The food and beverage (F&B) industry in Brunei Darussalam is regarded as being able to enhance investment activities, including local and foreign direct investment. Through the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), various initiatives have been carried out to boost primary and secondary food production in ensuring potential value chains are maximised, boosted and support industries such as logistics and cold storage.
In January 2021, the Brunei Darussalam Food Authority (BDFA) was established as a regulatory and competent authority for food safety and quality in the country. While increasing public awareness on food safety, standards and food labelling, BDFA implements and facilitates training and education for food operators and members of the public involved in the handling or the supply of food, and minimises the risk of food contamination.
BDFA also aims to catalyse the development of the local food industry to achieve international competitiveness while serving as a single point of contact in food-related matters.
In terms of market access, BDFA regulates, facilitates and ensures that all exporting food business operators comply and meet relevant food safety legislation and standards as required by the national food control system of the importing countries to facilitate food-related businesses in international trade.
The Brunei food industry is set to develop further with the establishment of the Brunei Food Industry Development (BFID) Multipurpose Manufacturing and Processing Facility, which provides areas for cleaning and packaging facilities to increase the shelf life of products to enable producers to continue producing, while reducing wastage. The project was announced in 2021 and construction was completed this year.
The facility is expected to significantly contribute to the growth of the food industry ecosystem and value chain by providing a platform for the development of food products and providing a complete solution from sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution and export of local products. Meanwhile, the Brunei Food Awards (BFA) is collaborating with the Brunei Food and Beverage Association (BFBA) to develop an ambitious new food project, with its sights cast on becoming the first and largest dedicated food hub in the country. The project called ‘By the River Food Resort’ will house over 100 of the best restaurants and eateries nationwide. One of the primary objectives of the food hub is to host, support and promote the best Brunei-owned restaurants and eateries under one roof. This initiative is also in line with Brunei Vision 2035, promoting food and tourism both locally and internationally.
Kontena Park is an F&B start-up development programme, offering affordable retail space to help participants market test and gain experience; while Elevate is a growth consultancy programme designed to help businesses move beyond the early-stage of their journey.
The first-time participation aimed to explore new business opportunities and gain insight into industry best practices. During the tradeshow, DARe operated a Brunei booth featuring products from local businesses under their Elevate and Bruneian Made programmes. Alumni and participants of DARe’s Kontena Park programme also joined the tradeshow to attend the event’s seminars while sourcing for ingredients and equipment from other exhibitors.
Kontena Park is an F&B start-up development programme, offering affordable retail space to help participants market test and gain experience; while Elevate is a growth consultancy programme designed to help businesses move beyond the early-stage of their journey. The Bruneian Made programme ensures local producers have access to supermarkets, and it will soon have its own dedicated retail store.
DARe’s participation in FHA-F&B is part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to create an ecosystem that helps develop businesses at different stages of their life cycle.
Operating since 1980, Ben Foods (B) Sdn Bhd focusses mainly on imports and wholesale. At present, the company sells and distributes more than 25 international brands in Brunei including well-known brands such as Abbott, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Kellogg’s and Pringles with a workforce of more than 700 employees.
Businesses under Ben Foods include Supa Save, Brunei’s premier supermarket with four branches in Seria, Gadong, Mabohai and One Riverside. The supermarket is renowned for its high-quality groceries from the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, with a wide range of gourmet and organic products. Another business division under its banner is GNC, a well-known international brand that retails clinically studied dietary supplements and vitamins.
As one of the biggest food-based companies in Brunei Darussalam, Ben Foods also operates an impressive warehouse equipped with modern and frozen storage facilities to preserve the quality of its products. As a business focussed on the wholesale and retail front, Ben Foods has ensured its shipments maintain smooth sailing even during the pandemic through strategic alliance with its overseas partners, as well as the leadership of the HODs. In an interview with the Borneo Bulletin Yearbook, Ben Foods Deputy General Manager Darren Yap said the company has taken steady paces in its business journey and integrated well amid the fast-changing business environment. Its recent joint venture into aquaculture is a partnership with a local fish farm, pioneering its future business strategy outside its usual business module. The signing of the distributorship agreement between Barramundi Group (B) Sdn Bhd and Ben Foods took place on March 14, 2023.
Businesses under Ben Foods include Supa Save, Brunei’s premier supermarket with four branches in Seria, Gadong, Mabohai and One Riverside. The supermarket is renowned for its highquality groceries from the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, with a wide range of gourmet and organic products.
Ben Foods has always been acknowledged as the leader of imported products from countries such as Australia, the UK and regional Southeast Asia to Brunei.
Moving forward, Ben Foods looks to expand its business practices and to import premium products from all over the world to Brunei, giving its shoppers a whole new retail experience while shopping in Supa Save supermarkets.
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