VITASOY INTERNATIONAL SINGAPORE
Chris Marchant, Managing Director receiving the company’s Food Safety Award 2017
2 | APAC Outlook issue 52
FOOD & DRINK
MANUFACTURING
MEATLESS NUTRITION Vitasoy International Singapore is the country’s leading producer of soybean-based products. We talk tofu and espousing an ESG focus with Managing Director, Chris Marchant Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: Kyle Livingstone
The plant-based movement has exploded over the last few years, as multiple entrants (both multinational and local start-ups) enter the category, making plant-based food and drinks more mainstream,” opens Chris Marchant, Managing Director at Vitasoy International Singapore (VIS). Marchant presides over the Singapore division of Vitasoy International, a company that truly occupies the vanguard of this dynamic movement. Based in Singapore, VIS is well-placed in an environment that is renowned as a modern-day haven for veganism. Indeed, Singapore, aka, the ‘Garden City’, has been tipped as ‘Asia’s Greenest City’, and the second most vegan-friendly destination on the continent, according to PETA Asia. “We know that Asian consumers love their food and drinks, and are always keen to try new and exciting flavours and innovations from around the world,” Marchant tells us. The company specialises in plantbased food and beverages, delivering nutritious products that never compromise on taste, and are good for the planet. This extends to a range APAC Outlook issue 52 | 3
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VITASOY INTERNATIONAL SINGAPORE
of delicious tofu products, plant milks and the Vita brand of teas. As the number one manufacturer of tofu products in Singapore, you will likely encounter Vitasoy or Unicurd branded tofu, as well as the company’s iconic range of Vitasoy and Vita plant based drinks in supermarkets, convenience stores and fridges across the country.
GAINING MOMENTUM WITH THE MEATLESS MOVEMENT Annually, VIS sells over 20 million packs of tofu and over nine million servings of plant-based beverages. Whilst the company may be riding on the tailwinds of the explosive clean-eating movement that has taken the world by storm as a growing 6 | APAC Outlook issue 52
“NOT ONLY IS GREAT TASTING NUTRITION ON OUR MIND, BUT ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS IN SINGAPORE ARE PLANT-BASED, AND THEREFORE CONSUME FEWER NATURAL RESOURCES IN THEIR PRODUCTION THAN MEAT OR DAIRY” - CHRIS MARCHANT, MANAGING DIRECTOR, VITASOY INTERNATIONAL SINGAPORE number of consumers seek the benefits of a meatless diet, this is nothing new for Vitasoy, as it has been refining its range of plant based food and drink products for decades. Indeed, the Vitasoy story began in 1940, when the Vitasoy founder, Dr. K.S. Lo wanted to help the people of Hong Kong during the war by bringing them a nutritious, protein-rich soymilk drink at an affordable price.
DID YOU KNOW? According to vegan business magazine ‘The Vegconomist’, the PlantBased Market in Asia Pacific is predicted to surge 200 percent by 2025.
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opportunities. In addition, with just-in-time supply chains vital to the food industry, Hypac offers short lead time deliveries perfect for such cases. More than just a vendor, Hypac offers sales and technical support to many of its clients. We add value by assisting customers in the development of packaging, rather than just supplying it. We take pride in offering tailormade packaging solutions to meet our customers’ exact packaging needs. THE MOTTO OF OUR BUSINESS IS “HONESTY, QUALITY, CONSISTENT PRICE COMPETITIVENESS AND EXCELLENT AFTER-SALES SERVICE”.
