Convenience foods & snacks

On track for increased palm oil exports? Malaysia’s revival of China-backed mega rail project fuels hopes

23-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Malaysia has signed an agreement with China to resume the much-debated East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which will include increased palm oil exports to the latter, said Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Asia's Food Future: Industry 4.0

Learning to optimise food chains: How artificial intelligence is empowering F&B and solving ‘real business problems’

19-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

From farm to fork, artificial intelligence (AI) is fast gaining prominence along food supply chains worldwide. In this edition of Asia’s Food Future: Industry 4.0, we zoom into the applications of AI at various points along the food chain and explore...

Science Shorts: FSANZ food-health claims governance, China's plant-based focus and cell-based meats feature in our round-up

18-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

FSANZ food-health claims governance, China's plant-based and clean meat focus and cell-based meats feature in this edition of Science Shorts.

Time to stop observing: How Australia can play catch-up in the plant-based protein space

17-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

A new report on the alternative proteins sector has identified experience, agriculture and branding as three of Australia’s key advantages to standing out in the global industry despite a sluggish start and stiff competition from the US, Asia and Europe.

‘Meaningless restrictions’: Japan continues to demand South Korean Fukushima food ban repeal after WTO decision

17-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

South Korea’s ban on seafood from Fukushima, Japan has been upheld by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after a legal debate spanning several years, despite protests from Japan that the food products are ‘scientifically safe’.

‘Misguided’ criticism: Australian industry hits back at calls to make on-pack Health Star Rating system mandatory

17-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

The food and beverage industry in Australia is at odds with local health and consumer groups over calls by the latter to enforce usage of the Heath Stars Rating (HSR) System by food firms in the country as a mandatory requirement.

Popular Indian snacks head to Dubai in potential $14m JV

16-Apr-2019 By Gill Hyslop

Middle East supermarket mega chain Choithrams has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Future Consumer Limited (FCL) to market popular Indian snacks in the UAE for the first time.

Tackling the 'taste-health paradox': Indian snack manufacturers advised to focus on health, nutrition and 'Indian-ness'

16-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Snack manufacturers in India have been advised to take a health and wellness and localisation approach to snack production to appeal to local consumers.

‘Junk food’ marketing: NZ industry and health groups divided over ‘physical and mental harm’ claims

16-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

The food and retail industry in New Zealand has fired back against a recently-published study claiming that ‘junk food’ marketing that children are subjected to may cause them ‘physical, mental and moral harm’.

‘Biggest investment’: Nestle Philippines pledges US$52mn CAPEX investments to strengthen local production

16-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Nestle Philippines has pledged will continue to place priority on its local manufacturing capabilities after opening a new ready-to drink plant in the country, with the firm revealing an annual CAPEX investment of some PHP2.7bn (US$52mn) on expansions...

Mengniu's revenue rises 14.7%, but overall performance still lagging behind arch rival Yili

15-Apr-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Major Chinese dairy firm Mengniu saw its total revenue grow 14.7% to RMB$68.9bn (US$10.2bn) last year. However, its performance still paled in comparison to its top competitor, Yili.

Brand New: Nestle's SEA growth, Heineken's zero-alcohol beer, Japan-only Pepsi and more feature in our round-up

12-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Nestle's SEA growth, Heineken's zero-alcohol beer, Japan-only Pepsi and more feature in this edition of Brand New.

Japan Focus: Government's Fukushima foods strategy, Sapporo's malt alternatives, organic opportunities and more in our round-up

11-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

The Japanese government's Fukushima foods strategy, Sapporo's malt alternatives, organic opportunities and more feature in this edition of Japan Focus.

‘Don’t lose sight of fibre’: Roquette’s new Singapore centre to speed up its innovation cycle

11-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Roquette’s new Food Customer Technical Service (CTS) Centre in Singapore aims to speed up its innovation cycle and focus on product localisation, said a top company executive.

Gulfood 2019

'Moving the needle': Hunter Foods banks on hospitality concept to promote 'better for you' thinking

10-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

UAE-based food firm Hunter Foods is aiming to push forward its concept of applying hospitality-style thinking to its products and management, to enhance promotion of its better-for-you product messaging.

