Singaporean surimi brand Dodo is looking to expand and diversify beyond its successful frozen foods business with the launch of its first surimi snacks range, which it believes has long-term mainstream potential.
Singapore-based beverage heavyweight Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) has predicted a challenging year ahead after reporting a near doubling in profits but a significant overall drop in revenue, citing ongoing inflation and soft consumer spending as key factors.
Nestle Malaysia believes that the strength of its core brands such as KitKat and Maggi, as well as the advantages of its large local production operations, will serve it well in overcoming current ‘subdued’ consumer sentiment in the country.
Dietary supplements sales on the re-opened TikTok shop in Indonesia are struggling to get back to previous heights, despite other categories such as FMCG and beauty products soaring.
Thai beverage firm Dutch Mill is renewing its focus on its Arabus coffee range, having launched a wide variety of ready-to-drink products aimed to provide convenient yet affordable coffee options for consumers in the region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised five countries for their efforts in eliminating industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA), marking the first time it has done so since launching an initiative in 2018 to encourage food manufacturers...
Japanese beer giant Asahi believes that beverage packaging needs to move beyond being eye-catching and incorporate elements of ‘relatability’ and digitalisation truly make a mark with Asian consumers.
Food and beverage major Nestlé Professional claims there is a need to move away from marketing keywords such as “plant-based” and focus on elevating the taste of alternative protein products to boost “natural” uptake and sector growth.
The government of Vietnam has its eye on increasing food trade across various product categories with China, citing huge population demand for meat as well as ongoing successful fruit and vegetable trade relationships as notable drivers.
Singapore start-up Craft Truffles is aiming to branch out beyond its domestic market by expanding its product portfolio and participating in trade shows to connect with overseas distributors.
Industry experts from the United States say Singapore is the top market for premium cheese in South East Asia, bucking the regional trend for processed products.
Beer giant Carlsberg Malaysia has renewed its commitment to investing into both its premium products strategy as well as e-commerce presence, despite seeing poorer year-on-year performances on both fronts in the last year.
Japanese beverage major Kirin has started exporting its craft gin Yatsushiro Distillery YATSU BOSHI to Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea in a bid to gain a bigger share of the spirits market in Asia.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has highlighted that cultivated meat still needs to meet a ‘more rigorous’ set of requirements to be halal-certified, even though it has been deemed potentially permissible for halal consumption.
Thailand’s Tawandang Distillery believes that the use of scorched jasmine rice in its liquor products, and what it claims to be the ‘most-advanced’ distillery in the region will give it a competitive edge.
Food industry experts in Thailand remain optimistic over the potential of plant-based meat in the country despite slower-than-expected uptake, citing hybrid innovation as one of the growth opportunities.
Malaysian palm oil is likely to gain an edge in terms of exports to the United Kingdom thanks to the latter obtaining membership into the CPTPP and new acknowledgement of the South East Asian nation’s sustainability standards.
Ingredients firm Kalsec Inc. shortens its supply chain and diversifies raw materials sourcing via its new Finishing and Distribution Centre in Singapore.
Thailand is the latest market in South East Asia to implement new nutritional labelling policies for the food industry, with the authorities also issuing more stringent ‘science-based’ guidelines for on-pack health claims.
Thailand’s JD Food believes that coconut clusters are the snacking industry’s answer to demands for a perfect combination of healthy and affordability, having launched a dedicated brand to cater to consumer demand.
The Indonesian government is revising food packaging regulations in response to consumer and academic concerns over the presence of dangerous chemicals entering the food supply chain.
The ingredients division of the Dutch dairy co-op said its 2’-fucosyllactose ingredient has been approved for use in both infant formulas as well as young children products.
Vietnam has started to enforce its new nutrition labelling regulations, which will see some 40% of domestic manufacturers making on-pack changes over the next two years.
Philippines is set to replace a 33-year-old vitamins and minerals regulation which essentially reclassifies the category as food or dietary supplement, instead of the existing arrangement where it is categorised as either food or drug.
Finnish food company Fazer has launched the world’s first chocolate made using ‘protein out of thin air’ in Singapore, citing its high iron and fibre content as attractive for vegan and health-conscious consumers.
