15^th March,  New Delhi, IICMA in Association with AFTPAI and AIM Events orgainsed an international event “Indian Ice-Cream Congress 2012” on March 15^th, 2012, New Delhi.

 The event was attended by 147 participants from different parts of the country. There were more than 20 companies present in the event who presented their technologies infront of the delegates during the seminar to the ice-cream industry.

 The seminar was inaugurated by Mr Rakesh Kacker, Secretary-MoFPI. Mr B N Dixit, Director Consumer affairs was also present in the seminar. Members of IICMA had fruitful discussion with Mr Dixit.

 Companies like Danfoss India, Ishida India, GEA, Bunge India, Avery Dennison, DSM, Roquette India, NSF CMi also presented their informative ideas on healthy trends, processing technologies and food safety.

 Mr Rajesh Gandhi, President IICMA told to the guest and audience “Indian Ice-Cream industry is mostly unorganise segment” with a turnover of just 2500 cr. Now after IICMA we have started gaining information from each other’s innovations which is helping the industry to grow. We see a great future for the ice-cream industry in this country. The consumption of ice-creams among Indian consumer is very low in comparison to the developed world and China, he added.

 He also said, in the presence of Mr Rakesh Kacker,Secretary MoFPI that the sector is not getting direct support from the ministry’s subsidy schemes because in its books ice-cream is not and milk product.

 Rakesh Kacker assured the members of IICMA that he will look into the matter and the central government is planning futuristic schemes for the entire food processing industry.

 G Chandrashekhar, Associate Editor, The Hindu Business Line was also presented a wonderful road map for the ice-cream industry. Along with Firoz H Naqvi Group Editor Advance Info Media, Mr Pradeep Chona of Havemor Ice-creams, Mr Balaraju of Dairy Day Ice-Creams and Mr Dewanand Gharde of Tetrapak, he presented the perfect picture and issues of the ice-cream industry. Chona replied to a query of Naqvi during the group discussion, yes the supply chain management was the biggest challenge for us and after looking into this matter closely we are able to grow with a faster CAGR.   

 The seminar also had a very informative session on healthy trends in ice-cream industry, companies like Roquette India, Bunge India and DSM presented some very informative trends. Ankesh Ganguly of Bunge India had a presentation on “Vegetables Fats In Frozen Desserts” which was well taken by the audience. Sanjay Bhattacharjee presented on “New Healthy Trends in Ice Creams “. He emphasized on the fortification of ice-creams with various enzymes and vitamins.  S P Singh, Ice-Cream Head of AMUL asked some very interesting questions to the speakers.

 Mr Sudhi Shah, MD of Scoop Ice Creams, Hyderabad also the Secretary of IICMA presented the vote of thanks he also urged the Chief Guest Mr Kacker and Mr Dixit to look after the issues of ice-cream industry.