Swiss ingredients firm vows to cut cooking costs

A local distributor of food ingredients, Siam Food Services (SFS), a company under the Siam Makro Group, believes its launch of new food-ingredient products for the imported Haco Swiss brand will substantially reduce the costs of premium restaurants and four- and five-star hotels while ensuring standard flavours.

Haco Swiss, which has been manufacturing food ingredients and cereal bars in Switzerland for 86 years, recently appointed SFS as its local distributor. SFS plans to distribute 17 items initially, including ingredients for making stock, sauces, soups, salad dressings and desserts, to premium restaurants and hotels. Price per gram ranges from Bt1,200 to Bt1,980, which is 5-10-per-cent higher than for other brands.

However, Stephan Gnaegi, head of sales and marketing at Haco Swiss, said in using his company's products, chefs and restaurateurs would not have to spend many hours purchasing many raw materials and preparing cooking procedures, but instead could simply buy ingredients at specific times and use them when needed. They would also be assured of standardised flavours.

The arrangement will help Haco Swiss expand its market in Thailand, from selling through many local distributors to food manufacturers, premium restaurants chains, hotels and catering services.

Meanwhile, SFS hopes to get closer to this year's sales target of Bt1 billion, or 25-per-cent growth.

Gnaegi said Haco Swiss products also tapped into the present strong trend for healthy foods. After manufacture in Switzerland, they are sent to plants in Malaysia for mixing into finished products that contain no monosodium glutamate, trans fats, preservatives or artificial colouring.

SFS plans to build awareness of Haco Swiss products among restaurant and hotels chefs around the country by arranging workshops, events and product demonstrations.

Moreover, the two partners expect to begin planning retail sales by the end of the year.

SFS distributes food ingredients for 25 brands and is negotiating with 10 more. In the first half of the year, it achieved 25-per-cent sales growth.