “Because of this, we have captivated a mostly local population that needs to be cared for,” Kang explains to us. “With the changing of government restrictions, the food industry shifts accordingly; during partial lookdowns and restaurant dine-in and time restrictions, the industry moves to supermarkets and online, then back again when restrictions ease.” According to Kang, at present those most affected by the pandemic have
APAC Outlook: How important are your employees to the success of Angliss? Johnny Kang: “People are the key, and they make the difference in any organisation. We at Angliss recognise everyone’s contribution from the procurement staff to the food safety team to the warehouse managers, to the packing members, cleaners, truck drivers, the sales managers, the meat cutters and so many more. In our vibrant and diversified tapestry of business, every person counts and has their role to play every single day. “In the face of COVID-19 we offered full employment and since the beginning of February 2020, no short working week and consequential lesser pay, but instead all benefits, including bonuses are and have been paid on time. We also ensure to offer workplace training and a secure working environment for employees at all levels. “Where possible, we always promote from within and we celebrate and award our hard-working staff, sometimes collectively and sometimes on an individual base. Our Angliss people are the ambassadors and our signature to the Hong Kong food and beverage world.”
Donald’s Fine Foods Savoury Choice Premium Pork – Excellence in Taste, Freshness, and Marbling Sourced from Western Canada, where the air and water quality is second to none and the feed crops are in abundance, only the best Canadian hogs qualify as Savoury Choice Premium Pork. Our hogs are NEVER fed any growth hormones, animal by-products, or ractopamine. Our commitment to producing the highest quality pork starts with partnering with small family farms and Hutterite colonies who take pride in what they do and share the same guiding principles to animal welfare and environmental stewardship as we do. Our hogs are raised using sustainable farming practices and under the strict guidelines of a national CQA® program. Adhering to a strict feed guideline, hogs are fed a wholesome, vegetable and grain-fed diet that includes barley, wheat, corn and soy resulting in pork that is tender and delicious. Our commitment to food safety continues at our Greater Vancouver processing facility, Britco Pork Inc., a federally registered and accredited plant certified as BRC Certified Grade AA. At our processing facility, a rigorous assessment process is undertaken by our experienced team to select pork with the highest quality, colour, texture, firmness, and marbling for the Savoury Choice Premium Program. Being closer to the Western Canadian ports than any other North American processing plant, means that our processing plant is closer to Asia resulting in shorter transportation times and the freshest product available. Enjoy our delicious pork!
www.donaldsfinefoods.com
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PREMIUM CANADIAN PORK Quality since 1993
Made with Nutritious and Tasty Grain Fed Hogs Antibiotic Residue Free 無抗生素殘留
Growth Hormone Free 不含荷爾蒙
Ractopamine Free 不含瘦肉精
ANGLISS ASIA
The DANÆG group DANÆG has delivered eggs to consumers since 1895, when the company was founded as a cooperative. Today, we are still owned by our farmers as well as by the Danish farming cooperative, DLG. We always focus on maintaining high animal welfare standards, using sustainable production practices, and assuring compliance with stringent food safety standards. Focus segments: • Food service • Bakeries • Industry • Arline Catering • Cruise lines Product range: • Pasteurised liquid eggs • Scrambled egg mix • Cooked egg products (long eggs, IQF diced eggs, etc.) • Omelettes, crepes and pancakes • Custom-made products
Hong Kong Tasting Kitchen
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY Angliss partners with various charity associations such as Food Angel, Foodlink, Feeding Hong Kong, and many others in the areas of food donations and volunteer activities. The company aims at supporting those in need in the local communities in which the company operates, at the same time reducing hunger and food waste. “The satisfaction of bringing happiness to others continues to inspire us to go further with our CSR initiatives,” comments Kang. “We will continue to strive to create a greater positive impact for the community.”
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been airlines, conventions, banquets and hotel business. So far, Hong Kong is relatively stable as the local population can sustain a large percentage of the food and beverage industry. Although despite this, many businesses have either had to close during the period or readjust to survive. “We do believe that once the situation improves businesses will rebound fast as they have done so in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and other areas,” he tells us.
DRIVING GROWTH From the period of the Angliss’ integration and development of more diversified and comprehensive services, its performance has seen gradual improvement; it has recorded double-digit business growth every year since. “Looking ahead, in addition to being optimistic about the mainland market, the company has also expanded into emerging Asian
markets such as Malaysia and Vietnam in recent years,” Kang continues. “Due to the rising middle class and higher level of consumption, there is a demand for high-quality ingredients and catering, and we will invest resources to explore business opportunities in these markets continuously.” This kind of adaptation in the field allows Angliss to capture opportunities in the market that consequently maximises its service and revenue. As well as this, another major aspect of Angliss’ success is its willingness to embrace new technology and products that fuel the company’s drive for growth. Having the widest range of quality products to provide clients is a particularly key factor in this area, as Kang elaborates. “We are putting more resources and investment into our technology and systems,” he affirms. “We are enhancing our warehouse management to achieve smoother
FOOD & DRINK
FROZEN PASTEURIZED LIQUID EGGS Our frozen liquid eggs are a great solution for minimizing food waste in the kitchen. Choose between frozen whole egg, egg white or egg yolk. Extended shelf life/12 months at -18°C or lower.
