Healthier Choices: Nut butter in Asia, acai growth in the Middle East, the future of plant-based and more feature in our round-up

Fat for fitness: Smaller packs and keto options driving nut butter popularity in Asia​

New Zealand nut butter specialist Forty Thieves believes that its flexibility in providing smaller packaging options as well as a dedicated keto range is driving growth across the region.

Forty Thieves has a wide range of award-winning nut butter products in its portfolio, spanning from the common almond and peanut butters to  offerings such as Cinnamon Donut peanut butter and Superfood butters.

SAMBAZON eyes growth opportunities for açaí products in Middle East​

US-based SAMBAZON is looking to expand uptake of açaí products in the Middle East, where the firm says awareness about the superfruit still has much room for growth.

Founded over 24 years ago, SAMBAZON, which stands for Sustainable Management of the Brazilian Amazon, has continuously expanded its global footprint and is now available in about 50 countries.

In the Middle East, its biggest markets are Dubai and Saudi Arabia, with presence in emerging markets including Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. In South East Asia, the brand considers the Philippines and Thailand as fast-growing markets.

Integration vs takeover: Plant-based experts disagree over potential directions for industry’s future​

Plant-based industry experts APAc are divided on the future direction of the sector, with some believing that it is likely to be integrated into local culture and others still hoping for a more radical takeover.

The current challenges facing the plant-based sector in Asia amidst the current economic climate and overall slow consumer uptake were the main focal discussion point of an expert panel at the recent ReThink SEA Agri-Food Roundtable in Bangkok.

Milk in cans: Kalbe Nutritionals recreates flagship adult milk formula into RTD cans​

Kalbe Nutritionals has launched a canned milk version of its flagship adult nutrition brand Entrasol, which it said was designed to cater to busy and active individuals.

Marketed as Entrasol Can Susu Steril, the 180-ml canned sterile milk is an addition to the existing range consisting of powder packed in tins, carton packs, or sachets, as well as a RTD carton.

Like most products under Entrasol, the latest launch is formulated with olive fruit extract, calcium, omega-3 and 6, vitamin D for bone and immune health.

Spray sensation: Suntory’s in-house venture program creates supplements in aerosol spray format​

Suntory’s in-house venture program has developed what it calls the “next-generation mist supplement” for better absorption and convenience.

Marketed as “IN MIST”, the range currently consists of three SKUs that support beauty-from-within, general health, and sleep.

Packed in an 80ml aerosol spray dispenser using the Bag-on-Valve (BOV) aerosol technology, IN MIST’s products are sold in Ohlala Ashiya (ウララ芦屋) spa, ikon gym, and Do-Clinic which specialises in orthopaedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation since February.