In the wide kitchen of Japan's largest in-flight catering factory next to Narita Airport near Tokyo, Filipino women in white coats efficiently put Japanese simmered vegetables into silver containers.
The kitchen's owner, TFK, was acquired by Singapore-based airport services provider SATS from Japan Airlines in 2010. SATS aims to double its non-Singapore sales in the food business by 2029. The company currently operates in 33 locations in 10 countries, and sells meals not only on board planes but on the ground. It is in this area, especially, where SATS is looking for new commercial opportunities.
SATS currently provides aviation in-flight catering to more than 130 airlines, with a reputation for its safe meals and authentic tasting Asian cuisine.
Stanley Goh, head of the company's food solutions business, told Nikkei Asia in an interview that "our past business has been predominantly in Singapore, but we need to have growth beyond Singapore to be a resilient business."
"Our focus is actually in China and India," said Goh, noting that the demand for ready-to-eat meals is expected to increase. "Growth potential is very high now for these two markets. ... One thing in common is that there's a lot of urbanization of consumers."
In March, the Singaporean company began operating its largest kitchen in Bengaluru, India, to help meet the demand for more ready-to-eat meals. The newly opened facility will bolster production from existing kitchens in Singapore, China, Japan and Thailand. "[The] supply chain is the challenge to expand in China and India; very large markets," Goh said.
