Chapter 157 Tasting Party (Additional Update)
April 10th.
Hailufeng Company held a tasting event at the Paris Peninsula Hotel in the city.
Ten days ago, I sent an email to invite major high-end restaurants, high-end pastry shops in Lingnan Province, and major domestic ice cream manufacturers.
Although nearly a thousand invitations were sent, only 683 people agreed to come to the tasting.
Of course, this does not include the assistants these people brought over.
All in all, thousands of people came to the Peninsula Paris today.
To hold this tasting, the sales department reserved the second and third floors of the Paris Peninsula Hotel.
Chen Wei and Chen Jiajun, father and son, had previously purchased white truffles from Hailufeng Company. As high-end restaurant operators, they received an invitation from Hailufeng Company and decided to come over in person. Moreover, they heard that they were here to taste one kind of truffles. The brand new spiced strawberry brought the two pastry chefs from the restaurant.
Get out of the elevator.
I saw a crowded scene.
Chen Wei also discovered many old acquaintances from the same industry.
"Will Boss Tian also come to participate in the tasting party?"
Hearing the familiar voice, the pot-bellied Boss Tian turned around, only to find that it was the Chen family and his son, with an invisible smile on his face: "Boss Chen, I haven't seen you for a long time. Why haven't I seen you in Gujin Hall recently?"< br>
"I had a gallbladder removal operation two months ago. I have been recuperating at home for the past few months. It was an unexpected opportunity, so I brought my dog over to see the world." Chen Wei explained with a smile.
"Hey! As people get older, there are more and more physical problems. I also have high blood pressure and high blood lipids now." Boss Tian sighed.
Chen Wei shook his head: "Let's not talk about this anymore. Has the tasting started?"
"Here we go, I'll take you over to get your things."
A group of people were walking through the sea of people.
After a while, I squeezed into the tasting table.
The tasting table is filled with various snacks and drinks.
There are a variety of Western cakes, caramel pudding, ice cream, croquettes, and cookies.
There are also Chinese mung bean cakes, chestnut cakes, and egg yolk cakes.
As well as a variety of bottled drinks, including milkshakes, milk tea, honey water, coconut milk, and sour plum soup.
"Eat all you want. I just ate it. It tasted very good." Boss Tian picked up a bottle of iced sour plum soup and took a sip.
Chen Wei took a disposable plate and a set of disposable tableware from the waiter, and took a small piece of cake from the cake mountain in front of him.
The two pastry chefs were not polite either.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong, Master Yang?" Chen Jiajun had just picked up a bottle of honey water when he heard a surprised voice from one of the pastry chefs.
Master Yang did not answer immediately, but took another bite of the ice cream before confirming: "This vanilla ice cream actually uses natural vanilla seeds?"
"Really?" Chen Jiajun also had vanilla ice cream made from natural vanilla. He walked three steps and two steps to the ice cream tasting table and asked the waiter to dig an ice cream ball for him.
After trying it, he found that it indeed had a very complex vanilla flavor. This was a rich and fragrant fragrance that could not be replicated by artificial vanilla flavoring.
And he also found that the amount of vanilla paste used in this ice cream could at least reach a very high concentration.
On the sidelines, Li Du, the person in charge of raw material procurement of Baxi Ice Cream Company, and the perfumers and flavorists sent by their company were also very shocked.
The person who spoke was the bald perfumer:
"Manager Li, the amount of vanilla paste used in this vanilla ice cream is very high, which is basically equivalent to using about 0.6 to 0.7 grams of vanilla seeds per liter of ice cream, or 6 to 14 grams of vanilla paste."
"Oh? How much vanilla cream do we use for vanilla ice cream?"
"We use 1.5 grams of high-concentration vanilla paste per liter of ice cream, which is equivalent to 0.15 grams of vanilla seeds." Another seasoning expert wearing glasses whispered back.
In fact, the price of ordinary high-concentration vanilla paste is not high. If wholesaled in large quantities, it will cost about 700 to 800 yuan per kilogram.
Baxi's vanilla ice cream uses only 1.5 grams of vanilla paste per kilogram and costs about one yuan.
Of course, only 1.5 grams of high-concentration vanilla paste is used per kilogram of ice cream, which can only enhance the vanilla flavor a little. People with insensitive tastes may not even be able to tell the difference between natural vanilla and artificial flavors.
