Convenience foods & snacks

Japan 2021 supermarket survey: Retailers see RTE and private label as key to maximising profits

11-Jan-2022 By Pearly Neo

Japanese retailers aim to increase the number of ready-to-eat (RTE) and private label products on the shelves after identifying them as key categories to maximise profits.

Cross-border caution: South Korea expands food safety guidelines to include e-commerce sales

11-Jan-2022 By Pearly Neo

South Korea has expanded its food safety and monitoring guidelines to tighten control over food and beverage products that are directly purchased by consumers from foreign countries, with implications for items bought via e-commerce.

Canning poor perceptions: Healthier options and innovative recipes driving evolution in APAC – Ayam Brand

11-Jan-2022 By Pearly Neo

The canned food sector in the APAC region is undergoing an evolution towards healthier, more innovative product options, with companies such as Ayam Brand attempting to overcome many longstanding negative perceptions plaguing the industry.

‘Stamp of credibility’: India’s first certified clean label brand highlights importance of traceability to boost consumer trust

10-Jan-2022 By Pearly Neo

India’s first certified clean label brand True Elements has incorporated a traceability component for all its products down to the ingredient level to provide an added measure of assurance to consumers looking for cleaner, healthier products.

Mondelez, Nestle, Calbee and Ayam Brand on five top trends set to shape the APAC food industry in 2022

05-Jan-2022 By Pearly Neo

We are speak to experts from major brands to assess the five top trends that look set to shape the Asia Pacific food and beverage industry in 2022, including top post-COVID-19 developments, pricing and taste importance in the plant-based sector, the rise...

Five need-to-know regulations on the agenda to impact the APAC food industry in 2022

31-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

From new hemp regulations in India, to Singapore’s sugary beverage control policy, and plant-based labelling in multiple countries, we bring you five must-know policies and regulations that look set to have a significant impact on the Asia Pacific food...

What duopoly? NZ’s Foodstuffs promises positive reforms as it slates ‘factual inaccuracies’ in national supermarket study

22-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

New Zealand’s Foodstuffs is fighting back against what it has deemed ‘factual inaccuracies’ in the national Commerce Commission’s recent finding that there is supermarket duopoly in the country, and has also promised to make several positive reforms.

Gelato company among Alibaba.com 50 small business grant winners

21-Dec-2021 By Jim Cornall

Alibaba.com, one of the world’s largest B2B ecommerce marketplaces and a business unit of Alibaba Group, has announced the 50 entrepreneurs each receiving $10,000 grants from the first-ever Alibaba.com Grants Program.

Promoting diversity: FANCL subsidiary begins confectionery business using germinated brown rice

21-Dec-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

A new subsidiary from FANCL Group in Japan has begun manufacturing confectionery and selling them under the Smile Sweets Factory brand.

‘A peach is not just a peach’: IFF highlights importance of flavour localisation within APAC

20-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

Ingredients and flavours specialist IFF has stressed the importance of localising flavour profiles - even for the same food item - depending on the geographical market of focus within APAC.

Permission to enter: Indonesia looks to tighten processed food import controls

15-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

Indonesia is looking to introduce new trade controls on imported processed foods including a revised application process subject to government approval as well as stricter mandatory shelf-life requirements.

Calling to the heart: How Nestle and Yeo’s ‘emotional’ digital strategies secured success

15-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

Branding experts spearheading successful Nestle and Yeo’s marketing campaigns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance for food and beverage brands to fulfil consumers’ emotional needs via digital strategies in order to ensure continued...

Noodle challenge: Mr Lee’s Noodles overcomes packaging and pricing concerns for Asian expansion

09-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

Healthier noodle brand Mr Lee’s Noodles has big plans for the Asian market, but has had to redefine its packaging to take climate and humidity concerns into consideration, as well as explore a new pricing strategy to meet the needs of markets in the region.

Be a ‘good ancestor’: Why tech alone won’t help Asia achieve food supply chain sustainability – APEC expert panel

08-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

New technology alone is not enough to improve APAC’s food supply chain, and sustainable solutions will only be found if both micro and small businesses, as well as ‘marginalised communities’ across the region, are brought into the fold.

Nourish-ing the South: Indian edible oils firm reveals grand plans to grow new packaged foods portfolio to 400 SKUs

07-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

One of the largest edible oil firms in North India BL Agro has turned its attention to growing its packaged food products portfolio from the current 70-plus SKUs to 400 within the next five years, revealing South India as a crucial target market for this...