WHY PASTEURIZED EGG PRODUCTS FROM DANÆG? • Food safety = Pasteurized (heat-treated) • High quality = Produced from grade A Danish Barn laid Cage free fresh eggs • Kitchen Hygiene = No raw eggs in the kitchen • Time saving = The pasteurized eggs are ready to use • Practical and easy to handle = Practical 1 kg and 5 kg packaging as well as 9 kg Bag in Box
FROZEN WHOLE EGG
OTHER INNOVATIVE EGG PRODUCTS:
FROZEN EGG WHITES FROZEN EGG YOLK W. 10% SUGAR
FROZEN LO
NG EGG FROZ
EN W AFFL
ES
DANÆG PRODUCTS A/S: Maglegårdvej 13 / DK-4000 Roskilde / DENMARK / Tel.: +45 46381800 / www.danaeg.com
DUTCH VEAL with worldwide allure T. Boer & zn is one of the leading producers of Dutch Veal, exporting to more than 60 countries worldwide. It is the only veal slaughterhouse in the Netherlands with a Royal Distinction appointed by the Court. As a member of the VanDrie Group, T. Boer & zn forms part of an integrated production chain, unique in the world. T. Boer & zn and Angliss have been working on an intensive collaboration for more than 30 years. This partnership is the basis for high-quality products and the developing of new techniques. Nowadays T. Boer & zn and Angliss are working on a new concept called ‘sous vide’. Sous vide, also known as vacuum cooking, is a method of cooking veal. The veal can be cooked in a plastic bag at a relatively low temperature, below 100 degrees Celsius. It is therefore a variant of the low-temperature preparation. The veal of T. Boer & zn contains vitamines and minerals. Veal is a lean meat which means that it contains a low level of fat content. For people that implement a low carb diet, veal is perfect; this meat includes 0 grams of carbohydrates. Veal contains a high content of protein. The amount of iron and magnesium in veal contributes to the variety of benefits in veal.
www.boer.com
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ANGLISS ASIA and more efficient workflows. In the future, the warehouses in the operating countries will continue to update software and hardware supporting facilities, to reach a hightech and high-efficiency scale. “A combination of hard work, discipline and determination throughout our organisation has meant that we have remained competitive and in good shape no matter how challenging the circumstances.”
DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY Stemming from this development and technological investment, Angliss has recognised and adapted its services in light of the social impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“With more people staying and cooking at home due to pandemic, this also means ensuring that customers are able to quickly and conveniently order products online,” Kang tells us. “Most Angliss locations have subsequently relaunched their online business platforms, offering significantly expanded functionality and greatly enhanced convenience for consumer purchasing gourmet groceries. This has received a hugely positive response from customers who can easily order from the premium range of ingredients they can then experience in the comfort of their homes.” One of Angliss’ upcoming
developments is its new Ready-toCook range of products which will be launched later in 2021. This solution will be the next focus in supporting customers post-pandemic, offering a wide selection of high-quality products that are cooked, prepared and frozen ready for customers to simply heat and serve.
PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS ASIA Angliss is not only a company that has operated for many decades, but it is also one that has held beneficial, reliable and strong relationships with external suppliers for decades. Many of Angliss’ partners have been working alongside the company for over 30 years, and it is because of these suppliers that Angliss has succeeded and continues to thrive in the food and beverage industry. “We have suppliers from all over the world, and some of these are new, whereas others are decades old partnerships,” Kang tells us proudly. “For Angliss it is very much a two-way street when it comes to business relationships. They entrust and provide us with their top-quality products which we in turn pass on to our customers with great care.
FOOD & DRINK
Shenzen inhouse dining area
“Angliss and its partners share the same DNA: quality, passion and the love of great food. We build these relationships based on the values of trust, respect, friendship and integrity. We believe in fair trade and in a win-win relationship for everyone.”
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS These beneficial company partnerships span the globe, and so Angliss is able to source the highest quality produce and delicacies from various regions to provide its customers with the best possible culinary experiences. “It is extremely satisfying to go to the warehouses see the freshly arrived perishable goods from France three times a week, or to look at wonderful, chilled beef cuts in perfect condition, or to see the incoming containers arriving on our port from all over the world,” Kang reflects. “Moreover, to know that we are
able to supply every customer at any level with our products each time though our sales and logistical teams is very uplifting. We are very lucky to have built a solid and personal relationship not just with the brands or companies, but also with the people on all levels. Our partners are very important to us, and they are one of the keys to our success. “We never do, or will, take them for granted and Angliss constantly works on its relationships to better business for both sides.”
THE FUTURE OF FOOD Angliss has a promising future ahead of it. The company’s current strategy is to maintain its business across the industry, and to help its partners and suppliers, and customers, in various ways during a trying period. “Promotions and marketing, and alternative attractive products at good and fair prices are aspects of business we are aiming to provide,”
Kang explains to us. “We are with our customers and staff all the way on this journey. “Our strategy forward is to continue and to build on our good relationship with all partners, we are a part of Hong Kong and we have grown and mastered the times together. Angliss is expanding its business in China and Malaysia and in Hong Kong; we are constantly looking for new exciting products to bring to the market and to work with everybody for a better future. “We are currently well positioned and will be ready to bring the Angliss business to the next level.”
Tel: (852) 2481 5111 info@angliss.com.hk www.angliss.com.hk
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ANGLISS ASIA 47-51 Kwai Fung Crescent, Kwai Chung, New Territories, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2481 5111 info@angliss.com.hk www.angliss.com.hk
PRODUCED BY APAC OUTLOOK MAGAZINE