If you directly use a higher concentration like the vanilla ice cream in front of you, it can indeed enhance the taste experience of diners. This is also one of the gimmicks of many high-end restaurants.
The bespectacled condimentist raised his eyebrows slightly and said: "If our ice cream wants to achieve this concentration of flavor, we must use 10 grams of vanilla paste per kilogram of ice cream to achieve it."
Obviously, this amount of usage is not something Baxi Company can afford. After all, their retail price of 1 kilogram of vanilla ice cream is only 33 yuan, and the wholesale price obtained by dealers is even lower, usually around 28 yuan.
The cost of 1.5 grams of vanilla paste is 1.125 yuan.
The cost of 10 grams of vanilla paste is 7.5 yuan.
This will greatly increase their costs and dilute their already low gross profits.
Therefore, Li Du and others do not think that this level of vanilla ice cream can be sold at a low price. If their company has the reputation of Haagen-Dazs, of course they can use better raw materials or higher concentration of vanilla paste, and then offset it with a high price part of the cost of raw materials.
Except for the people from Baxi Company.
People from Wuyang Ice Cream Factory, Meiji Ice Cream Company and Haagen-Dazs Company were also discussing in low voices the various snacks and drinks on the tasting table.
"Lao Wang, what do you think?" Zhang Lili, the head of Wuyang's purchasing department, put down the fork in her hand and looked at Master Wang, who was responsible for the research and development of ice cream.
Master Wang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "On their tasting table, these snacks and drinks all use vanilla paste, and they are used in high concentrations. Obviously, the products launched by Hailufeng Company this time are products such as vanilla paste."
"Vanilla cream?" Zhang Lili frowned.
This is because their company does not use natural vanilla in its ice cream and ice cream products. After all, their products are positioned at mid-to-low prices. Vanilla paste is too luxurious. They use cheap vanillin flavor to sell at low prices.
On the other hand, Meiji Ice Cream Company's purchasing manager, Fuji Yinhao, looked thoughtfully at the trial products in front of him. He turned his head and whispered a few words to his assistant and translator.
After a while.
His assistant came over with two employees from Hailufeng Company.
One of the employees was none other than Takeo Watanabe, whom Jiang Miao had taken in before, and the other was Wang Zhixue, one of the deputy managers of the sales department.
"Hello! Mr. Kudo, I am Wang Zhixue, deputy manager of the sales department of Hailufeng Company, and this is Takeo Watanabe, the translator of our company's international trade office."
Hearing Watanabe Takeo's name, a hint of surprise flashed in Kudo Yinhao's eyes, and then he suppressed his curiosity and stretched out his hand to shake Wang Zhixue: "Hello, Wang Sang, I am the purchasing manager of Meiji Ice Cream Company. Kudo Yinhao, I would like to know about your company’s upcoming vanilla products.”
"Okay, let's go to the business private room on the fourth floor to talk in detail." Wang Zhixue led the way with a smile.
Come to the box.
Kudo Yinhao looked at the big iron box on the table curiously, then raised his head and asked: "Is this your company's vanilla product?"
Wang Zhixue nodded, then pried open the lid, then opened the sealed bag inside, and used a small spoon to scoop out a handful of pandan and strawberry powder as big as a fingernail.
Looking at the light pink powder, Kudo Yinhao had a strange expression, but his nose smelled a highly concentrated vanilla smell: "It does smell like vanilla, and it's very complex, but why is it in powder form? Shouldn't it be in paste form?" ”
"Because our company uses another natural raw material, namely strawberry." Wang Zhixue took out another sealed box, which contained frozen pandan strawberries.
"Strawberry? Wang Sang, you said this is made of strawberry?" Kudo Yinhao's eyes widened.
As Wang Zhixue opened the sealed box, a stronger smell of vanilla filled the room. Fortunately, this was a single pill, so the smell was not too overwhelming.
If it is in a greenhouse, due to a large number of pandan strawberries ripening at the same time and the confined space, the vanilla smell inside will exceed the standard, resulting in back odor.
Kudo Yinhao approached the pandan strawberry, fanned it with his hand, and smelled the natural and strong vanilla smell. This is not a smell that can be easily imitated by artificial flavors.