‘Curbing an unhealthy trend’: China steps up anti-waste drive by turning attention to food firms as well as consumers

06-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

The Chinese government has stepped up its anti-waste agenda with firms across the supply chain being required to prevent food waste and conserve food through its so-called ‘Food Conservation Action Plan’.

MSG for plant-based products? Ajinomoto touts salt reduction and flavour enhancing abilities

06-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

Japan flavouring giant Ajinomoto believes that major growth opportunities lie ahead for the firm within the plant-based meat alternatives and ready-to-eat product sectors, where it believes MSG and other glutamate solutions can provide the required flavours...

Sustainability claims: Cargill highlights rising importance of sustainable palm oil on the back of Malaysian investment

30-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Food ingredients giant Cargill has stressed the rising importance of sustainability claims, especially around palm oil, as it detailed how its latest investment in Malaysia can help manufacturers meet the latest consumer demands.

‘Times have changed’: 50-year-old Continental Taralli eyes younger consumers with ‘trendy’ healthier snacks

29-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Fifty-year-old Australian firm Continental Taralli is modernising its marketing and product development approach to stay up-to-date with current food trends such as gluten-free and healthy snacking, as it seeks to solidify its appeal amongst younger consumers.

Scrutinising imports: China launches mandatory overseas food manufacturer registration platform to tighten food safety

29-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

China recently launched its new online overseas food manufacturer registration platform, which is mandatory for all firms looking to export into the country from January, as official seek to improve monitoring and surveillance to ensure food safety.

‘No hidden messages’: Taiwan seeks to tighten nutritional labelling regulations for all packaged foods

25-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Taiwan is seeking to approve new regulations that will enforce tougher nutritional labelling regulations for all packaged foods in the country once implemented, in a bid to prevent ‘hidden’ or ‘implied’ messages from manufacturers regarding calorific...

Food trade in a post-COVID-19 world: More digitalisation and fewer trade barriers demanded by experts

24-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

An expert panel convened at the Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) has highlighted the need to help all firms, both large and small, to embrace digitalisation to ensure survival, and also called upon nations to ‘unwind’ on trade restrictions as soon...

Big step with Baby Shark: Aussie organic brand Whole Kids expands at home with Aldi and abroad with Pinkfong

23-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Australia’s largest organic children’s snacking brand Whole Kids is expanding its presence in its strongholds of ANZ with plans to enter local Aldi stores, as well as launch products into South Korea via a partnership with Baby Shark creator Pinkfong.

‘Systematic switch’: Japan urges food manufacturers to finalise raw material origins labelling transition

23-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Japan has urged all local food and beverage brands to ensure that processes are in place to transition to new origin of raw material rules, in order to keep operations running smoothly and avoid ‘disturbances’.

High pressure: Aussie retailers urged to prioritise sodium reformulation for private label products

18-Nov-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Retailers in Australia should prioritise the sodium reformulation of private label products, which could help prevent over 500 deaths annually, according to a modelling study.

Soup in a bottle: Re:Nourish seeks to break into UAE’s ‘fastest-growing FMCG category’

17-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Fresh soup brand Re:Nourish has set its sights to conquering the ‘fastest-growing’ soup category in the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE), by playing on the healthy and ‘grab and go’ credentials of its bottled products.

COVID-19 and APAC's food and beverage sector: All our coronavirus news...in one place

17-Nov-2021 By Gary Scattergood

Here's your constantly updated and comprehensive round-up of FoodNavigator-Asia's COVID-19 coverage.

Food supply chain recovery: Sector crucial for economies to get back on track after pandemic pressures - APEC ministers

17-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Top-ranking ministers from the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) have underlined that food supply chains and open trade in the region are crucial to boosting economic revival post-pandemic – but huge challenges persist around tariffs, protectionist...

Hopeful yet careful: Nestle Malaysia concerned over rising commodity costs despite improved Q3 results and NPD

17-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Nestle Malaysia has expressed some concern over rising food commodity costs and the impact this could have on prices for consumers, despite seeing good year-on-year improvement in its recently financial results and launching a plethora of new product...

From Coca-Cola to coffee: How food and beverage brands are using Bilibili to attract Gen Z consumers

15-Nov-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Food and beverage brands are increasingly turning to Chinese video platform Bilibili to develop videos better catered to the country’s Gen Z audience, with many securing millions of views.

