F&B Industry Growth Drives Shift in Raw Material Usage
Growth in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, especially in the food service sector, is beginning to alter raw material requirements among businesses. The increasing number of coffee shops, restaurants, and delivery services is driving demand for raw materials that are more practical, efficient, and ready to use, in order to maintain product consistency while accelerating operational processes.
This trend aligns with projections from Euromonitor International, which estimates the number of food chain outlets in the Asia Pacific region will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% over the 2025-2030 period. This growth is primarily supported by the expansion of coffee and tea businesses. In Indonesia, food delivery services are expected to grow by 13%, the highest in the Asia Pacific region, while food service transactions are projected to increase at a CAGR of 6.6% over the same period.
These shifting market needs are prompting raw material industry players to adjust their business strategies. One such company is PT Lautan Natural Krimerindo, which is expanding product development into the liquid raw material category to meet the evolving needs of the food and beverage industry. The company has long been known as a producer of powdered non-dairy creamer used in both domestic and international markets. However, developments in the culinary industry are shifting customer needs from merely product quality towards raw material solutions that can improve operational efficiency.
Based on the company’s internal research, businesses now require raw materials that are not only consistent in quality but also more practical to use and easy to integrate into standard business operations. This condition is evident across various business segments, from independent coffee shops to large-scale restaurant and café chains. They need raw materials that can speed up product preparation, maintain taste consistency, and support work efficiency amid intensifying industry competition.
To address these needs, the company is building a liquid production facility designed to produce various dairy and non-dairy category raw materials according to customer requirements. The resulting products are also targeted to meet international food safety standards to serve both domestic and export markets. Beyond serving as a production facility, this development also opens opportunities for collaboration with industry players looking to develop liquid products according to their respective market characteristics and needs.
Chief Commercial Officer of PT Lautan Natural Krimerindo (LNK), Juwono Hartanto, said the company wants to engage earlier in the product development process with business partners so that the resulting solutions are truly relevant to consumer needs. “We genuinely want to be involved in understanding the specific needs of partners, collaborating in creation to ensure the products produced match what consumers currently need. And our R&D team is ready to support that,” said Juwono.
According to him, the new facility is designed to serve various customer segments, from coffee chain networks to large-scale companies requiring high production capacity with consistent quality standards. The development of the liquid production facility is one response to the evolving dynamics of the F&B industry. Through this step, the company hopes to strengthen collaboration with industry players while delivering raw material solutions that are more efficient, flexible, and aligned with continuously changing market needs.