The Start:
Food has been the means of survival for the living beings since time immemorial. While the history of food processing dates back to a million years ago, the food processing techniques have changed throughout the ages.
The industrial revolution in the 20th century has had a large impact on the food processing equipment industry. For example, the industrial revolution resulted in the development of machines in the food industry that reduced the human intervention only to trigger the rise of restaurants and food malls. Since then, the food machineries and equipment have encountered scientific changes throughout the course. Nonetheless, it is worthy to mention the growing significance of digital devices and automation in the food & beverage industry.
Innovation and Trends:
The definition for food processors and food processing equipment can vary with some difference. For example, the most common users of food processors are housewives and domestic helpers wherein cutting, blending, grating, and sorting of food is carried on a single-handed basis in a less time. On the other hand, a food processing equipment can still perform the same operations on an industrial level under different units. The time required differs for output owing to the broader nature and scale of these operations.
With the growing population and ever increasing demand for food in the fast-paced environment in the suburbs, processed foods have gained tremendous popularity. The need for hygiene standards are becoming more stringent with the progress. Simultaneously, the grading methods for the food applications are also getting more diversified in the process, hence, innovative methods are being adopted to improve the quality standards.
For example, the 3D printing technique is looked upon as a game changer in the food industry. The 3D technology is getting more attention as it helps in anticipate in designing a better food product for the end consumption. It ensures the minimal food wastage arising from conventional cooking methods and result in a healthy high-tech food product.
In another instance, the high pressure processing techniques have stood the test of time. It involves a cold pasteurization process with a high isostatic environment for packaged foods. High pressure processing is advantageous because it inactivates the micro-organisms to ensure food safety and enables a better quality of taste, appearance and enhance nutritional value of food. Also, it aims at resolving the concerns for low shelf life in packaged foods.
Food processing equipment industry in the post-pandemic :
Food industry in the post-pandemic world is likely to witness the most significant changes in terms of automation, sanitation, packaging & delivery and adoption of IT infrastructure. Majorly, the cause and effect analysis anticipates a more clear picture of improvements on safety.
Following are some twists of how food processing equipment industry is likely to appear across geographies in the post-pandemic world.
1. Rebuilding the Supply Chain – The supply chain is expected to strengthen as more emphasis will be given on consumer safety as home stay will be a regular norm among consumers in the foreseeable future. Consumers are expected to shift toward healthy eating options prepared with organic ingredients.
2. The Norm – In the end-user market, takeaways and home deliveries will continue to be a major medium between customers and restaurants. This is more or less expected to continue in the new normal as social restrictions are easing in several countries followed by vaccination drive.
3. Consumer Preference – The transformation in consumer preferences will also trigger more need for automation and digitization in the food production sector. For example, cleaning robots might get deployed to cover sanitation tasks in a cyclical manner. Besides, the small companies might go on a complete automation mode for food packaging.
4. Finding the Right Balance – Manufacturing companies might possibly spend more on setting up new factories to improve efficiency and finding the right balance to suffice the production and distribution load. This move will be based out of finding the right talent to cater to the changing needs. However, going forward intense challenges prevail in finding the right balance.
5. Demand for Processed Foods – Millennial consumers are already stocking up with essential supplies and foods mainly driven and to continue with the lockdown habits. Canned foods, frozen vegetables, cheese, butter, and macaroni, pasta, are some of the common packaged food products preferred by a millennial on a regular basis. In this light, the food manufacturers are benefitting from increase in sales of packaged foods as consumer retention has relatively grown high during the pandemic. The Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies are likely to renovate their distribution strategies. Food companies trying to cope with the pandemic situation are relatively delivering more packaged foods with better quality and shelf life.
The Final Word:
We’re not even closer at the end of the pandemic and there is no sign it is slowing down any sooner in the nearest future. While the cost of survival is high at the moment, the food processing equipment industry is constantly trying to find optimum balance between production, supply, and distribution amid the crisis. With more developed quality standards the food processing techniques are likely to cover more ground turning more and sustainable with better alternatives in the coming years.
