Thread: Coconut husks needed

I agree with Mosha. It was a great programme and opened my eyes!

Originally Posted by afghanpicker

You build it they will come..

This is a product you can produce and sell start to finish

kind of like these guys they grow and sell 1.6 ton a yr

Heilala | Heilala Vanilla Limited

Think your link kind off proves my point, they are one of 28 EU sponsored vanilla projects in the Tongan area and they are hoping to make a deal with Japanese buyers.
They have planted and one one has come, even with EU sponsorship. Jim

I have read their web page front to back and were does it say anything about EU sponsorship for them. They grow their own vanilla process it and sell it retail for 3-4 times wholesale prices. I think this would be the perfect situation for a small time grower of 3 ton or less. And they have to compete with all the other small growers in the area. Their product has been featured on australian TV and Chef are talking about it. Just the free publicity alone is probably selling their products. Of course i don't have sales numbers from them but i would be happy having half of their business. I am not looking to be a large commercial grower just under 3 ton a yr. Now that may seem like alot but most plantations are doing 10-50 ton a yrs off of 200,000 plants and of course they may have troubles selling that much. but i am going for the farm to table approach. Some call it boutique growers that is were i can tell my buyers i have made sure no chemicals were used and it was grown almost organically until i can get it certified. And after being a Chef in the usa for over 20 yrs i have the contact's once this is producing to make a phone call or emails and since i am the grower and not a buyer i can undercut everyone else's prices who do you think they will buy from. I do not want to sell my vanilla to a buyer why give him half.

And maybe you can explain to me this ASEAN thing happing in 2015 supposedly how will that effect trade between Thailand and japan and the other ASEAN countries. And I wonder how many japanese tourist come here compared to Tonga. And I wonder what the shipping cost Tonga to Japan would be compared to Thailand to Japan. I checked on a ticket to Tonga from BKK cheapest i could find was 2700 and next 5000 and that us dollars.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Originally Posted by afghanpicker

You build it they will come..

This is a product you can produce and sell start to finish

kind of like these guys they grow and sell 1.6 ton a yr

Heilala | Heilala Vanilla Limited

Think your link kind off proves my point, they are one of 28 EU sponsored vanilla projects in the Tongan area and they are hoping to make a deal with Japanese buyers.
They have planted and one one has come, even with EU sponsorship. Jim

is this the article from may 7th 2013 you are referencing maybe you read it wrong seems to me they are talking bout breaking into the japanese market and how it is only going to boost sale..

But maybe i read it wrong

they have been in business since 2002 and it just keeps growing

Tongan vanilla exporter to supply Japanese markets
Posted by: admin Posted date: May 07, 2013 In: Business, Pacific the jet newspaper fiji
APTION: Heilala Vanilla products that will feature in Japanese markets.


Over the past year, Heilala Vanilla has been in discussion with the Japanese confectionary company, Hon Takasagoya Co. Ltd, which will distribute and utilise Heilala Vanilla products in its confectionary range of cakes and biscuits.

Boggiss explained that the growing success of Heilala Vanilla is testament to its distinct flavour and aroma and its strong brand name, which reflects its South Pacific origin and partnership with the Vava’u community in Tonga.

The third shipment of Heilala Vanilla products is expected to be exported to Hon Takasagoya Co. Ltd in the coming days.

A renowned vanilla producer’s dream to have its premium vanilla brand become globally recognised is a step closer with the introduction of Japan as its newest export market.

Heilala Vanilla is one of the 28 enterprises supported by the European Union-funded Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) Project, implemented by the Land Resources Division of SPC.

Vanilla beans and products processed by the award-winning company enter the Japanese markets after a successful product display at the World Food and Beverage Expo 2013 in Tokyo last month.

The IACT Project goal is to strengthen the export capacity of Pacific countries and territories in the primary industries of agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and livestock.

Under the project, Heilala Vanilla is provided with the technical assistance and support required to serve export markets. This mainly involves work in the areas of organic certification, purchase of specialised equipment and use of best practices.

IACT Team Leader, Samu Turagacati, said that Heilala Vanilla’s expansion in the Japanese markets is a proud achievement for the company, and holds much promise for the vanilla producers in Tonga.

IACT’s support for Heilala Vanilla, he explained, comes in at the right time as a boost to vanilla production, manufacturing and product marketing.

‘Japan is not always an easy market to access but the successful penetration of Heilala Vanilla into Japan is proof that Pacific products have an assured place in the “taste buds” of Asians,’ he added.

Heilala Vanilla, owned by Jennifer Boggiss and her father, John Ross, began operation in 2002. Vanilla beans from Tonga are brought to the company’s base in Tauranga, New Zealand, where value-added vanilla products are produced and distributed to a range of retail, food service markets and food manufacturers.

Within a decade of operation, Heilala Vanilla has been able to establish markets in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the USA.

‘We are well on our way to achieving our mission to become a globally recognised premium vanilla brand that is available in all the best restaurants and is used by premium food manufacturers around the world,’ Boggiss said.

Over the past year, Heilala Vanilla has been in discussion with the Japanese confectionary company, Hon Takasagoya Co. Ltd, which will distribute and utilise Heilala Vanilla products in its confectionary range of cakes and biscuits.

Boggiss explained that the growing success of Heilala Vanilla is testament to its distinct flavour and aroma and its strong brand name, which reflects its South Pacific origin and partnership with the Vava’u community in Tonga.

The third shipment of Heilala Vanilla products is expected to be exported to Hon Takasagoya Co. Ltd in the coming days.

there are many places in Ratchaburi that have larger amounts of Cocanut husk.
if you don't find any close.
If I go past there tomorrow I will ask how many Kgs or truck loads do you need.

how big is the truck?

Her's an article from the company, the are big players with big investors, but by the look of the 2.9 tons of beans sold last year, you would be out producing them.

