The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Food and beverage ingredients company Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) has opened a new herb processing facility in Beni-Suef, Egypt, to enhance its herb offering. Egypt is one of the biggest markets for the processing, exporting and growing of herbs, with Upper Egypt providing ideal growing conditions, OFI said in a statement announcing the new facility. The facility is expected to process 3,000 metric tons of herbs every year including basil, fennel, marjoram, parsley and dill. Herbs will be sourced directly from local farmers, and the facility will work closely with OFI’s global innovation centres to create optimal solutions for its international customer base. The new facility will operate under Dehydro Foods, a subsidiary business of OFI. It is expected to create 75 direct full-time jobs and source from around 1,000 farmers. The new site aims to contribute toward OFI's ambitions of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting local communities. Brijesh Krishnaswamy, president for spices at OFI, said: “Herbs play an important role in contributing to food’s colour, fragrance and taste, and potentially as a flavour replacement to sodium and sugar”. “With careful processing, dried herbs often retain a deeper, spicier flavour compared to their fresh counterparts, providing a convenient, shelf-stable ingredient for bulk buy.” He added that choosing the right herbs, and where they are acquired, is crucial to “retain integrity and vibrancy”. “Our Egypt teams are focused on maintaining strong relationships with the farmers in our supply chain, advising on quality, while our innovation teams can demonstrate to our CPG, retailer and food service customers, the savoury and culinary opportunities available, including in combination with our wider spices, nuts and dairy product portfolio,” Krishnaswamy concluded. OFI is a global producer of spices with a worldwide network, working directly with farmer partners to ensure high-quality, sustainable spice solutions for supply.