Interview
Interview
ABICAB launches its new brand Brasil Sweets and Snacks at ISM
Participation at the ISM fair in Cologne , Germany , was a real success for the Brazilian Chocolate , Cocoa , Peanuts , Candies and Byproducts Industry Association ( ABICAB ). To find out more about ABICAB and their participation at the trade fair , Biscuit World ( BW ) spoke with Romualdo Silva , vice-president of exports at ABICAB .
By Ioana Oancea
During the fair , deals were made worth USD 4.27 mil - lion and are projected to make a profit of around USD 20 million over the next 12 months , indicating a positive result for the Brazilian confectionery producers . Berbau , Docile , Dori , Embaré , Garoto , Harald , Jazam , Montevérgine , Nugali , Peccin , Prodasa , Riclan , Simas and Vonpar are Brazilian companies that foresee a promising future in terms of business expansion into foreign mar - kets . These companies were selected in accordance with their level of ex - port maturity .
BW : Sweet Brasil is an international brand of the Brazilian confectionery and peanuts industry , created by ABICAB . Can you tell us more about the goals of the association ? RS : We launched our new brand at ISM , which is Brasil Sweets and Snacks . This is the official brand of the sector ' s export promotion project , a part ner - ship between ABICAB and Apex-Brasil . The project is aimed the relationship between the public and private sec - tors , both in Brazil and abroad . It pro - motes Brazilian confectionery and snack companies and their products internationally , organizing their parti - ci pation in international fairs and events with the aim of maximizing their visi bility and strengthening the national image .
BW : Who are the members of the association , what are the criteria for membership and what are the be - nefits of membership ? RS : Founded in 1957 , ABICAB is res - pon sible for the industry ' s policies both at home in Brazil , as well as abroad . It is aimed at adding value to the con - fectionery industries , which are directly responsible for 31,000 jobs and in - directly for the creation of 62,000 jobs . It represents 92 % of the cho colate market , 70 % of the candies and con - fec tionery market , 80 % of the peanut market and 100 % of the cacao mar - ket . ABICAB has more than 90 mem - bers . Any company from the sec tors that are represented by the as soci - ation can join as a member . The main benefits of membership are na tion - wide repre sen tation in terms of re gulatory issues , as well as national and international agre ements .
BW : What is the most important aspect in ABICAB ’ s agenda this year ? RS : Our main objective this year is to increase our exports and develop new markets . In addition to ISM 2016 , we participate at Gulfood 2016 , Sweets and Snacks 2016 Chicago , SIAL Paris and Sweets and Snacks Middle East .
BW : What are the most important trends that will drive changes in Brazil ’ s confectionery production in 2016 ? RS : The most important changes in our industry are related to producing more added value and healthier products with natural colorings and flavors , as well as nutraceutical products .
BW : What are some of the major mar ket challenges for confectionery businesses in Brazil and worldwide ? RS : Our main challenges for this year are making new investments in order to increase our competitiveness .
BW : Everybody is talking about niche markets ( free-from , vegeta ri - an / vegan , clean / clear label ). What about regular confectionery ? What should producers and consumers expect regarding regular sweets ? RS : Confectionery and snack pro - ducts in general are becoming richer in terms of attributes and this is a trend we expect to continue for the years to come . l
40 Spring 2016 • BISCUIT WORLD