Seed to snack: Singapore firm Zenko eyes expansion across APAC with clean label treats

15-Nov-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Singapore start-up Zenko Superfoods has unveiled plans to distribute its healthy snacks into Australia and South East Asia, including its flagship water lily pops.

COVID-19 and imports: Sharp pricing and localisation strategies key for F&B brands to gain ASEAN entry

15-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

International food and beverage brands looking to gain a foothold in the ASEAN market via local distributors need to step up their game when pitching pricing and localisation strategies, as a new survey has revealed waning interest in new product launches.

Don’t kick the can: Why Ayam Brand believes ambient products are the next big thing in plant-based meat

15-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Canned food specialist Ayam Brand believes that plant-based meats in canned, ambient format are could be the next big thing to meet consumer demands for greater convenience and affordability.

That’s a wrap: Australia’s Dumpling 100 revamps decades-old recipe to tap Australia’s ‘trendy’ frozen foods sector

11-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Australia-based Asian-style dumpling specialist firm Dumpling 100 has incorporated premiumisation and localisation trends into its decades-old traditional recipe to increase its appeal to consumers in the frozen food sector.

Edible ‘dairy’: Yili ramps up focus on cheese and plant-based products in response to growing consumer demand

10-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

China dairy giant Yili has revealed that it is ramping up its focus on cheese and plant-based products in addition to its conventional dairy items in response to growing consumer demand.

ASEAN food safety harmonisation: Codex standards best way forward for region to reach consensus – UNFAO expert

09-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Employing the use of Codex standards is crucial to achieving consensus for food safety standards harmonisation within the South East Asian region, according to a food safety expert from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO).

‘Preventing harm’: South Korea treads fine line between meeting plastic waste goals and food safety fears

08-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

South Korea has unveiled new rules for using recycled material to make food packaging in an attempt to ‘prevent harm to the public’, while simultaneously pushing towards its 2030 plastic waste reduction goals.

Spreading recycling: Mondelez looks to bring Cadbury’s recycled packaging tech to more APAC markets beyond Australia

08-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Mondelez believes that the recycled packaging technology recently rolled out for Cadbury Dairy Milk in Australia will be able to deliver sustainable packaging options for more markets in the Asia Pacific region in the coming years.

Taking on the big three: Malaysian multigrain drinks firm looks to become top morning beverage

03-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Malaysian multigrain drink specialist firm Happy Grains is looking to become the nation’s top breakfast drink as it seeks to rival the big three of tea, coffee and malted chocolate with healthier alternatives.

Spicing things up: 80-year-old Australian ginger firm looks to draw in new consumer groups with novel product innovation

02-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Eighty-year-old Australian ginger firm Buderim Ginger is looking to widen its horizons into the finished product space with NPD spanning sweets, cordial, beer and more.

Consumers calling: NZ government told to fix ‘broken’ supermarket system as parallels drawn to telecoms monopoly

02-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

The New Zealand government is under increased pressure to fix the country’s ‘broken’ supermarket system from both the food industry and consumer associations, both of which are demanding that the current duopoly be abolished and the market opened up in...

Shaving off the excess: China mandates food and cosmetics firms to limit excessive packaging and lower prices

02-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

China has issued new, stricter packaging regulations covering food and cosmetics products to prevent what has been dubbed the ‘excessive packaging’ phenomenon, citing a need to prevent unnecessary extra costs to consumers and impacts on the environment.

Insufficient speed and scale: Why nutrition shortcomings put United Nations’ 2030 sustainability goals at risk

01-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has highlighted that nutrition has emerged as one of the most pressing post-COVID-19 challenges to overcome for member nations to hit the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Encouraging reformulation: South Korea tightens food labelling standards for products with reduced sodium and sugar

27-Oct-2021 By Pearly Neo

South Korea has announced new, tighter standards for food firms looking to label their products as being reduced or lower in sodium or sugar, starting with the nation’s most-consumed food product, ramen.

One small step to space food production: Japan seeks firms to develop regenerative food supply system for space exploration

26-Oct-2021 By Pearly Neo

The Japanese government is searching for food firms and other institutions with the technology and insights to develop a regenerative food supply system for astronauts participating in the upcoming international space exploration program, the Artemis...

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