AB Food & Beverages (Thailand) and Jebsen & Jessen Forge Strategic Partnership to Expand Malt Distribution Across South East Asia

May 10, 2024

Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients (JJING), the ingredients business unit of diversified industrial conglomerate Jebsen & Jessen Group, and AB Food & Beverages (Thailand) (ABFT), a subsidiary of Associated British Foods Plc, have forged a strategic partnership to expand malt distribution across South East Asia. Under this partnership, JJING will serve as the primary distributor of ABFT’s malt products across the region spanning Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

As ABFT ventures upstream into the ingredients sector in South East Asia, this partnership will see their high-quality malt products made available for the first time to food and drink manufacturers across the region.

As part of the partnership, JJING, as the primary distributor, will tap on its extensive distribution network and deep knowledge of local markets in South East Asia to distribute ABFT’s malt products, which include Dried Malt Extracts and Liquid Malt Extracts.

ABFT’s premium malt ingredients are used in beverages and more

“We’re seeing rapid traction and strong interest in ABFT’s malt products, with initial orders already secured. We expect to see continued strong demand across the market for these ingredients to meet the evolving tastes of South East Asian consumers,” said Ms Ratana Vongmukdaporn, Regional Business Line Head – Food and Pharmaceutical & Personal Care, Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients (Thailand) Ltd. 

With the demand for malt-based foods, drinks and supplements - including baby food, craft beers, health supplements, and protein-rich diets - surging due to the increasing popularity of organic food and a growing awareness of malt's nutritional benefits, the addition of ABFT’s malt products to JJING’s existing malt range will diversify and expand its malt portfolio and offerings to customers in the region. Through its Regional Innovation Labs, JJING will also utilise and incorporate ABFT’s malt products to develop new formulations and ingredient applications tailored to diverse consumer taste profiles.

“Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients is excited to forge this groundbreaking partnership with AB Food & Beverages (Thailand),” added Ms Ratana Vongmukdaporn. “The addition of ABFT’s high-quality malt products to our offerings and solutions will help meet the growing needs of the food and beverage ingredients industry and cater to the diverse eating habits and preferences of modern consumers across South East Asia.”

“This partnership with Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients marks a pivotal moment for AB Food & Beverages (Thailand). With our legacy spanning over a century, we’re excited to take a significant step forward in our vertical integration strategy and expand our business upstream into the ingredients sector,” shared Mr Ian Kavanagh, Regional Operations Director SEA, AB Food & Beverages (Thailand) Ltd. “The partnership with Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients will allow our high-quality malt products to be used for food and beverage formulations across the region and serve as a good foundation for us to unlock new avenues for innovation and drive growth.”

About AB Food and Beverages (Thailand) Limited (ABFT) 

AB Food and Beverages (Thailand) Limited (ABFT) was incorporated in 1987 to diversify and enter new export markets in Indochina and South East Asia. ABFT manufactures and markets food and beverage products, including Ovaltine nutritional beverage and Twinings tea. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Associated British Foods Plc (ABF).

ABF is a diversified International food, Ingredients and retail group with sales of GBP15.6 billion and over 137,000 employees in 50 countries across Europe, southern Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australia. As a significant supplier of branded and non-branded grocery products and a leading textile retailer, our purpose is to provide safe, nutritious, affordable food and clothing that is great value for money.