"Is this a new variety? Is it using genetically modified technology?" Wang Zhixue shook his head: "No, this is a genetic test report. Our company's raw materials do not use genetically modified strawberries."
Kudo Yinhao just looked at the genetic test report. Since it involved a lot of professional terms, he didn't quite understand it. However, he wasn't too worried. After all, since the other party dared to sell it, he was naturally not afraid of other companies taking it. Products undergo genetic testing.
"I feel confident about your company's products."
Wang Zhixue poured the powder on a small plate. As the powder was spread, the vanilla flavor became more obvious. He then introduced:
"Our current product is available in 5 kilograms. The unit concentration is equivalent to vanilla seeds, which is about 10 times the concentration of general high-concentration vanilla paste."
"10 times the concentration?" Kudo Yinhao stared at the light pink powder on the small plate: "What is the price?"
Wang Zhixue smiled and quoted a price: "3,500 yuan per kilogram."
"3,500 yuan per kilogram? Based on the concentration, it is equivalent to 350 yuan for 1 kilogram of vanilla paste." Kudo Yinhao thought about it.
In terms of cost performance, the price is 50% cheaper. In terms of effects, he has just tried various snacks and drinks made with this strawberry powder. Even though he and several colleagues tasted it carefully many times, he still didn't find it too Too obvious a difference.
This is enough for this strawberry powder to successfully replace vanilla paste, and since it is produced from strawberries, its production must be much simpler than the production of pandan pods, and it is very likely that it can be produced on a large scale.
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Therefore, after Kudo Yinhao thought about it, he began to take the opportunity to lower the price: "3500 is too high. Your strawberry powder should be mass-produced, right?"
However, Wang Zhixue smiled and shook his head: "Our company has no plans to produce on a large scale. We currently produce about 100 tons of pandan and strawberry powder every month, so the price of 3,500 yuan per kilogram is the best price."
The market research department of Hailufeng Company has already conducted relevant research.
The current production process of vanilla paste is to produce 10 kilograms of vanilla paste from 1 kilogram of vanilla seeds, and 1 kilogram of vanilla seeds requires about 3.5 kilograms of pandan pods.
The cheapest pandan pods cost about 1,600 yuan per kilogram, which means that the cost of 1 kilogram of vanilla seeds is about 5,600 yuan. Including processing fees, the cost is 5,700 yuan per kilogram.
Vanilla seeds are further processed to form vanilla paste, the production cost of which is about 600 yuan per kilogram.
Those vanilla pastes that cost 700 to 800 yuan per kilogram have a gross profit of more than 100 yuan per kilogram.
After research by the market research department, it is believed that the price of pandan and strawberry powder remains at 3,500 yuan per kilogram. Due to the concentration, it is almost equivalent to the sales price of vanilla paste at 350 yuan per kilogram, which is half price.
It can not only ensure profits, but also avoid causing disaster to the pandan pod industry in other regions.
After all, European and American companies in Madagascar and other places where pandan pods originate, the highest purchase price is only 1,500 yuan per kilogram. This is the price of the highest quality pandan pods, while the medium quality ones are 600 to 1,000 yuan per kilogram, and the worst ones are 300-600 yuan per kilogram.
Kudo Yinhao secretly cursed Hailufeng Company as a cunning and profiteer.
It is clearly capable of large-scale production, but for the sake of high profits, the production volume is deliberately limited.
With a monthly production volume of 100 tons, even if it is equivalent to 1,000 tons of vanilla paste, it will not completely impact the market.
After all, this is a monopoly industry. Even if Meiji Ice Cream Company doesn't buy it, other ice cream manufacturers will.
After all, the price advantage is there.
In order to reduce costs and increase efficiency, and to compete with other peers, all ice cream and ice cream companies that use natural vanilla as a gimmick will follow up, otherwise they may be eliminated from the market.
The helpless Kudo Yinhao could only accept this price: "Wang Sang, your company is really great! Give me 50 kilograms of samples, and I need to send them back to the headquarters for product debugging."
"No problem." Wang Zhixue smiled and shook hands with the other party again.
After Kudo Yinhao left.
The business manager sent by Niupai Company, one of the three dairy companies in the country, also came over.
Apparently there were a lot of smart people coming to the tasting.
