Convenience foods & snacks

India sustainability is ‘integral’: PepsiCo pours US$5mn into local agriculture programme to make ‘global impact’

08-Nov-2018 By Pearly Neo

PepsiCo is investing US$5mn into the sustainable farming programme in India headed by its global sustainable agriculture team over the next three years.

Pragmatic approach recommended to tap huge eastern potential

Now more popular than milk, China’s yogurt market lures international newcomers

07-Nov-2018 By Richard Whitehead

Australian yogurt firms are going flat out to tap into Southeast Asia’s growing yogurt market, with their eyes on the biggest prize of all: China.

Science shorts: Studies on sugar tax and ultraprocessed foods feature in our food science round-up

07-Nov-2018 By Pearly Neo

We take a look at the latest findings in food science, including the effects of sugar tax, underutilised foods, ultraprocessed foods consumption and more.

Halal certification system: Lack of global alignment increases costs for food firms

07-Nov-2018 By Tingmin Koe

The global halal certification system is increasing costs for manufacturers, largely due to the lack of international alignment, according to the State of the Islamic Economy Report 2018/19.

Seizing Saudi Arabia’s online grocery shoppers: Majid Al Futtaim expands e-commerce reach

07-Nov-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Majid Al Futtaim, a Dubai-based conglomerate which operates supermarkets as part of its business, is partnering with online store Wadi Grocery to build its presence in Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce space.

Indonesian study reveals low consumption of ultraprocessed foods in Jakarta

07-Nov-2018 By Pearly Neo

A food consumption pattern study in Jakarta revealed low consumptions of ultraprocessed foods in the city.

‘Huge losses to the sugar industry’: Philippines industry leaders want suspension of TRAIN law’s second phase

07-Nov-2018 By Pearly Neo

Leaders of the Philippines sugar industry are requesting that the government completely suspend the second phase implementation of the controversial Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law in view of the country’s high inflation rate.

More costly bread in Malaysia: Gardenia raises prices of several products due to ‘increasing costs’

07-Nov-2018 By Pearly Neo

Malaysia’s Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd has confirmed the raise of the prices of several of its best-known products, sparking consumer uproar.

From 7 days to 2 seconds: Blockchain can help speed trace-back, improve food safety & reduce waste

06-Nov-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Once the “biggest skeptic” of how blockchain technology could benefit the food and beverage industry, Frank Yiannas, the VP of food safety for Walmart, says he experienced a near “religious conversion” after working with IBM to digitize the food supply...

Asia ‘leading the way’ in e-commerce: Four of the top ten global online grocery markets in 2023 will hail from APAC

06-Nov-2018 By Pearly Neo

China has taken the top spot amongst global online grocery markets expected to lead the sector by 2023 while Japan, South Korea and Australia are all within the top 10, according to research by food and grocery research authority Institute of Grocery...

Top 7 from 7: The key global food industry news of the past 7 days (Oct 29 – Nov 5)

05-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

From Kellogg's new joyböl smoothie bowls for "deskfast" to Novozyme's strong performance over nine months and what you should know about China's cross-border e-commerce sector, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s...

Boosting Aussies food products in SEA: Sydney and Singapore firms cooperate for growth

05-Nov-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Two firms are joining forces to expand the market presence of Australian food and beverage products in the South East Asia (SEA).

Selling to China via cross-border e-commerce: What food firms need to know

05-Nov-2018 By Tingmin Koe

China's cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) sector saw a turnover of US$13.08m (RMB 90.24bn) last year, which was 80.6% higher than 2016.

Little Freddie secures share of $100m investment pot

02-Nov-2018 By Gwen Ridler

Organic baby food manufacturer Little Freddie has secured a share of a $100m (£76.7m) investment fund to help it grow internationally.

From 845 to 200 data fields: Food company licensing to become ‘simpler’ in Singapore

01-Nov-2018 By Pearly Neo

New food and beverage (F&B) companies will ‘only’ have to fill in 200 data fields, versus the previous 845 from next year, revealed Singapore Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry (MTI) Chee Hong Tat.

