Indonesia updates genetically modified food regulations to clarify sale requirements
The Indonesian government has updated regulations governing the production and sale of genetically modified (GM) foods.
South East Asia
Specialty coffee in Asia needs convenience, transparency and uniqueness - Huggs
Singapore’s Huggs Coffee believes its route to success lies in a focus on key hallmarks of specialty brews that appeal to discerning, environmentally conscious consumers seeking coffee experiences that can be recreated at home.
Banana boundaries: Superskinny Brownie Thins eyes bigger portion of Thailand’s clean label and gluten-free snack markets
Thai-based Superskinny Brownie Thins believes that its clean label flourless brownies made with only five ingredients holds the key to success in the local healthy snacking market.
New national Vietnam food safety centre to prioritise early risk management and data collection
The Vietnamese government’s newly-established national food safety centre will prioritise early risk management and nationwide data collection in order to support food safety enhancement.
Indonesia WTO submission warns food firms against high sugar, salt or fat content
The Indonesian government’s latest notification to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has included a stern warning to both domestic and foreign food firms against introducing products with high sugar, salt or fat content.
Orange-fleshed sweet potato powder could improve vermicelli’s nutritional value: SE Asian study
Incorporating orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) powder into the rice flour used to make vermicelli could improve its nutritional value, say researchers in Vietnam and Thailand.
S’pore postbiotic firm adds fermented food, mouthwash to range
A Singapore-based company specialising in pre-, pro-, and postbiotics supplement has added fermented food and mouthwash to its range, as it attempts to provide “complete protection” for the entire gastrointestinal tract.
ASEAN Focus: Carlsberg Malaysia, Polish fruit exports, Ajinomoto in Indonesia and more
Carlsberg Malaysia, Polish fruit exports interest, Ajinomoto on Indonesia sodium and more feature in this edition of ASEAN Focus.
Carlsberg Malaysia banks on festive season to drive final quarter sales
Carlsberg Malaysia believes that the upcoming festive season as well as stronger economic growth will help to drive improved sales for the rest of 2024, despite a negative performance in Singapore in Q3.
Fusion focus: Italian food with a Japanese twist key for frozen food firm's SEA expansion
Japanese-based Italian food brand Amici is aiming to fuse the traditions of both cuisines as it seeks to exports frozen products to South East Asia.
Bowmore seeks to stand out in burgeoning travel retail market in Asia with differentiated whiskey ages, packaging design
Suntory-owned Bowmore’s new travel retail range aims to beat competition through differentiated whiskey ages and a revamped packaging design, which it says depicts its storied history and forward-looking efforts.
Local sensibilities: CJ CheilJedang seeks to accelerate expansion in Thailand through new tempeh snack
South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang has launched a range of tempeh chips pandering to local consumer preferences in Thailand, with the aim of spurring its growth in the market.
‘Thirst for knowledge’, new money and greater accessibility driving rapid growth of wine market in SEA
London-based Berry Bros. & Rudd says that the increased accessibility, spending power, and “thirst for knowledge” about wine among South East Asian (SEA) consumers have contributed to the company’s growth in the region.
Singapore’s Re.juve touts customer loyalty, focus on meeting nutrient gap as key to survival amid cold press juice decline
Singaporean brand Re.juve’s ability to navigate cold pressed juices’ transition from being a trendy detox drink to a daily staple for meeting nutrient gaps, as well as support from loyal customers, have been crucial for its survival.
Trump’s tariff threat: China botanical extracts suppliers look to SEA to mitigate economic impact
There are plans among China botanical extracts suppliers to build operations in South East Asia in a bid to bypass potential tariffs hikes under the new Trump administration.
Fruity strategy: Polish government eyes South East Asia as next major export market for apples and aronia berries
The government of Poland has set its sights on South East Asia as the next major trade and exports market for its various food products, particularly apples and aronia berries.
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.
‘Quality over quantity’: Pernod Ricard prioritises ultra-prestige portfolio to satisfy growing appetite for premium and niche spirits
Alcohol major Pernod Ricard is focusing on increasing awareness and availability of its prestige brands in burgeoning markets and channels, while expanding its premium craft spirits portfolio to meet growing interest for niche products.
High hopes for hub: Indonesian food sector calls for a 'larger scale' food innovation centre to move sector forward
The food and beverage sector in Indonesia believes that it is high time for a larger scale food innovation centre focusing on the advancement and development of domestic companies to be established in the country.
Curcumin improves insulin, blood glucose levels, and body mass – Year-long Thai trial
Taking 1,500mg of curcumin daily for 12 months has been shown to improve insulin, fasting blood glucose levels and body mass, based on a clinical study conducted in Thailand.
Advancing acceptability: Ajinomoto highlights Indonesia’s urgent sodium reduction needs
Ajinomoto believes that Indonesian consumers are in more urgent need of sodium reduction solutions due to local consumption habits as well as the heavy use of salt in local cuisine.
Guava goodness: Taiwan’s Han-Sient taps patented extraction tech for guava leaves to target ASEAN diabetic and weight loss markets
Taiwan-based Han-Sient believes it has struck gold with its patented technology to produce guava leaf extract for blood sugar control and fat-burning, eyeing the diabetic and weight loss markets in South East Asia as its next major expansion step.
Not so straightforward: Singapore food industry voices concerns over cost, efficacy of extending Nutri-Grade system to sodium and fats
The Singapore food industry has voiced several concerns over government plans to extend the Nutri-Grade traffic light nutritional labelling system to sodium and fats.
Contradiction challenges: Indonesian food innovation must cater to dual demands for health and heavy flavours
Food manufacturers in Indonesia face a particularly salient challenge in meeting consumer demands for healthier options, while being accustomed to strong and heavy flavours.
