Palm oil and soybean oil sectors look to India as major 2025 target market
India is set to become one of the world’s largest food commodity consumption markets in 2025, particularly for edible oils such as palm oil and soybean oil.
South Asia
India’s nutra regulations: Inter-ministerial committee report receives mixed industry response
An inter-ministerial committee from India has put forth a list of recommendations on how nutraceuticals could be regulated, which has received mixed industry response, especially around disease risk reduction claims.
Localisation and education: New venture seeks personalised solutions to address disease-related malnutrition in India
Pristine Pearl Pharma and Dutch Medical Food B.V. have formed a strategic collaboration to bring personalised medical nutrition products to India, targeting the issue of disease-related malnutrition.
Plug and play: UMAMI Bioworks targets stability, safety, and customisation to drive cultivated seafood growth in South Korea
UMAMI Bioworks says it will tap into South Korea’s lead in novel foods in its latest collaboration with biotechnology firm KCell Biosciences and bioprocess solutions provider WSG.
Flavours and colours 2025: Personalised wellness and bold, fruity profiles set to shape food trends – ADM
ADM has identified four key trends that will influence the food and beverage industry, focusing on personalised wellness and bold, fruity flavours.
Popping peas: Origin Nutrition launches high-protein popped pea chips to target Indian healthy snacking market
India-based Origin Nutrition has launched a range of high-protein, compression-popped pea-based chips in a bid to target the slow-but-sure local healthy snacking market.
Inflation issues: Unilever India announces ‘calibrated price increases’ after being hit with major palm oil and tea cost hikes
Hindustan Unilever India (HUL) has announced plans to implement ‘calibrated price increases’ in light of inflationary pressures leading to significant cost hikes in palm oil and tea.
Gautam eyes top rice importer spot in Middle East, anticipates Saudi to be biggest growth driver
Gautam General Trading (GGT) aims to build on its success in the UAE and Oman to expand in Saudi Arabia, which it believes will be a key market to drive growth and help it claim top spot among rice importers in the region.
Fermented soybean shown to reduce GERD symptoms and inflammatory markers – 12-week RCT
The supplementation of fermented soybean has been shown to reduce symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), including heartburn, as well as lowering inflammatory markers, based on findings from a 12-week RCT.
‘Healthy snacking in transition’: ProV Foods debuts indulgence range as first step of strategic portfolio expansion
Mumbai-based ProV Foods has introduced range of premium chocolate-coated almonds, setting the stage for a bigger portfolio expansion focusing on “balanced indulgence”.
Bigger and bolder: India food firms to bump up font sizes on product labels to ensure clarity
Food manufacturers in India have been mandated to increase the boldness and font size of product nutritional information such as total sugar, salt and saturated fat on product labels.
Silver dollars: 'Affordability and comfort' key for Asia's ageing population, with electrolytes and prebiotics trending
Key influencers of consumer behaviour among Asia’s ageing population include affordability and familiar flavours, with electrolyte and prebiotic products proving popular, says market intelligence firm GlobalData.
Peranakan delights: Health, heritage, and convenience sell – O’nya
Health, heritage, and convenience are increasingly important to consumers, says Singapore’s food start-up O’nya as it plans strategic expansion with authentic peranakan pastes.
Climate concerns: Unilever India taps coffee and tea premiumisation for faster growth amidst flat nutrition drinks performance
Hindustan Unilever India (HUL) has highlighted the strong potential of its premium coffee and tea businesses to lead growth in the shorter term, amidst a flat performance by its Health Food Drinks (HFD) portfolio in the last quarter.
High without alcohol: Indian brand Swizzle sets sights on APAC expansion with RTD mocktails
Indian brand Swizzle, which was founded in Bengaluru as a mocktail kit delivery firm in 2019 and is now available in 1,500 stores nationwide, is aiming to launch across APAC with its ready-to-drink (RTD) mocktails.
India snack trends data: Makhanas and dry fruits top picks for 67% of consumers
India snack specialist Farmley has revealed new data showing that makhanas and dry fruits are popular across generations, with chocolate and vanilla flavours among the top favourites in its 2024 Healthy Snacking Report.
