Brand New: Coca-Cola, Mondelez, Nestle and other big brand names feature in our round-up
‘Large volatility’: Coca-Cola Amatil struggles with sales in Oceania and Indonesia amidst COVID-19 lockdowns
Coca-Coca Amatil has been hit with plummeting sales volumes in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia amidst COVID-19 lockdowns being implemented by all three countries, but remains positive that its strong foundations will tide it through the crisis.
Traditionally, April has always been a significant trading period for the firm as a precursor to the festive seasons of Easter (Australia, New Zealand) and Ramadan (Indonesia), but the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has made things very different this year.
“This period has been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 and government measures with many customers closed or in decline, and people staying at home across all of our markets,” Coca-Cola Amatil Group Managing Director Alison Watkins told FoodNavigator-Asia.
Spring specials: Mondelez China launches world-first pink OREOs to tie in with cherry blossom season
Mondelez China has launched two limited-edition OREO flavours to tie in with the spring season: Sakura Matcha and Peach Oolong, going all-out with both colourful packaging and collaborative marketing to attract young consumers.
According to Mondelez Greater China Senior Marketing Director, Biscuits Marketing, Holly Yuan, cherry blossoms are always a ‘hot topic’ in spring, and seasonal popularity is always a strong driver for the company’s product innovation.
“OREO launched the limited edition of new products for spring this year based on market insights – Cherry blossom is a hot topic in spring, and consumers like to try new products related to them,” she told FoodNavigator-Asia.
Personalised superfood solution: Nestle assess further APAC launches for nesQino after China Tmall debut
Nestle is conducting consumer testing with a view to expanding its customisable 'superfood' drink product, nesQino, to more APAC markets, after an initial launch in China via e-commerce platform Tmall.
nesQino consists of a machine, three base sachets (smoothie, oat shake, milk shake), and seven superfood sachets. Consumers can mix and match the different sachets to create 21 different superfood drink recipes.
The nesQino sachets are extracted from fruits, vegetables, roots, and microalgae, with no additives or preservatives.
Angelo Giardini, senior vice president and business executive officer at Nestle China told us: “Every one of these natural ingredients is nutritious, delicious, healthy, and low in fats and calories.”
Dementia preventing seasoning? Ajinomoto proposes MSG to fight age-related cognitive decline
Japan’s food seasoning giant Ajinomoto is proposing amino acids like monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a candidate to help fight dementia and is working on a new range of seasoning products to help improve cognitive health.
A survey by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's research group estimated that the dementia population will increase to 7.3 million by 2025, up from 4.62 million people in 2012, further adding that one in five people in Japan over the age of 65 will eventually develop dementia.
Daisuke Nakamiya, senior manager of global communications at Ajinomoto, told NutraIngredients-Asia and FoodNavigator-Asia the company was now conducting contract research on the potential benefits of amino acids at universities and working with local hospitals and government.
Clean label peas: Will consumers back Ayam Brand’s bold move towards ‘light brown’ product?
Ayam Brand, a household name in Asia for its canned processed foods, is introducing its clean label processed peas, which now come in a light brown colour due to the removal of artificial colourings.
The new version launched in Malaysia in Q1 this year, and will gradually be introduced across all countries, starting with Indonesia. Ayam Brand is owned by Denis Group.
The group’s marketing direction, Herve Simon, told FoodNavigator-Asia: “Removing colouring from canned processed peas was a very bold move for Ayam Brand.”
