South Korea has begun to recall tons of agricultural produce grown
on land near disused mines, after a survey found high levels of
lead and cadmium contamination.
Chinese confectionery firms are spotting the opportunities involved
in targeting the country's only-children, who are commanding an
increasing share of their parent's rising incomes.
Foreign foods and drink brands have the strongest brand name
recognition and loyalty in Vietnam with the exception of one local
company, according to new research.
The Philippines is seeking to boost production of dried cocoa beans
under a 10-year plan designed to reduce its dependence on imports
and target new export markets.
The world's biggest shopaholics are most likely to be found in
Asia-Pacific markets, suggests a new study, which shatters the
common belief that Americans are the keenest shoppers.
China's fresh tomato and processed tomato production is set to
surge this year, driven by unusually high prices on the domestic
and world markets that have boosted planted areas.
Environmental campaign group Greenpeace attacked the Hong Kong food
safety authority last week for failing to improve testing for
pesticides in fruit and vegetables imported from mainland China.
Several provinces in western and northern China are facing food
shortages due to a prolonged drought that has left hundreds of
reservoirs dry and tens of thousands of wells either dry or nearly
empty, reported the UN's Food and...
South Korean kimchi exports have jumped in the first 10 months of
the year, after the media reported it may have a preventative
effect against avian influenza.
The proportion of value-added food and beverage products exported
from New Zealand has continued to rise steadily against commodity
products, with the value-added sector enjoying growth of nearly 10
per cent in the past five years.
A UK lobby group is targeting the Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil
industries, claiming that intense farming of plantations is
threatening the orang-utan with extinction.
Australian brewer Lion Nathan has responded to last week's
objections by Coopers, the subject of a hostile takeover by the
firm, with similar claims of foul play.
Foster's has taken a streamlined approach to 'brand Australia' on
the world wine market, announcing two wineries will be sold off as
the firm tries to realise cost-savings from its Southcorp buyout.
More productive sugarcane varieties can be delivered two to three
years earlier, say Australian scientists, helping the sugar
industry maintain its productivity and sustainability.
Consumption of vitamins and minerals in China is growing, thanks to
immense economic growth and the emergence of a new consumer
culture. There may be opportunities for foreign companies to export
to the country to make up for a shortfall...
India's dairy industry is priming the country's research centres
with funds in a bid to mechanise the region's indigenous foods
sector ahead of moves to apply international food safety standards,
Hridyesh Pandey reports.
Vietnam has announced that seafood exports have risen during the
first four months of the year, despite ongoing trading difficulties
with the US, Tom Armitage reports.
South Korea's Lotte Confectionery Company, the country's largest
snack food manufacturer, has acquired a 100 per cent stake in a
Chinese confectioner - a move which will not only bolster its
influence among China's...
The Philippines may have to import more rice than it has for seven
years if a prevailing drought cuts rice production as feared,
suggested a senior agricultural official.
Enzymotec, the Israeli company which develops lipid-based
ingredients for the nutraceuticals and functional foods markets, is
hoping to take advantage of a perceived demand for healthy cooking
oils in the Asia Pacific region.
As Chinese consumers become more aware of genetically modified (GM)
food, rejection of the technology is also growing in China,
according to Greenpeace.
Indonesia's largest noodle producer Indofood Sukses Makmur has
joined forces with the world's biggest food company Nestlé to
create a new joint venture which will expand production and
marketing of the two firms' various...
Europe and the US continue to dominate demand in the €4.5 billion
flavours market, but Asia Pacific region is quickly catching up
thanks to high single-digit growth, reveal figures from a new
report.
The Vietnam Food Association says that in 2005 turnover in rice
exports is expected to reach $1 billion, but with no plans to
increase crop growing areas, the target may well prove difficult to
reach.
The tsunami waves have had a devastating impact on the fisheries
sector in many countries of the Indian Ocean, the FAO says,
inflicting major upheaval on the seafood processing category.
A significant drive from Asian rice producers has helped boost
global paddy production in 2004 to an estimated record 611 million
tonnes. But the Food and Agriculture Organisation says that supply
is still not meeting needs, writes...
Although new EU regulations could bring increasing opportunities
for Asian food companies, many European businesses see it as a
threat. But whilst Hungarian food canning companies say their
future existence could be threatened, manufacturers...
A rise in global stocks of wheat after a 30-year low will offer
continued relief to the tighter prices experienced by the food
industry in previous years, but the food chain still needs to stay
on the alert.
Vietnam plans to earn at least $2 billion in revenue from agro-food
exports to the European Union by 2010. The pledge comes in the face
of tough trade, health and safety regulations imposed by the EU
authorities, which should make...
With coffee sales in China growing by 90 per cent in the five years
up to 2003, international companies are queuing up to carve up
their slice of a market. Although tea is still the mainstay, the
rapid switch to all things western...
In Asia rising meat consumption is being fed by an increasing
number of highly refined and processed product launches. A look at
the Mintel's databases reveals that pâte, meat balls, cheese-filled
hotdogs are all on the menu.
Although Asian consumers have traditionally sought out their
vegetables in 'wet' markets, a lack of time and increasing income
levels is leading to a boom in the packaged vegetables sector, as
the latest releases from Mintel...
Thailand's tropical climate is said to have fuelled the country's
thirst for soft drinks, with consumption growing steadily in recent
years. The latest report from Canadean points to the fact that rapid
consumption of bottled...
Farming in China needs serious investment if domestic food
production is to keep up with rising food consumption. But with a
growing emphasis on food quality and safety, future investment in
the sector looks seems an inevitable route...
The latest Euromonitor report on the global soft drinks market
suggests that it is Asia that is the driving force behind market
growth. With this in mind we take a look at the latest soft drinks
launches in the region from the Mintel...
Nutrition House, part of the consumer goods group Pan Group, has
expanded its frozen ready-to-eat meals line with the launch of a
line of vegetarian meals, claimed to be the first product of its
type on the market in Thailand. The...
The Thai department of agriculture says its is rapidly moving
towards the development of its tropical fruit production in the
country in an effort to gain a leading edge in an increasingly
liberalised pan-Asia Pacific market.
The establishment of large scale battery farms has pushed egg
production in China to 40 per cent of the world total. In turn
increased interest in egg-based foods, such as dairy products,
pre-packaged foods and bakery have all boosted...
Innovative snack launches dominate this week's offerings from
Mintel's GNPD, featuring everything from a rice cracker salad with
dressing to a honey flavoured vitamin fortified drink.
Although 2004 is now expected to yield a bumper grain harvest in
China, with provinces announcing record crop levels, Beijing is
taking action to halt the country's fall in per-hectare yield of
cropland over recent years.
Swiss food giant Nestle has said that its Thai division is about to
introduce another major drive in its aims to consolidate the still
fragmented ice cream market in Thailand.
After years of struggling to meet increasing domestic demand for
soy products, Chinese government officials believe that discussions
with the Brazilian government may have solved the problem. Trade
talks held in Beijing this week...
Chinese wine imports increased by nearly 50 per cent last year,
according to figures released by the Beijing customs authorities,
with a value amounting to almost €26 million, an increase which is
being attributed to lower import...