Malaysian Palm Oil Forum (MPOF)
Confusion still rife: Malaysian palm oil sector extends call for EUDR criteria clarity amidst proposed postponement
Malaysia’s palm oil industry representative body has argued that many aspects of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) still lack clarity, and that more transparency regarding its criteria is needed before it should be implemented.
Vietnam’s Vinh Hoan appeals to children and elderly averse to fish with surimi-wrapped dumplings
Vietnamese firm Vinh Hoan aims to appeal to children and the elderly who dislike eating fish with its surimi-wrapped dumplings, which are part of its product portfolio targeting the needs of time-strapped consumers.
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.
Nutri-Level labelling: Indonesia plans new food labelling laws to mandate front-of-pack grading scheme
The Indonesian government has proposed new regulations that would mandate the use of its upcoming Nutri-Level front-of-pack traffic light labelling system for food products considered high in sugar, salt and fat.
Seafood firm Yeam Seng steps up expansion of ready-to-cook portfolio targeting busy consumers and exports
Malaysia-based seafood company Yeam Seng Frozen Goods & Fishery is channelling more resources into expanding its ready-to-cook portfolio to capture busy consumers and facilitate entry into overseas markets.
Enhancing enjoyment: Hanamaruki looks to tap sodium reduction and affordability demands in ASEAN with new koji powder
Japan-based Hanamaruki believes that its newly launched flavour-enhancing koji powder is in a prime position to cater to product innovation in South East Asia that fulfils both sodium reduction and affordability requirements.
Sticks and snacks: Swees launches 'world-first' vegan rice-based cheese sticks to further reach within snacking sector
Plant-based cheese brand Swees has launched what it claims to be the world’s first vegan rice-based cheese stick product with support from the Thai government, believing this will help it to gain a stronger standing in the snacking category.
Milkfish producer Fisherfarms aims to beat stiff competition in Asia through convenience foods, widening market access
Filipino aquaculture firm Fisherfarms hopes to overcome strong competition for milkfish products in Asia through convenience food innovations, as well as international accreditations to improve market access.
Singapore’s JiaTaste sets sights on western markets to further promote local prawn noodle flavour
Singaporean brand JiaTaste is looking to export its ready-to-cook prawn noodle paste to more markets, particularly in the west, where it sees opportunities among consumers who enjoy Asian flavours.
Halal advancements: Indonesia on the brink of ‘golden opportunity’, but quality and infrastructure focus needed
Indonesia will be able to capitalise on a ‘golden opportunity’ with its halal food products industry as long as it improves product quality, safety and infrastructure, according to a leading halal certification official.
Hidden hunger horrors: Indonesia needs more mandatory food fortification to address triple malnutrition threat – expert insights
Indonesia will need to implement more mandatory food fortification in staple foods if the country hopes to address the serious triple malnutrition threat that it currently faces, according to local food industry experts.
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.
Shrimp producer Grupo Aquamar aims to strengthen brand awareness in Singapore, Hong Kong while extending presence in Asia
Nicaragua-based Grupo Aquamar is looking to strengthen brand awareness in Singapore and Hong Kong, while aiming to attract more consumers in Asia for its premium produce.
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.
Singapore’s Natural Trace seeks to combat food fraud, fill gaps in existing traceability tech with DNA-based ingredient
Singapore-headquartered firm Natural Trace aims to address the limitations of existing traceability technologies through its DNA-based ingredient, while contributing to combatting food fraud and “irresponsible market behaviour”.
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.
Made in Vietnam: Stricter origin labelling regulations for food products to be finalised in 2025
The Vietnamese government has started to draft a proposal for stricter country-of-origin labelling for food products, to prevent fraud and boost international trade.
Know your drink: Pernod Ricard taps ASEAN desire for increased information to launch digital label
Alcohol giant Pernod Ricard has launched a new digital label initiative in Singapore, hoping to tap on South East Asian consumer demands for increased information and shift towards better drinking habits.
Danone launches growing up milk designed for kids born via C-section in Malaysia
Danone is introducing its growing up milk for children born via caesarean section (C-section) into more South East Asian countries, with the latest launch happening in Malaysia.
Garden of growth: Nongshim plant-based brand Veggie Garden maintains optimism for sector’s ASEAN future
South Korean food giant Nongshim remains optimistic for the prospects of its plant-based meat alternative brand Veggie Garden, believing that the sector still has a bright future in the South East Asian region and especially Thailand.
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.
‘Moving with the times’: TipCo cites rising wellness trends as catalyst for its category and beverage innovations
Thai juice heavyweight TipCo has cited the growth of wellness trends in the region as the main catalyst behind its recent beverage innovations and category investment decisions.
Singapore’s Siam Coconut diversifies portfolio to keep up with market trends as coconut water category hits plateau
Singapore-based manufacturer and distributor Siam Coconut is actively exploring new products and categories to add to its portfolio, as coconut-based products experience a slowdown in growth.
Singapore’s Jääde brings premium water to China, eyes Middle East market
Singapore-based Jääde is actively strengthening its presence in the local market for its packaged Finnish spring water, while working to expand across the region in the long run.
Halal food market poised for growth driven by international partnerships, localised production and regulatory standards
Increasing international business partnerships, growing production in the Middle East, and developments in traceability and regulations are set to propel the growth of the halal foods sector, according to a new report.
Fruitful transition: Hey! Chips’ strategic switch to domestic market yields increased sales, rising brand awareness
Singapore-based Hey! Chips says that its switch in business strategy from overseas expansion to building presence in the local market has enabled it to gain a foothold in the healthy snacking category and a spurt in brand awareness.