Dalo chips the next big thing for FMF Foods
FMF Foods Limited is diversifying its products.
It is looking at developing dalo chips as its main product .
Managing director Ram Bajekal said they had increased the amount of dalo they bought. “FMF Foods is buying ten times more dalo
(tausala variety) then before from local farmers and traders for the production of dalo chips. He said Fijians were used to eating dalo and cassava, so dalo chips were preferable here.
The move is also to cushion the shortage of potatoes which has been on-going in New Zealand. The company imports potatoes for the production of its differently flavoured potato chips. Since May, Mr Bajekal said the company has been facing problems as supply from New Zealand fluctuates.
“To tackle the problem we have significantly increased the production volume of dalo chips.
“This will help substitute for the shortage of potato chips and not only that, it also puts more money into the pockets of our local farmers,” said Mr Bajekal.
Recently FMF Foods introduced the 150 grams packet of dalo chips to meet the demand from the local and overseas markets as well.
The company is still awaiting clearance from the Bio-security Authority of Fiji to allow the import of potatoes from other countries, Mr Bajekal said.
“This has put the industry into a bit of difficulty.”
According to Mr Bajekal, the variety of potatoes used to produce chips is out of stock; however, the supply of fresh potatoes for cooking is not affected.
New Zealand Herald yesterday reported that stocks of the crunchy delights are stretched as New Zealand battles a nationwide potato shortage after the wet winter.
Signs have been spotted at Pak’n Save informing customers of the difficulty in stocking potato chips due to the shortage.
A Foodstuffs spokeswoman said some of the potato chip suppliers were “having challenges meeting demand” due to the wet weather conditions.
It is not yet believed that the shortage will impact on the availability of fresh potato stocks, the report said.