Te-Puna based Heilala Vanilla is planning to grow its sales by 70 per cent this year - most of it in overseas markets - after securing backing from a group of high-powered investors.

The local vanilla producer has linked up with New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) and Enterprise Angels BOP, in which 12 of its members provided support.

Two of the individual investors include Ross McCallum, who started Kapiti Cheeses and Kapiti Ice-Cream, and Geoff Ross, founder of vodka brand 42 Below and brother of Heilala Vanilla co-owner and director Jennifer Boggiss.

Enterprise Angels BOP, operated from Tauranga, recently became the 13th partner in NZVIF's Seed Co-Investment Fund and the first in Bay of Plenty. NZVIF matches the amount put in by the local venture capital group.

The extra funding for Heilala Vanilla will help drive export sales, particularly in Australia.

"It's all about building a brand," said Mrs Boggiss. "We have done that in New Zealand and made a good start in Australia and United States.

"But it takes time, energy and resources to get penetration and traction in (overseas) markets. Over the past three years we may have under-estimated what was required."

Heilala Vanilla, established in late 2002, has made inroads into the Melbourne retail and food services/restaurant sectors but it wants to go further afield into Sydney and other main centres.

It is appointing a business development manager in Australia, organising a retail distributor in Sydney, and has an arrangement to supply 12 Woolworths' owned Thomas Dux Grocer stores in Melbourne and Sydney.

Heilala Vanilla is also talking with other food manufacturers specialising in ice cream, baking and other products - it already supplies Epicurean Dairy for spreading vanilla syrup with yoghurt and smoothies.

"We've tripled our sales in New Zealand over the past year, and now we are looking at doing the same in Australia," said Mrs Boggiss. "Australia, rather than United States, is our priority mainly because the exchange rate makes it so much easier.

"But there are big vanilla consumers in the US - they know what real vanilla is compared with the essence," she said.

Heilala Vanilla syrup has gone into 200 Williams-Sonoma stores in United States and Canada, including Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles and Madison Avenue in New York.

Another United States gourmet food retail chain, Dean & DeLuca, will also stock Heilala Vanilla sugar from Easter this year.

Heilala Vanilla also intends establishing warehouse facilities on the United States West Coast and in New York, and its US business development manager, Linda McWilliam, will step up to a full-time role.

Processing the vanilla beans grown on the island of Vava'u in Tonga, the Te Puna company makes 100 per cent pure paste, syrup, extract, sugar, ice cream, as well as supplying the dried beans and ground powder.

Last year Heilala Vanilla took delivery of 2.9 tonnes of vanilla beans and this year, following the harvest in July/August, it is working on a record supply of 5-6 tonnes, from its own Vava'u plantation and other Tongan growers. Its first harvest in 2005 netted 45kgs.

"There's still plenty of capacity in Tonga and over the next three to five years we want to bring back 10-15 tonnes (of vanilla beans)," said Mrs Boggiss.

To prepare for that expansion, Heilala Vanilla is finalising the design of a new factory and office at the Newnham Park Horticulture Innovation Centre in Te Puna.

The two-level building will include a kitchen where all the uses of pure vanilla can be shown.

Amongst its many plans, Heilala Vanilla wants to turn its product into a South Pacific brand story and it has established a visitor tourist centre - a traditional fale with walls - at its Tongan plantation.

"We are getting cruise passengers and this all helps build the awareness," said Mrs Boggiss.

Once Heilala Vanilla is truly established in the Australian and United States markets, it will then cast an eye to Japan and Britain.

"We are being a bit more realistic about timing," said Mrs Boggiss. "Researching and entering a new market takes up to a year. I think in terms of sales Japan and the UK will be in the next financial year."

So a small company started in 2002 by a father and daughter has just got backing of a large group of investors.
and looking at doing 10-15 tons in the next few yrs

Seems to me they will eventually be bought out by a big food chain for how much?

shame

i would be happy with 1-2 ton a yr of retail sales while living in thailand

Yes i am going to pollinate by hand this is just how its done on a commercial level. With two yrs after they are in ground till they are ready to flower i will travel to a farm either in malaysia or tonga to do for myself and take a worker from here there to learn as well.

And i am trying to find the best place for cuttings i will be starting with 500-1000. and probably will do 2 1/2 rai total or if just doing with my own money a little smaller

But I am getting ready to put 10-20 in ground i found here in thailand on a small piece of ground i have ready for them..

The large part may have to wait till sept oct as i may be going to alaska for a job for the summer.

sorry cuttings are 5-15 dollars depends on were you can get a large amount and than air freighting them into the country Malaysia would be the best due to proximity to thailand but have heard of a lot of scams. but i did find a guy who will let me come pick out my own and will give 1 miter cuttings for 5 usa a piece.

AP you may want to look at this site, some good info and they sell the cuttings, pack and post, but you have to arrange the plant passport.

VANILLA

^^ Is there anything wrong with the vanilla you can buy in Thailand? If I just wanted some for fun, would these (there are more if you search) be OK?

looked at that web site orchid asia tried to contact them a yr ago they are out of india and did not answer me back for 4 months.. dont know how reputable they are

Originally Posted by jamescollister

AP you may want to look at this site, some good info and they sell the cuttings, pack and post, but you have to arrange the plant passport.

VANILLA

Originally Posted by Zooheekock

^^ Is there anything wrong with the vanilla you can buy in Thailand? If I just wanted some for fun, would these (there are more if you search) be OK?

I just talked to the lady there

her plants run
small 1 yr 250 baht only 30 left
med 3 yr 350 baht sold out
big 4-5 450 baht 10 left

but you get them potted which when you buy from a large farm they come just as cuttings.

i may have to go look at them but still more expensive than a large producer in Malaysia.