Skel Rice to hit shelves at a skel price

Goodman Fielder Marketing Manager Jeremy Fry showing the comparison from a standard 1kg pack (right) to the new 200gram pack.

  

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday Chronicle, September 25, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE Goodman Fielder family has grown by one, with the introduction of its latest addition to the Papua New Guinea rice market with Skel Rice.

Formulated over a two year period, the new rice brand is set to hit the shelves in Port Moresby tomorrow- trading at one of the lowest retail portions of rice and price, with its 200 gram pack, selling as low as K1.

An excited Goodman Fielder Marketing Manager, Jeremy Fry, said with the extensive national research conducted since February- a total of 753 individuals gave the company valued insight into the rice market.

“Since February we did research nationally and spoke to 753 people around the country who were cooking rice over the fire on the beaches in Kokopo, villages and churches in Morobe, and out in Hagen walking through the bush and through some settlement to see how people eat and cook rice,” Fry said.

“All of this was done so that we get the right product to launch for Papua New Guinea. We are quite proud to say that this rice that we have brought up is proudly grown for Papua New Guinea.”

“Our long term plan as part of Goodman Fielder is to start milling the rice at our new site in Lae, which we have just purchased land for, and that forms part of our longer term strategy to become the most complete food company in Papua New Guinea.”

With PNG currently importing 350,000 tonnes of rice per annum – Goodman Fielder is set to tap into a market that is worth close to K600 and K700 million, which is set to increase with population growth as stated by Agriculture Minister Tommy Tomscoll in parliament last month.

Sales are set to begin in the nation’s capital, starting with medium grain rice selling in major wholesalers throughout the city and supermarkets.

In addition to the new affordable pack- Skel rice will also come in traditional portions of 10 kilogram (retailing at K39 lower), 1 kg (K4.20), and 500 (K2.30) grams also.

Goodman Fielder are manufacturer of household brand products in the country that include Medow Fresh milk, MedowLea margarine, Praise mayonnaise, Twisties, the well-known Flame Flour range amongst others.

Skel rice’s medium grain rice is imported from Vietnam, with jasmine and long grain rice from Thailand.

“Stage two of our rice development we are looking at milling onshore and longer term we are looking at working with the agriculture sector to start growing rice in the country,” Fry added.

“So before we start going into growing rice in the country what we want to do is to make sure that we have the right product and we actually know a bit on rice before spending millions on a rice farm.”

When asked about the intentions of government in introducing a quota and system and how it would affect the new product- the representatives maintained that any decision by the State would not affect the company as much due to the small market share it has compared to its competitors.

“From a corporate point of view we play by the rules set by the government that is set-as far as the corporate citizenship is concerned we do the right thing.”

“Of course we are concerned, but being such a small player in the rice game at the moment we have very little to lose.”

“There is probably other companies out there who aren’t as diversified as Goodman Fielder, which means that should the rice quota goes through they should have more to lose than we should.”

SP’s Export brand, takes out global award again

(L) Lae Brewery Staff Leon Wardmi, SP GM Stan Joyce, and Paul Mingi pose with the awards.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, September 25, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

SOUTH Pacific brewery continues its global stamp of approval in quality, when it took out gold for its Export Lager brand at the Monde International Quality Institute’s Quality Awards Presentation in Brussels, Belgium.

Staff from the beer manufacturer’s, Lae brewery, received the award on behalf of its workforce in Morobe province- which now sees the Export Brand taking out gold awards 9 times since 2006, including a three year consecutive run from 2014 to 2016.

Due to the brewer’s consistency it was also awarded the International High Quality trophy to recognize consistency in quality award.

Brewery Manager, Kuri Yuwai, said that the winning brand was pitted against 429 entrants ranging from beer, soft drinks, and water products- and underwent blind tests to determine its gold medal placing.

“An independent penal of expert judges were doing a sensory evaluation and assessment of the beer in what is known as blind tasting, a process where none of the judges know the brand thus eliminating any external bias,” Mr Yuwai said.

“The judging penal also take into account the ingredients used, the brewing processes and the techniques, and awards gold medals only to those that meet the highest standard.”

“In 2016 not only did South Pacific Export Lager win a gold medal award, but it also received the international High Quality trophy, an award which recognizes our ongoing success at winning the gold selection quality award in three consecutive years.”

He said recent upgrading had renewed production facilities at both breweries bringing about the continued quality in all the parts of brewing and production processes.

“We have a team that is dedicated to ensuring that we produce consistently great quality beer all the time for every Papua New Guinean consumer.”

“South Pacific Export lager is brewed using the finest ingredients with the skill and the care to ensure we consistently achieve growing success.”

The SP product range has been recipient to various brewing award since 1964, with the Export Lager brand winning its first Gold Medal in 1985 at the same Monde Selection event.

With manufacturing being alternated between Port Moresby and Lae, Yuwai said Lae currently was the main producer of the winning brand due its latest installation.

“Annually in both breweries we produce up to about 60,000,000 of our total products, with the Export brand has a market of 11% (6.6 million liters) of the total volume.”

“The brand goes back in the early 80s, between 1982 where it won its first gold medal. Early 80s late 79s it was brewed and sent mainly sent to Hawaii that is why it has the tag Export.”

“Right now we supply to Northern Australia in small volumes, some to Fiji,” Yuwai said.

Safety still major concern for Chinese tourists

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, September 25, 2016 (PNG)

SAFETY concerns remain the biggest hindrance for the country to tap into the world’s biggest tourist supplier in China, says PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s, China Destination Manager, James Qian.