UAE start-up Farmchimp seeks to bring “source traceable” food to Middle East consumers

10-Apr-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Farmchimp General Trading, a Dubai-based e-commerce and bricks-and-mortar retailer, is seeking to bring “source traceable” products directly from farmers to end-consumers in the Middle East., by using QR codes to provide traceability information.

Nine in 10 UAE infants introduced to complementary foods by five to six months old

10-Apr-2019 By Tingmin Koe

About 90% of UAE infants have been introduced to complementary foods such as milk formula, juices and staples by the time they are five or six months old, according to a new study.

Middle East to lead global health and wellness packaged food growth over next five years: Study

10-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

The Middle East and North African (MENA) region (excluding sub-saharan Africa) has been predicted to lead the global health and wellness packaged food market growth over the next five years, according to an international study.

Food Ingredients China 2019

Dairy opportunities: The top five trends in China market revealed

10-Apr-2019 By Tingmin Koe

From functional claims, to plant-based sources, and dairy for different occasion, China’s dairy brands are on constant innovation drive to stand out from their competitors.

'Lack of evidence': Researchers demand stricter FSANZ governance of food-health relationship claims

10-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Australian researchers are calling for stricter governance over regulator FSANZ’s food-health relationship claims system, after arguing that 40.3% of product claims have not been proven with substantial evidence.

‘Fastest growing markets’: Nestle 2018 growth in SEA headed by Vietnam and Indonesia

10-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Nestle’s 2018 annual review has revealed that its rapid growth in the South East Asian region was headed by Vietnam and Indonesia last year.

China Focus: Chocolate for success, clean meat popularity, fake food fines and more feature in our round-up

09-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Chocolate for success, clean meat popularity, fake food fines and more in China feature in this edition of our China round-up.

Tmall reveals the top seven food and beverage trends driving China's consumer market

09-Apr-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Alibaba's e-commerce arm Tmall has revealed seven trends in China's F&B consumer market, including small packs, diet replacements, low-sugar, international, Internet sensation, inter-industry cooperation, and cultural element revival.

Chocolate in China: Use in local food applications key to category success - Barry Callebaut China boss

05-Apr-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Incorporating chocolate in local food applications is key to achieving market success for the category in China, according to Barry Callebaut, which expects to see launches of new products featuring its flagship Ruby chocolate increase this year.

FOOD INGREDIENTS CHINA 2019

Nine nuts beverage: Chinese firm Howbetter seeks entry in Western’s plant-based drinks markets

05-Apr-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Chinese firm Jiangsu Howbetter Food has launched a new plant-based beverage prototype made from nine different nuts and is keen to introduce its expertise to the West.

Asia’s plant-based market: Socioeconomic and cultural norms could present significant challenges to growth, say experts

05-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Despite the growing popularity of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives in the Asia Pacific, experts say that deep-set socioeconomic and cultural norms in Asia could present obstacles for true widespread growth in the region.

Fat-fighting fibre: Taiwanese study suggests consumption can cut fat by almost 20%

03-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Taiwanese researchers have found that the consumption of certain dietary fibres in a high-fat diet may serve to reduce total body fat by up to 20%.

Convenience, experience and sustainability: How food businesses can retain consumers in a fast-evolving retail landscape

03-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Experts have identified convenience, experience and personalisation as the key trends that food businesses need to pay attention to in order to retain customer loyalty amidst the rapid evolution of the Middle Eastern F&B market.

Bringing keto to Asia: Target niche segments instead of pushing for overall change, says industry player

02-Apr-2019 By Cheryl Tay

The mainstream Singapore market is "not quite ready for the keto message", but a small yet growing number of consumers buying low-carbohydrate health foods and supplements may offer a glimmer of hope.

‘Full supply chain transparency’: Nestle publicly discloses lists of commodity suppliers in industry-first move

02-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Global food and beverage giant Nestle has published its second round of supplier lists for public perusal in an industry-first move towards total supply chain transparency, revealing Oceania, Malaysia and Indonesia as its biggest APAC suppliers so far.

Labelling lapses? Over half of undeclared allergen food recalls in Australia due to packaging errors

01-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Half of all food recalls in Australia related to undeclared allergens are a result of packaging errors, new statistics revealed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) show.

