2025 promises to be a bumper year for new and exciting trends across the…

Spotlight on Indonesia – part 2
The global appetite for Indonesia’s authentic food and beverage offerings has been a contributing factor to the country’s economic growth. While recognising that food inflation remains stubbornly high, the influential World Bank commented that Indonesia is on track to achieving its goal of climbing from middle-income status to high-income status by 2045.
Looking to the immediate future, Food Navigator Asia reports that there are plans among China botanical extracts suppliers to build operations in South East Asia in a bid to bypass potential tariffs hikes under the new Trump administration. Indonesia is one of several appealing options being considered given the lower operating costs.
As demand for healthier food and beverage options gains traction among Indonesian consumers, food manufacturers must balance this requirement against the strong and heavy flavours to which they are accustomed. This not only relates to spices, but liberal use of salt and sugar. Acknowledging the high prevalence of diabetes in Indonesia, KH Roberts Commercial Director Rik Yoh commented: ‘What many food companies here are looking for is a way to strike that fine balance and this is where innovative technology and formulations really need to play an important role.’
According to a recent Statista study, Indonesian consumers cite fresh, natural and fair-trade ingredients as their top criteria for buying food. To meet this demand, food and beverage manufacturers source food ingredients with great care, ensuring that fine quality local foods are produced sustainably. Popular ingredients for traditional Indonesian recipes are likely to include candlenut, coconut milk, rice flour, galangal (like ginger), lime leaves and lemongrass. Statistics show that Indonesia has a global monopoly in the production of nutmeg (seed) and mace (membrane around the seed), as well as 80% for cassia and 70% for cloves
PT Tripper / Origine at Fi Europe 2024.
As highlighted in a recent report from Innova Market Insights, consumers are increasingly concerned about product safety. In response, brands have recognised that clear label messaging is essential for transparency on ingredient sourcing and production processes. New laws, in Indonesia, known as ‘Nutri-Level’ labelling are about to be passed whereby products are graded ‘A’ to ‘D’ to evaluate sugar, saturated fat and various nutritional components. This will not only enable consumers to have a greater understanding of their favourite products, but importantly also help to drive sales.
It is in this context, and for many other reasons, that kosher certification is regarded as so beneficial to Indonesian food and ingredient manufacturers. The distinctive KLBD logo on certified brands not only represents a guaranteed symbol of quality for industrial buyers and consumers alike but is also a major asset for generating additional sales revenue. It comes as no surprise to discover how many companies recognise the benefits of kosher certification and how the value of their products can be enhanced.
One such company is Navil Natural , a prolific producer of coconut and spices, coconut sugar, coconut syrup, vanilla and turmeric. KLBD certified the company is renowned for its emphasis on supply management, production and distribution of food ingredients. Another Indonesian coconut producer displaying the KLBD logo is PT Global Coconut, now trading as PT Sasa Inti and responsible for a diverse range of sought after coconut products, including coconut milk, coconut water and desiccated coconut.
Picking vanilla in Indonesia
Long established PT Tripper / Origine is Indonesia’s leading producer of natural ingredients, specialising in a fantastic array of products that are enjoyed in a variety of food and drink products around the world. These include cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg and mace, all produced to the most stringent quality controls as signified by KLBD certification.
Nestling on the Indonesian island of Batam PT Synergy Oil Nusantara is a port-based refinery exporting palm derivatives for the bakery, industrial and confectionery industries. Understanding the importance placed on stringent production methods, the company is KLBD certified. Also affiliated to the KLBD is the internationally renowned Taiko Group, producer of bleaching earth, used as a processing aid in the edible oil refinery industry and committed to the high standards required by kosher certification.
PT Andalan Furnindo is an established manufacturer of sugar products and benefits from the many advantages of kosher certification, as well as belonging to the Indonesian Refined Sugar Association.
Exhibiting recently at Fi Europe, in Frankfurt, PT Mignon Sista International specialises in the production and distribution of essential oils, including cardamom, neem and turmeric among many other products. Sinkonia Indonesia Lestari is another company benefiting from KLBD certification and lives up to its slogan for crafting the best quality quinine and derivatives in the world.
Many of these and other leading Indonesian food manufacturers will be displaying their innovative product ranges at the East Food exhibition in June, next year. The important show promises to be a must-attend event for exhibitors and visitors alike and details of the exciting programme will soon be announced. Another key event planned for July 2025 is Food Manufacturing Indonesia being staged in Jakarta.
As 2024 draws to a close it looks certain that Indonesia’s thriving food, drinks and ingredients industry will continue its dynamic trajectory for the year ahead and beyond.