‘Eliminating 37m plastic bags in a year’: Lotus Trolley Bag eyes Australian market after US success

01-Nov-2018 By Pearly Neo

California-based start-up Lotus Trolley Bag is aiming to tackle the issue of plastic waste in Australia, after claiming to have eliminated ‘37 million plastic bags in the last year’ in the United States.

Food safety for bosses: Strong managerial commitment now compulsory for new Singapore standards

31-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Increased involvement and commitment of food companies’ upper management in food safety processes is now a required factor under the latest 2018 versions of Singapore food safety standards SS444 and SS ISO 22000.

Sugar taxes an opportunity not a threat: Tereos opens first Asia R&D centre in Singapore

31-Oct-2018 By Tingmin Koe

French ingredient company Tereos has opened a R&D centre in Singapore , the first it fully-owns in Asia.

‘Unstoppable' online grocery march: Four levels of development identified within Asia by TetraPak

29-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Online grocery is on an ‘unstoppable march’ in Asia, but the Tetra Pak Index 2018 report has identified four different rates of development across the region.

Three Squirrels to develop shopper-specific products to battle China’s sagging nut snacks market

26-Oct-2018 By Douglas Yu

China’s e-commerce snack giant plans to target specific shoppers, including pregnant women, athletes and seniors, with customized products to battle the slowdown of the domestic nut snacks market.

Hot right now: ‘Polluting’ brands, Japan animal testing and Nestle’s Milo investment among trending social media stories

26-Oct-2018 By Gary Scattergood

In our top five stories trending on social media this month, we feature brands under fire for plastic waste, the Japan firms banning testing on animals and the latest on Nestle Malaysia’s production expansion plans.

Trend Tracker: Asian megatrends, gulf exports, edible insects and organic momentum revealed

25-Oct-2018 By Gary Scattergood

In our latest overview of the key market and consumer trends sweeping the region, we take a look at insights from Cargill, edible insect developments in China and an organic growth spurt in the Middle East.

Fi Asia 2018

ASEAN-5: Top trends for the ‘five fastest-growing economies’ in South East Asia

25-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Food industry experts from the ‘ASEAN-5’ – the fastest growing economies in South East Asia – have lifted the lid on the key food and beverage trends driving growth in their countries, and the major challenges they continue to face.

Consumption of Western food can raise cancer risks in Arab men: US expert

24-Oct-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Consumption of Western food high in omega-6, red meat, and sugar increases the risk of developing prostate cancer, as observed in Arab men.

Executives on the move / financial results

Nestlé Zone Asia CEO steps down after firm posts nine-month sales growth

24-Oct-2018 By Douglas Yu

Nestlé Zone Asia, Oceania and Sub-Saharan Africa (AOA) CEO, Wan Ling Martello, will leave the KitKat maker as well as its group executive board by the end of 2018.

Still a ‘go’: San Miguel vows to press ahead with IPO despite valuation slash

24-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

The boss of San Miguel Food and Beverage (SFMB) has vowed that the firms planned IPO will go ahead, despite its value being slashed by roughly 50% to US$920mn (PHP 49.4bn) as a result of weak market conditions.

China Focus: Mondelez advancement, Ingredion investment and Sapporo strategy in the spotlight

23-Oct-2018 By Gary Scattergood

This month’s review of the latest need-to-know industry news from China features developments from big name firms including Mondelez, Sapporo and JD.

Breakfast on wheels: Nestle India gears up for healthy breakfast truck project

23-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Nestle India is piloting its new-concept ‘All Day Breakfast’ truck in Delhi, in its third health- nutritious-focused launch within the last four months.

Foodbank Australia CEO: Achieving UN goals a pipe dream amid ‘shameful’ food waste and security woes

23-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Australia has a multi-billion food waste problem, alongside massive simultaneous food insecurity and hunger issues, meaning it is a long way off meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals the CEO of Foodbank Australia has told us.

Top 7 from 7: The key global food industry news of the past 7 days (Oct 15-22)

22-Oct-2018 By Stephen Daniells

From duckweed-derived plant protein to making food labels easier for consumers, and Lact’Union's new ambient drinking yogurt, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top seven global food and beverage news items to get...