AI vs humans: ProfilePrint diversifies into grading wet ingredients – seeks to assist, not replace staff
AI-powered food fingerprint platform ProfilePrint has emphasised its complementary role to humans in ensuring quality and safety as it expands its portfolio to include wet ingredients including oils and alcohol.
Rich pickings: Coca-Cola India promotes sustainable mango cultivation in alignment with government initiative
Coca-Cola India has launched a programme to back sustainable mango cultivation in India to increase yields and maximise sustainability, in alignment with the government’s vision of self-reliance for the country.
Instant gratification: Lúave’s Vietnamese boba milk tea to launch in Singapore with healthier ready-to-drink options
Vietnamese brand Lúave is aiming to launch its instant boba milk tea across Asia, starting with low fat, low sugar options in Singapore.
'Better than popcorn': Singapore start-up taps wellness trends and markets fox nuts as next go-to snack
Singapore start-up Strictly Nuts is hoping to convince consumers that fox nuts are versatile go-to snacks for all ages, with a focus on heath and versatility to grow its reach in the market.
Tea please: ITO EN to debut flagship brand Oi Ocha in India to seize ‘massive opportunities’
Japanese tea company ITO EN is gearing up to set foot into the Indian market for the first time with its flagship ready-to-drink green tea brand Oi Ocha.
Real food only: Education and price the main hurdles for niche products that are wholesome - vegan start-up Everiday Foods
Singapore-based Everiday Foods has identified a gap in the market for clean eating, but the vegan start-up sees educating consumers and justifying the higher prices of wholesome foods as its main challenges.
Historic vodka to enter Asian markets: Heritage and authenticity key to long-term growth – Origen X
Swiss-based Origen X, which acquired the world’s oldest vodka brand, hopes a focus on heritage and authenticity will lead to success in key Asian markets.
Lose the calories, keep the indulgence: Konjac manufacturer prioritises food satisfaction for the carb-conscious
Chinese low calorie and high fibre konjac rice and noodle manufacturers Ketoslim Mo says emphasising an enjoyable eating experience is just as important to health needs to drive consumer acceptance.
Classic with a twist: Scandi-inspired traditional liquors by Nordic Gin House finding favour in Asia
Nordic Gin House believes that timeless favourites will continue to resonate with consumers in Asia as its regional expansion plans benefit from the premiumisation trend.
Fast&Up banks on RTD drinks, powder sachets for a bigger slice in hydration market
Fast&Up is adding new variations of its electrolytes products, including ready-to-drink and powder stick packs, as it seeks to capture greater market share in the hydration sector.
Young, adventurous, and health-conscious: Goa-based Ochre Spirits rides the global cocktail wave with low-calorie gins and vodkas
India's Ochre Spirits is tapping into the global cocktail trend with its premium, lower calorie spirits that promise a superior drinking experience.
India, China and US will be key drivers for global alcohol market growth
Premiumization trends across the three countries will help drive value growth.
‘New Gen’ prospects: Young China, India consumers still set to drive luxury food and beverage retail despite slower economy
Younger millennial consumers from China and India are still set to be the biggest drivers of luxury food and beverage purchasing, despite the generally slower economic conditions in the region and globally.
Classy coffee: Nestle India taps growing local in-home coffee consumption trend to make premium Nespresso launch
Nestle India is banking on the rapid rise of in-home coffee consumption in the country to launch premium coffee brand Nespresso, aiming to reach supermarket shelves in the South Asian market by the end of this year.
‘Building consumption’: Unilever India banks on milk deflation, accessibility investments to boost nutrition brands reach
Hindustan Unilever India (HUL) hopes that recent deflation in milk prices as well as investments to make its nutrition brands such as Horlicks and Boost more accessible will aid its financial performance.
India’s spice industry under fire: How can the authorities prevent another contamination scandal?
How can India's spice sector bounce back from two high profile contamination scandals? We ask experts in the country to weigh in with their recommendations.
Nationwide potential: New Indian food safety system could cover ‘entire country’
A food safety system trialled in north-east India in response to child deaths linked to food and waterborne diseases found that 3-4% of all samples tested contained enteric pathogens, with researchers now hopeful the scheme has the potential to be...