Qian says the main reason many of China’s more than 120 million outbound tourist travellers, annually, was safety- apart from other hindrances in accessing the PNG tourism market.

In 2009 PNG became the 118th tourist destination country for Chinese citizens.

“Since that time it is sad to say that not many Chinese visitors are coming to PNG,” Qian said.

“I have often discussed this issue with many Chinese citizens and the current reasons out there and the critical one is safety concern.”

“People come and ask saying things like it is not safe in PNG. Now you can see that many Chinese visitors go abroad, go to USA, Europe, Japan, Korea.”

He said with the stereotypical Chinese tourist being described as one that goes everywhere to buy- the use of cash in hand is a major feature of the Chinese tourist.

“When we go from the biggest to smallest place we buy buy buy and. It is also custom that Chinese people like to use cash so safety is very critical,” he pointed out.

He also made a comparison of major fact with the country’s closest neighbor, Indonesia to highlight facts between of the two destinations.

PNG became destination in 2009 and Indonesia 2001 with pre-approved visa in force for those travelling into the country, while Indonesia is visa free for Chinese tourists- with Indonesia provides Chinese visitors a period of 30 days without visa.

“Airfares PNG return tickets same transfer from Hong Kong same flight to PNG cost US$1800 and to Indonesia is US$750 Dollars.”

“Place (tourist hubs) of interest mainly known in Indonesia is Bali, Java, and Jakarta- a lot of people do not know about PNG’s famous places other than the capital of Port Moresby.”

Qian said as a result, the annual visitors to PNG is 1,000 Chinese tourist, compared to Indonesia 1 million plus visitors, with an estimated consumption of the average Chinese tourist is US$3500 to see how much PNG is missing out on.

He added with the recent visit by Prime Minister O’Neill to China to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping yielded fruitful result with direct flights agreed to between both countries.

Added to the efforts by the government to capture the Chinese market, Qian, also praised efforts by the National Government in its efforts to negotiate visa on arrival arrangements that could benefit PNG Tourism.

Tourism budget and changes evident of Govt attitude

Minister Kulang delivering his opening remarks.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, September 25, 2016 (PNG)

MINISTER for Tourism Arts and Culture, Tobias Kulang has painted a picture of what he said was the general attitude towards tourism in the budgeting processes- that was further evident with huge cuts in the supplementary budget last month.

He said with the annual budget of the PNG Tourism Authority of K10 million out of a growing national budget of K14 billion represented less than 1% invested in the sector.

The minister made his remarks during the National Tourism Conference, held in Port Moresby, as part of the Tourism Week activities from September 21 to 27.

Kulang stated that the commitment by the National Government in the sector was, completely ludicrous and unthinkable.

“This dismal and piece meal approach has not gotten us anywhere and will continue to deny us of any meaningful growth in the sector,” the minister said.

He even made reference to the recent2016 budget of K50 million allocated to grow the sector that got mowed down up to 90 percent in the 2016 Supplementary Budget- which despite being understandable was perhaps one of the biggest cut sectors apart from others.

“In recent times the industry was excited by an allocation of k50 million in the 2016 budget, the highest so far, in over 40 years.”

“However, this allocation was cut back by K45 million, by 90 percent, to make it one of the highest cut sector in the supplementary budget.”

“This was like adding salt to the wound, thanks to our friends at Vulupindi Haus. I am saying this because I want us to understand what is the overall attitude towards this industry in this country.”

“This clearly indicates a lack of foresight on the part of National Government and bureaucratic leadership,” Kulang added.

Minister Kulang called for the need for serious change in attitude.

“Otherwise we are wasting our time here and denying ourselves of the economic value this industry is able to generate during this time.”

He said with the country classified as an undesired destination, due to law and order problems served as a deterrent to what he said is an untapped tourism market.

PNG urged to cash in on authentic cultural tourism

Chris Flynn.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, September 25, 2016 (PNG)

PAPUA New Guinea has been urged to cash in on huge rise in tourism from Asia, with a new breed authentic cultural tourism.

Tourism expert and Regional Director of Pacific-Asia Travel Association (PATA), Chris Flynn, spoke to those in attendance at the National Tourism Conference on Friday in Port Moresby, that with the speed of change that is currently taking the world through the growth of Asia- PNG is in need of capturing the huge market of culture.

Chris said the huge growing stressed out middle class in countries like China that presented a dilemma that would best fit with the need for the authentic cultural experience was tailored for a culturally diverse nation like PNG.

“What I am showing you here is the speed of change. What I am demonstrating here is how fast the world is changing.”

“There is a shift in consumer mindset. The emerging aspirations of the new traveller looking for spectacular landscapes, environmentally responsible destinations, that are culturally rich and pristine.”

He said with core values changing the uniqueness of product destinations presented appeal with a desire to be entertained and stimulated rather than just pampered.

“Story telling in one of the most important things you should do. You have a million stories here, whether you can communicate it orally, video- people want something that they can take away.”

“They want to come here not to take anything away from you but to help you protect your environment and culture,” Flynn said.

He pointed the benefits would be beneficial not only to the tourism sector, but also the country as a whole.

An estimated direct benefit of US$625 million is made to the global economy, with direct benefit in the Asia Pacific Region US$327 million.

“Supports 50 million jobs in Asia-Pacific, preservation and restoration of cultural heritage, drives economic sustainability, creates unique destination character and identity, protects and encourages cultural pride.”

His presentation highlighted consideration to booming economies of Asian Countries, its growing middle class with increased personal wealth and disposable income, the growing breed of new cultural travellers, that want to explore more remote destinations with spectacular landscape and unspoilt nature.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association working to promote the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region.