New product trend tracker: Aussie brands, veg snacks and superfruits

22-Oct-2018 By Katy Askew

In FoodNavigator's weekly rundown of some of the most interesting products hitting European shelves, iconic Australian brand Tim Tam is rolled out in Germany, certified French meatballs and superfruit snacks are launched in France, while the UK sees...

Middle East food trends: Health, wellness and packaging taking centre stage

22-Oct-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Food and beverages that promote health and wellness continue to shape the Middle East food manufacturing industry, said Mark Napier, who is the exhibitions director at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and show director of Gulfood Manufacturing.

Similar eating habits and taste profiles: Why Pakistani food find success in the Middle East

22-Oct-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Pakistani food and beverage manufacturers are increasingly leveraging on the similar food trends and eating habits that they share with the local population in order to find success Middle East markets.

‘It’s political and not scientific’: Taiwan confirms ‘nuclear food referendum’ to proceed as Japan voices disappointment

22-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Taiwan will hold a referendum on ‘nuclear food’ imports from Japan alongside its local elections next month.

Expert analysis: 'Graded sugar tax model' could be the way to go for Malaysia to stop over-consumption

22-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

A 'graded sugar tax model' has been suggested by an expert analyst as an alternative to just soda or sugar taxes in Malaysia's battle against sugar over-consumption.

Incremental innovation or game-changing NPD: Have Unilever and Nestlé really started to tap new trends?

19-Oct-2018 By Katy Askew

Two giants of the global food sector - Unilever and Nestlé - reported increased sales momentum yesterday (18 October). The news will be welcome respite for the two ‘big food’ manufacturers who have seen market share come under pressure from the fragmentation...

Philippines-Japan food trade: South East Asian nation must meet safety standards to benefit from export market

17-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is striving to educate food firms on Japan food safety standards in a bid to reap export rewards.

Fast food exit?: McDonald’s, KFC sponsorship of children’s sport may end in New Zealand

17-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Fast food giants in New Zealand, including McDonald’s and KFC, may be asked to stop their sponsorship of children’s sport in the country.

Dipping into dips: Nestle India enters new segment amid price hike considerations

17-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Nestle India has taken a dip into the gourmet dip and spread segment with its latest product offering, Maggi Dip & Spread. This comes amidst the company’s mulling of ‘some price increase’ in ‘some categories’.

‘Growth is in our DNA’: AAK looks to unexplored markets and premium solutions in pursuit of ambitious Asia targets

16-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Vegetable oils and fats specialist company AAK is placing an emphasis on unexplored markets and premium products as it pursues its ‘multi-oil, multi-solution’ company focus and ambitious growth targets in Asia.

Mondelez catching up with competitors in China’s e-commerce space: Bernstein report

15-Oct-2018 By Tingmin Koe

The US snacks and confectionary giant Mondelez is catching up with its rivals despite a late entry into China’s e-commerce space.

Ingredion pumps up starch production business in China with new investments

15-Oct-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Ingredion is looking to grow its starch production and wet-milling capacity in China.

Processing innovation: Tokyo Pack 2018

Robots of the future make their debut at Tokyo Pack 2018

11-Oct-2018 By Jenny Eagle

An MiR100 portable heavy goods robot by Kantum and a flying drone called Prodroneto, which will be launched in December, made their debut at this year’s Tokyo Pack 2018.

Fi Asia 2018

Not out with the old: Azelis aims to make its presence felt in Indonesia by cashing in on 'familiar' technologies

11-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Azelis Indonesia will utilise its well-developed technologies in flavours, hydrocolloids and modified starch to expand its local market, company representatives have told FoodNavigator-Asia.

‘Top polluters in Asia’: Coca-Cola, Mondelez respond to Greenpeace plastic waste audit findings

11-Oct-2018 By Pearly Neo

Coca-Cola, Mondelez and Perfetti van Melle have been identified as the ‘top polluters in Asia’, according to the results from Greenpeace’s Break Free from Plastic global brand audit.

Fi Asia 2018

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