Insect foods start-up Plento is set to launch its range of baked crisps containing pea protein and cricket flour, which the firm claims counteract nutrient limitations of snacks made solely from plant-based protein, in South Korea this February.
Students who consume beverages with over 25 grams of added sugar daily face a 1.8 times higher risk of exhibiting attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms compared to those with lower consumption, according to a new study from Chiang Mai...
The absence of a set of unified guidelines to provide nutrient composition and labelling requirements for all categories of commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) in Southeast Asia risks confusing consumers, say researchers.
Plant-based beverages may be considered suitable alternatives to their dairy counterparts but must overcome challenges related to flavour, consumer health, stability and nutrient dissolution, say researchers in Singapore, the UK and China.
Nestle Vietnam is banking on the rising demand for convenient beverage options in the country to drive the growth of its newest Nescafe format innovation, a ready-to-serve liquid concentrate.
Thai natural fruit juice specialist Manee Manao is banking on the ongoing watermelon smoothie craze dubbed ‘tangmo-pun’ in South Korea to boost the success of its new frozen watermelon puree export business.
The general public and experts in Singapore have raised several concerns over the consumption of cultivated meat, while also acknowledging it can play a crucial role in the City State’s food security efforts.
New Zealand-founded hard seltzer brand Everyday Weekend is aiming to seize growth opportunities in the ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages category across Asia through affordable pricing and community marketing strategies.
Australian infant and adult milk formula firm Nutura Organic will be making its debut in Thailand through a distribution deal with major Thai food producer CP Foods.
Singapore-based OATSIDE has recently expanded its product line-up to include a range of ice creams as part of its growth strategy, on the back of burgeoning popularity of its oat milk products across Asia.
Singapore-based plant-based brand Thoughtful Food has launched a range of cleaner label, ready-to-eat (RTE) meals in anticipation of its ambitions to start exports across the region and globally.
Japan has set up a physical anti-counterfeit consultation desk in Thailand to fight against a rising number of food and agriculture products claiming to be of Japanese origin.
New liquid sweetener brand Zerup believes its products will open new avenues for more beverages in Singapore to go zero-sugar with no compromise on taste, helping firms to comply with the local Nutri-Grade requirements more easily.
There is an urgent need for real-time global monitoring of food fraud in order to protect public health and the global economy, say experts in Thailand.
Tofu and beverage brand Vitasoy hopes the performance of its soy milk and tea businesses in Asian will help it bounce back from manufacturing and logistical challenges faced in Oceania over the past six months.
Singapore-based Gryphon Tea Company has updated its cold-brewed tea range with “no added sugar” formulations, which the firm says has helped it keep up with the better-for-you trend and reach out to a bigger pool of health-conscious consumers.
Morinaga Milk says its postbiotic, marketed under the brand LAC-Shield, has been added into Thailand’s positive list of ingredients that could be used in general foods and beverages, opening new opportunities for functional foods development in the South...
Cargill-owned Aalst Chocolate is putting “substantial investment” into insights-driven R&D, customised products, and strengthening of its bean-to-bar supply chain to push growth in Asia and beyond.
Singapore-based start-up Noce Nuts says that consumers are willing to pay a premium for nut butters that are customised to their preferred taste and texture, including reduced sugar and salt options.
New data from Thailand claims almost all ultra-processed food (UPF) products exceed the recommended daily amount of sodium and lack essential nutrients and minerals.
World-first liquid shio koji brand Hanamaruki has big plans to ride on the growing umami and wellness trends in South East Asia, after seeing success in western and East Asian markets.
Beer heavyweight Carlsberg Malaysia has decided to persist with its portfolio premiumisation strategy and a new Sapporo partnership despite concerns over ‘weak’ consumer sentiment and diminished profitability in the third quarter of 2023.
Grocery e-commerce platform giant RedMart is seeing health and sustainability trends increasingly driving the purchasing decisions of consumers in Singapore, inspiring the firm to focus its own in-house product innovations on these factors.
Auckland-based nut butter producer Forty Thieves is investing in social media content creation and influencer marketing to target online consumers, whom it says have increasingly shorter attention spans.