Colour coding for sugar reduction: Sri Lanka next to implement traffic light labelling system for packaged foods

01-Apr-2019 By Pearly Neo

Sri Lanka will implement a traffic light coding system for packaged foods in the country, targeting specified levels of sugar, salt and fat content following success of the system’s application to soft drinks in the country.

Policy Picks: FSSAI traffic light labelling, Thailand non-alcoholic beer rules, Malaysia sugar tax and more in our policy round-up

29-Mar-2019 By Pearly Neo

FSSAI traffic light labelling, Thailand non-alcoholic beer rules, Malaysia sugar tax and more feature in this edition of Policy Picks.

Hot Right Now: Vegan demand in Australia, Nestle Malaysia's US$34mn lawsuit, Malaysia's sugar tax delay and more trending social media stories

28-Mar-2019 By Pearly Neo

Vegan demand in Australia, Nestle Malaysia's US$34mn lawsuit, Malaysia's sugar tax delay and more of our trending social media stories feature in this edition of Hot Right Now.

Tate & Lyle stevia sustainability research in China expected to yield new analysis and recommendations next year

27-Mar-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Tate & Lyle expects its research on sustainable stevia production to yield analysis and recommendations by the first half of next year.

How digital traceability scheme reaps commercial benefits and builds trust between key players - Olam Cocoa

27-Mar-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Using digital tools to trace the entire supply chain produces not only commercial and reputational benefits, but also fosters trust between firms and its partners, according to Olam Cocoa.

Gulfood 2019

Freakin' Healthy: UAE free-from brand lists four major obstacles challenging the healthy snacks industry

27-Mar-2019 By Pearly Neo

UAE specialist free-from brand Freakin' Healthy is on a mission to tackle the four major obstacles currently challenging the healthy snacks industry, said its founder and CEO.

‘Food fraud vulnerability’: Are Australia’s country-of-origin labels propagating fraud opportunities?

27-Mar-2019 By Pearly Neo

A food fraud and labelling expert has criticised Australia’s ‘kangaroo in a triangle’ country-of-origin labels of making it easier for food fraud to take place, especially in international settings.

FSSAI traffic light labelling regulations set for public consultation ‘soon’

26-Mar-2019 By Pearly Neo

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) draft on food labelling regulations including controversial traffic light labelling rules will be soon be released for public comment, according to an agency official.

Gulfood 2019

Top tips for food and beverage start-ups when collaborating with industry’s big beasts

26-Mar-2019 By Pearly Neo

Be interesting, be passionate and be unique. These are among the top tips for start-ups when seeking to work with MNCs, according to a panel of top food and beverage industry leaders.

‘Go-to region’ for food firms: Asia Pacific to see fastest F&B market growth to 2030

25-Mar-2019 By Pearly Neo

The Asia Pacific region has come out on top in terms of expected growth for multiple food and beverage markets globally, and is expected to become the biggest F&B region for consumption worldwide by 2030, according to a new report.

Nestle Malaysia faces US$34mn lawsuit over allegations of unauthorised QR code usage

25-Mar-2019 By Pearly Neo

Nestle Malaysia has been slapped with a written summons over the alleged ‘unauthorised and/or unlawful’ use of a QR code by a technology company, which is suing for the sum of RM139mn (US$34mn).

Trend Tracker: Dessert trends in Japan, e-commerce in Saudi, alternative meats in China and more feature in our trends round-up

22-Mar-2019 By Pearly Neo

Dessert and organic trends in Japan, e-commerce in Saudi and alternative meat popularity in China feature in this edition of Trend Tracker

Mars’ three-pronged strategy for sustainable packaging success

20-Mar-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Confectionery giant Mars has three underlined its three strategies for sustainable packaging - materials and design innovation, recycling infrastructure, and consumer behaviour.

Food Ingredients China 2019

Digital design: Greater scope for Chinese firms to embrace dynamic packaging opportunities

20-Mar-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Chinese food and beverage firms need to better embrace the latest digital design technologies in order to keep up with the times and accelerate the nation’s manufacturing skills in line with the government’s Made in China 2025 programme.