Nestle taps into Dr. Reddy’s nutra distribution network to boost India reach
Nestle India is forming a joint venture with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories to boost the reach of its nutraceutical products, such as Nature’s Bounty and Optifast, across India.
Drinkable beauty: OZiva launches fizzy drink with glutathione to quench skincare needs in India
Indian plant-based nutra brand OZiva’s has launched a Bioactive Gluta fizzy drink to target common skin concerns in the country and to tap into growing demand for glutathione.
Shatavari root extract may minimize the symptoms of menopause: Study
Women who took Asparagus racemosus, a shatavari root extract, experienced a reduction in a range of menopausal symptoms, according to a study in the Cureus Journal of Medical Sciences.
Health and cultural factors instead of altruistic messaging have greater impact on promoting sustainable dietary habits in Asia
New evidence suggests that brands and government need to scrap altruistic messaging about climate change and focus on health and culture to promote sustainable eating in Asia.
‘Key shortfalls’ need to be addressed to protect children from high fat, salt, and sugar food marketing in India
New analysis of India’s regulatory framework for advertising foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) need to be overhauled to better protect children, academics have argued.
Milking the benefits: How lactose ‘intolerance’ education can help tackle Asia’s diabetes, ageing challenges
Educating consumers and healthcare professionals that being lactase non-persistent is not the same as lactose intolerance could play in key role in tackling two of Asia’s biggest public health challenges – namely diabetes and the wellbeing of an ageing...
Tracing rice fortification: India orders firms to adopt traceability application to prevent adulteration
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered all manufacturing firms of fortified rice to integrate a new national traceability application into their operations in order to prevent adulteration of the final product.
Diverse and dynamic: Changing taste and health considerations of Indian consumers driving snack evolution
India-based banana chips brand Beyond Snack has observed significant evolution of the branded snacks category in the local market, marked by a “discernible shift” towards health-consciousness, authenticity, and premiumisation.
Bean-free coffee future? Singapore’s Prefer taps affordability and sustainability benefits for Asia growth
Singapore-based firm Prefer believes that its bean-free coffee alternative is ready for entry into the wider Asian market this year, banking on affordability, sustainability and customisation benefits to drive growth
Dessert dive: India’s Epigamia bets on rising local demand for individuality to launch new single-serve RTE range
Indian dairy brand Epigamia believes that its new single-serve, ready-to-eat (RTE) desserts range will tap on rising local consumer demand for choice and individual preferences when it comes to sweet treats.
‘No clarity’: India plant-based milk brands veer away from conventional dairy terms
Plant-based dairy brands in India are continuing to steer away from using conventional dairy terms on their product labels until regulators issue greater clarity on what is permitted.
Premium push: Unilever India believes food sector growth lies in higher-priced value-added products
Hindustan Unilever India (HUL) has highlighted a continued focus on its premium strategy in order to sustain continued growth in the country, citing products such as Horlicks Plus as a major example.
Building a community: How Indian startup Salud Beverages is driving expansion in ready-to-drink cocktails
Indian startup Salud Beverages is expanding its range of ready-to-drink alcoholic drinks, while also branching out into a fashion line, music playlists, and a collection of NFTs, as it seeks to appeal to consumers new to the market.
FNA InnovATE: Hemp Innovation
Wellness enhancement: How combined hemp and Ayurveda innovation could hold key to capturing mass market
India’s Hemp Horizons believes that a innovation approach combining the nutrition of hemp seeds with the wellness benefits of Ayurveda could hold the key to the sector appealing to a larger consumer base.
India’s ProV Foods taps into unseized opportunities in functional and convenient snacking
Mumbai-headquartered ProV Foods is doubling down on healthy on-the-go snacks and flavour innovations, amid rising demand for snacks with functional benefits in the country.
Antibiotic misuse in Asian food animal production poses grave public health threat: Indian study
The misuse of antibiotics in food animal production in Asia poses a serious danger to public health in the region, according to researchers in India.
Cracking the code: Kikkoman develops data-backed flavour pairing system to localise products for Indian market
Japanese brand Kikkoman is using research and data to identify Indian ingredients that are best paired with its soy sauce, in an effort to accelerate product development and further penetrate the local market.