Brand New: Kraft Heinz, CJ Cheiljedang, Carlsberg Malaysia and more big brands feature in our round-up

First-world 'game-changer'? Kraft Heinz seeks to resolve gamers’ pain point with hands-free snack dipper​

Kraft Heinz recently introduced a hands-free “snack dipper” device, which the food major says would solve the so-called problem of not being able to eat while gaming.

In response to data citing that 90% of gamers struggle with snacking while playing and that 75% of them wish they could eat without pausing their game, Kraft Heinz has developed a new device called Hum Hum.

The device made its first appearance at major gaming festival 2024 Esports World Cup, which took place in Saudi Arabia from July 3 to August 25.

It operates via a simple operating mechanism, whereby the mechanical hand is controlled by foot pedals, allowing users to dip snacks in sauces, such as ketchup and mayonnaise, and be fed without having to use their hands.

New territories: CJ CheilJedang extending footprint in Oceania, Europe propelled by bibigo’s sales spike​

South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang is accelerating the expansion of its Oceania and European business led by its “bibigo K-food strategy”, following a surge in sales and positive consumer reception.

The company has been working on entering mainstream distribution channels and securing local production facilities in Oceania, one of the strategic regions identified for its “K-food new territory expansion”.

As part of this expansion, CJ CheilJedang recently revealed that it will be launching two of bibigo’s signature products, Homestyle Pork Dumplings and Homestyle Pork & Kimchi Flavoured Dumplings, at major supermarket chains New World and PAK’nSAVE in Auckland from early September.

It aims to establish presence at these supermarkets throughout New Zealand in the future.

Staying the course: Carlsberg pledges continued commitment to premiumisation despite sales drop in first half of 2024​

Carlsberg Malaysia has committed to continue its focus on premium products despite seeing a significant drop in sales in the first half of the year.

Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd (Carlsberg Malaysia) recently announced its H1FY2024 financial results, reporting a 5.7% rise in revenue year-on-year to RM1.23bn (US$) but a drop of -3.4% in net profits year-on-year to RM167.3mn (US$).

The decline in earnings was attributed to taxation issues in the firm’s Sri Lankan business Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, which incurred RM10.8mn (US$) of charges in the first quarter of the year.

“Our performance in the first half of the year was satisfactory although profits were negatively impacted by the deferred tax liabilities due to the restatement of foreign withholding tax in Sri Lanka,”​ Carlsberg Malaysia Managing Director Stefano Clini told the floor at the conference announcing these most recent financial results.

Keeping the faith : Why Nongshim, Oatly, CP Foods and more still believe in sector’s APAC's plant-based potential​

Major plant-based industry players in APAC such as Nongshim, Oatly, CP Foods, Thai Coconut and more still retain confidence that there is a gap for plant-based products to fill in the region, despite it's current challenges.

Over the past two years, it has become painfully obvious that the enthusiasm for plant-based innovations and especially plant-based meat alternatives have significantly dimmed compared to the pandemic period.

According to GlobalData Key Accounts Director for ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand Tim Hill, the number of product launches, patents and deals in this area decreased by up to 50% year-on-year in 2023 versus 2022 numbers.

“It was previously thought that as economic growth and affluence increased, so would the plant-based sector growth – but in the past few years we have seen that even as the number of middle-income earners and affluence grew, the growth of the plant-based sector has been lower than expected,”​ he told FoodNavigator-Asia​.

Coconut creations: Sokfarm taps rising sodium reduction trends and production advantages for new soy sauce alternative​

Vietnam-based Sokfarm believes that the rising demand for reduced sodium consumption as well as its natural coconut nectar production advantages have laid a strong foundation for the sales of its new aminos soy sauce alternative.

Sokfarm specialises in using coconut blossom sap to make a variety of unique products from coconut flower juice to coconut nectar, sweeteners and vinegar, but its latest endeavour has been the development of a new alternative to soy sauce dubbed aminos.

“We have a good footing in the beverage and sweetener markets, but realised that there is also a very big market to tap in the savoury space where soy sauce is one of the most-used condiments,”​ Sokfarm CEO Dinh Ngai Pham told FoodNavigator-Asia​ at Thaifex-Anuga Asia 2024.