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VITASOY INTERNATIONAL SINGAPORE It is this altruistic concern coupled with Vitasoy’s passion for sustainability that first drew Marchant to the business, both in terms of delivering nutritional value to consumers, but also the commitment to growing the business in a way that is good for people and the planet. The same concern for nutritionrich products laying the foundation for a healthy diet which originally preoccupied the company’s founder, continues to guide VIS today. Our
conversation with Marchant takes place as VIS embark on the ambitious path of relaunching its entire tofu range based on a higher content of calcium and protein, in line with the expectations of its Singaporean consumer base. “Furthermore, VIS continues to provide solutions tailored to what our Singapore consumers are looking for. With smaller families and homes and the desire to reduce food waste, VIS has also launched a range of products
VITASOY INTERNATIONAL SINGAPORE
AT A GLANCE VIS’ purpose is to provide tasty, sustainable plant-based nutrition. The company achieves this through a focus on two key areas: 1. Making the Right Products – VIS continue to evolve its portfolio to be more nutritious, eliminating as much sugar and fat as possible. It also continues to strive to make improvement to its packaging with a focus on recycling, and down weighting plastic to use less of it, as well as implementing recycled PET, and investigating plant-based bio-PET solutions. Furthermore, in Singapore VIS has moved its core beverage portfolio to paper straws.
TATI HSING Andrew Cho, Sales Manager: TA TI HSING upholds the business philosophy of “TOFU MACHINE CRAFTSMAN.”
People are more and more healthTA TI HSING has been enga TA TI HSING has been engag conscious in the modern society. food production machinery food production machinery s We insist on high-quality soyfood practical experience in insta practical experience in instal over the world. TA TI HS manufacturing machinery &allallover the world. TA TI HSIN and oldest manufacture of a equipment that provide “plant-based and oldest manufacture of au machinery in Taiwan. machinery in Taiwan. protein”, complying with GMP/ With more than 60-years pr With more than 60-years pra HACCP/CE/CSA/UL and other TA TI HSING provides you t TA TI HSING provides you th international certification standards. & software support. Our tea
& software support. Our team with a broad depth of exper
with a broad depth of experie The whole production process and integrated approach giv and integrated approach give adopts PLC automatic control theand competitive edge and w the competitive edge and we exclusiveto needs of soyfood CIP automatic cleaning technology exclusive needs of soyfood m From plant planning, resea make yourfor soymilk / tofu products. From plant planning, researc Visit our website further Visit our website for further design, manufacture, instal design, manufacture, installa information! guidance, TA TI HSING prov information! guidance, TA TI HSING provid
www.tati.com.tw www.tati.com.tw
2. Making Products the Right Way – VIS continually focuses on using less of the world’s precious resources in the manufacturing process, and has made significant improvements of water reduction which is down –22 percent year on year, reducing electricity usage and implementing more sustainable options such as solar (-12.3 percent year on year), and utilising newer technologies including its boilers to bring down fuel (-18.9 percent year on year). By making soy products, VIS produces a biproduct call Okara, which now has a 100 percent recycling rate in Singapore and across the group.
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8 | APAC Outlook issue 52
turnkey services based on t turnkey services based on th products and required prod products and required produ
TA TI HSING has been engaged in soybean food production machinery since 1961 having practical experience in installation of machines all over the world. TA TI HSING is the first and oldest manufacture of automated soyfood machinery in Taiwan. With more than 60-years practical experience, TA TI HSING provides you the best hardware & software support. Our team is highly skilled with a broad depth of experience, our expertise and integrated approach give Ta Ti Hsing the competitive edge and we will tailor your exclusive needs of soyfood machine.
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From plant planning, research & development, design, manufacture, installation to operation guidance, TA TI HSING provides customized turnkey services based on the different soybean products and required production capacity,
etc. Hope that our customers keep diffusing traditional Chinese soy products and culture to the world through the machinery of TA TI HSING from Taiwan. Our machines are all made in Taiwan, they are easy to operate, durable and strong, used by well-known large factories at home and abroad. In these 60 years, our machines have been spread across many cities and countries. Vitasoy is a market leader soyfood processor in Singapore. We are proud to partner and work closely with Vitasoy to innovate for their business and create functional solutions. Just as we have always served excellent soy products manufacturers all over the world, we commit to providing the best and high-quality equipment and better soy products for Vitasoy.
