It’s back to basics for vanilla growers

KOCHI: Natural vanilla seems to be the flavour with more and more ice cream manufacturers deciding to go the natural way. Amul was the first company to go into natural vanilla-based ice creams. Now several leading manufacturers are queuing up to buy natural vanilla.

Kochi-based Vanilla India Producer Company (Vanilco), a vanilla farmers’ initiative, has suddenly found its order book full. After Amul, Hyderabad-based Scoop, Bangalore-based MTR, Kolkata-based Metro Dairy and Vadilal are keen on using natural vanilla extracts for their ice creams.

Vanilco MD Paul Jose says: “We were the largest procurer last season with 132 tonnes and now have a stock of 24 tonnes of cured vanilla beans with us, which can be converted to 1,600 kg of vanillin. As things stand, the entire quantity could go into ice cream production.”

According to him, Amul is buying 100 kg, while Scoop and MTR have placed orders for 20 kg each. Vadilal is on a test marketing drive. Apart from these players, Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma) is also regularly buying small quantities from Vanilco for its ice creams.

According to Spices Board sources, the company will require extracts from 3 tonnes of vanilla. Though natural vanilla ice creams are priced higher, there are many takers. “Our ice cream sales has shown a 25 to 30 % growth since the introduction of natural vanilla flavour,” said Amul sources here.

Vanilco is coming out with its own brand of ice creams next month. “Initially, we will focus on selling bulk packs to major hotels. It will be christened natural vanilla ice cream of Vanilco,” Mr Jose says.

The Spices Board has also reached an understanding with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for using natural vanilla in the latter’s ice creams, which will be launched by January.