Niupai Company also bought a sample from Wang Zhixue and quickly sent it back to the Monan headquarters, preparing to try to use this raw material to replace vanilla paste. Of course, they will also conduct detailed research on the ingredients of pandan strawberry powder to avoid Hailufeng Company What harmful ingredients are hidden inside.
After that, several large chain Western pastry companies successively ordered dozens of kilograms of pandan and strawberry powder.
It was a hindrance to see other participants.
Wang Zhixue knew he had to play.
On the big stage behind the tasting table, Wang Zhixue took the microphone and patted it: "Dear guests! Good morning, everyone."
After hearing the sound of the announcement, many guests stopped and looked in the direction of the big stage.
"I am Wang Zhixue, deputy manager of the sales department of Hailufeng Company. I am very honored to invite friends from all over the world to participate in this tasting today."
As Wang Zhixue's voice echoed in the hall, everyone's attention turned to him, or in other words, these guests wanted to know what the so-called new product of Hailufeng Company was.
Some of the people who had guessed it were also silent, waiting for the next step.
"You may be curious why we haven't come up with new products for you to taste. In fact, everyone has already finished the tasting."
As soon as he finished speaking, many people who were confused just now showed expressions of realization, and they looked at the tasting table in front of the big stage.
"Our company will launch pandan strawberry powder to the market in the near future. This is a brand-new spice. Its taste is highly similar to natural pandan pods. The wholesale price is 3,500 yuan per kilogram. Customers who want to know more details can come and try it. Receive product introductions and samples at the restaurant. ”
Li Du, the head of the purchasing department of Baxi Company in the audience, showed a hint of thought on his face, while his assistant had already gone to the tasting table and received a product introduction and a small bag of pink powder.
Others also became interested.
As each product brochure was taken away, the discussion in the hall became more and more lively.
The bespectacled ingredient engineer of Baxi Company raised his glasses and said: "Manager Li, if the concentration is equivalent to 10 times that of vanilla paste, the price of 3,500 yuan per kilogram is acceptable."
At this time, Li Du also came to his senses: "I know, it seems that Meiji Ice Cream and Niubai Company have been in contact with Hailufeng Company. We must take action and not fall behind other companies."
Wang Dehua, the business manager of Haagen-Dazs Company, who had been maintaining a cold demeanor just now, now looked equally surprised and uncertain.
At the same time, he was secretly scolding Heilufeng Company for being careless. You must know that their Haagen-Dazs vanilla cream is directly produced from pandan pods originating in Madagascar.
Now that Hailufeng Company has sold so much pandan and strawberry powder that can replace pandan pods, it is almost conceivable that in the next period of time, major ice cream companies around the world will definitely be crazy about vanilla series products.
Even Haagen-Dazs, a luxury brand of ice cream and ice cream, will feel the pressure.
Because competitors have access to cheaper raw materials, if Haagen-Dazs is still using the previous Madagascar vanilla paste, this will make Haagen-Dazs less competitive.
Of course, Haagen-Dazs can also declare that vanilla ice cream using pandan pods is real vanilla ice cream to maintain its luxury brand.
But whether consumers will pay the bill is another matter.
After all, you can eat products of similar quality and relatively cheap prices, and consumers will vote with their feet.
Luxury character design needs to show unique characteristics.
Otherwise, something that everyone can afford will not be worthy of being called a luxury product.
When a luxury brand loses its luxury persona, its curtain call is not far away.
To a certain extent, Hailufeng's pandan and strawberry powder is causing an industry reshuffle in the vanilla ice cream product.
Zhang Lili, the head of the purchasing department of Wuyang Ice Cream Company, who was still uninterested just now, has come to the fire stairwell and called the general manager of his company to report the current situation.
Many ice cream companies that have not used natural vanilla as raw materials before are also thinking about whether to launch a new product and enter the high-end market.
As time goes by.
The management of major ice cream companies all know that Hailufeng Company has developed a new flavor that can be used to replace natural vanilla paste.
What followed was that the 5 tons of pandan and strawberry powder currently in stock were sold out.
Although they are all taken back for new product research, there are dozens of major ice cream companies alone. Plus large catering companies and Western pastry shops, 5 tons of products are only enough for them to make samples.
(End of chapter)