VITASOY INTERNATIONAL SINGAPORE
Ceresco Ceresco is a Canadian soybean company specialized in exporting premium quality, IP and Non-GMO soybeans to food processors around the globe. By working directly with producers, our in-house export team and sales offices established on 3 continents, Ceresco has the ability to react quickly and efficiently to your requirements and offer full traceability from seeding to delivery. With our ultra-efficient, HACCP accredited, production facilities, Ceresco offers specialty varieties for tofu, soy drinks, natto and sprouting, praised by food processors around the world.
www.sgceresco.com
VITASOY INTERNATIONAL SINGAPORE
SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION A source of great pride to VIS is the company’s recent completion of a solar panel project. A visible transformation has taken place, with the 900 square metres of the Senoko factory now covered with 365 solar panels. This allows VIS to produce almost 20 percent of its current electricity needs in Singapore in a sustainable manner. This will result in a reduction of 88 tonnes of CO2 emissions into the environment every year, which is the equivalent to the carbon emissions produced by 178 motor vehicles driven for a year. “Sustainability is at the core of what Vitasoy do, and we have been passionate about that as a company from the beginning. We are committed to growing our company in a way that is good for people and the planet” - Chris Marchant, Managing Director, VIS
in a twin pack and four pack option to enable this,” Marchant explains. This focus on reduced packaging, and indeed the very nature of the products themselves, is reflective of the prevailing concern for 10 | APAC Outlook issue 52
sustainability and the welfare of our planet that runs at the very foundation of Vitasoy. VIS operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Vitasoy International, and has a truly international footprint.
To date, the Vitasoy group distributes plant-based beverages to over 40 countries, with VIS catering to the Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesian markets. “VIS sells tofu all around the world, and in markets outside of Asia such as the UK, Holland, Germany, Spain, Norway, Israel, and the Middle East.” The VIS factory based in Senoko is the crux of the company’s operations, producing all tofu products from the crops of non-GMO whole soybeans, both organic and conventional. The company numbers some 150 staff members, across manufacturing, supply chain, administration and commercial functions. “Our factory is HACCP, ISO 22000 and halal certified, rated Grade A by Singapore Food Authority’s annual food safety certification for 24 years consecutively.”
FROM BEAN TO TOFU Whilst Singapore may be a dynamic
FOOD & DRINK
Premium Quality Soybeans Thanks to our renowned customer support, our full traceability system from seeding to delivery and our premium quality soybeans, Ceresco’s special varieties of tofu, soy drinks, natto and sprouting are praised by food processors around the world.
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VITASOY INTERNATIONAL SINGAPORE
12 | APAC Outlook issue 52
FOOD & DRINK
Vitasoy International Singapore offices
market, the nature of the country itself makes the supply chain a truly critical component of VIS’ operations. “As Singapore is a small country with limited natural resources, we need to ensure we have a constant supply of our raw materials and packaging materials to continue to make our products. “We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that we have complete transparency and traceability throughout our supply chain,” Marchant explains. This means an intimate working relationship with the bean suppliers to ensure a constant stock of the finest quality non-genetically modified (GMO) soybeans, and fostering sustainability on behalf of the farmers and crops that are the source of the
company’s tofu range. “At VIS, we appreciate that our suppliers are sourcing and growing these inputs which we require in multiple countries. At the core of VIS’ values, we want to ensure that all our suppliers are compliant to the local laws and regulations in full,” he comments. Turning to talk of the years ahead, Marchant highlights three core areas of focus to guide VIS. Above all, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to run its course, is catering to the safety and wellbeing of all VIS staff. Secondly, VIS intend to improve the nutrition of its tofu portfolio, implementing a full re-launch of the entire range based on higher protein and calcium content, with the same great signature taste.
“Finally, we will continue to invest in our plant, processes, and people to continue to have sustainability at the core of what we do, especially with a focus on continuing to reduce the overall water, electricity, and fuel it takes to make a piece of tofu.” As vegan regimes continue to become increasingly accepted in diet culture across the world, VIS continues to preside over a market that is yet to realise its full potential.
Tel: (65) 6759 2855 vis@vitasoy.com.sg www.vitasoy.ppqr.sg
APAC Outlook issue 52 | 13
VITASOY INTERNATIONAL SINGAPORE 18 Senoko South Road, Singapore 758089 Tel: (65) 6759 2855 vis@vitasoy.com.sg www.vitasoy.ppqr.sg
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