Functional foods & drinks

New natural sweeteners found: Wild plants in Yunnan sweeter than sucrose by at least 25 times

13-Aug-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Two types of plants in Yunnan, Myriopteron extensum and Derris eriocarpa have been found to contain highly sweet-tasting compounds that are at least 25 times sweeter than sucrose, according to researchers from the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese...

Increasing wholegrain intake in ASEAN key to reducing NCDs in region: Study

06-Aug-2018 By Lester Wan

Changing the low dietary intake of whole grains in ASEAN countries could be key to managing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region, according to a new study.

Insects could be the next big feed segment, but only if it can find scale

02-Aug-2018 By RJ Whitehead

While most of the entomological hype surrounds the bugs you can eat, another insect segment has been slowly building its presence in South East Asia, in particular.

Can India's Eat Right Movement 'nudge' food firms to reformulate and aid NCD fight?

30-Jul-2018 By Lester Wan

A broad coalition of regulators, health bodies and food firms is pinning its hopes on a new 'Eat Right Movement' to help curb India's alarming rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Millennials and brand loyalty: Why they are 'polygamous not promiscuous'

26-Jul-2018 By Lester Wan

Retailers need to view millennials as their most important consumer segment and shift their approach across everything from customer service to the brands they stock, according to the CEO of Nielsen and the boss of Australian supermarket chain IGA.

China crisis: Foreign food brands forced to innovate to avoid losing share in tough market

25-Jul-2018 By RJ Whitehead

As a trade war between Washington and Beijing gathers steam, some of the best known foreign food and beverage brands have been finding themselves on the back foot in their own battles in China.

China's growing snacking segment needs some spicing up to raise the bar

24-Jul-2018 By Lester Wan

China’s ever-growing middle class is changing the country’s food sector with an increasing penchant for snacking — but analysts say the snack bar category in particular needs some spicing up.

Veggie-might: Coles launches more vegetable products to meet growing consumer demand

24-Jul-2018 By Lester Wan

Australian supermarket powerhouse Coles has launched significantly more vegetable products in the past year to meet growing consumer demand for plant-based food and ingredients.

Fi Asia-China 2018

China’s dairy demand: Huge growth and NPD being seen across all sectors

18-Jul-2018 By Lester Wan

The China dairy market has been growing rapidly across categories in the past two years, with the market buoyed by changing consumer tastes and extensive new product development.

Exclusive: Video / Analysis / Infographics

China in Focus – Omega-3: The importance of sport, personalisation and protecting reputation

17-Jul-2018 By Gary Scattergood

China's omega-3 market appears to be at a tipping point, with slowly rising consumer awareness being buoyed by both the ingredient's sports nutrition potential and growing opportunities for personalised nutrition.

Healthier oils, plant-based protein, higher dietary fibre in carbohydrates… Wilmar reveals potential innovations from its new lab

16-Jul-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Agribusiness giant Wilmar has opened a joint laboratory with National University of Singapore (NUS) to drive innovation in food technology and sustainable biochemicals.

Healthy Ageing APAC Summit 2018

'More than mincing food': The rationale behind Japan's ground-breaking 'engay' products for dysphagia patients

12-Jul-2018 By Tingmin Koe

'Engay' food, produced for patients suffering from the swallowing disorder dysphagia, can provide tasty, nutritious and enjoyable meals for APAC's growing ageing population, according to one of the pioneering Japanese companies behind the...

Nestlé India launches new 'healthy' breakfast cereals in face of growing competition

10-Jul-2018 By Lester Wan

Nestlé India has launched a new range of breakfast cereals – NESPLUS – which the firm says has been tailored to local tastes, and adds another product to the increasingly competitive category.

Australia / NZ regulator seeks to overhaul charging structure for amendments to food standards code

09-Jul-2018 By Lester Wan

Food companies seeking to secure amendments to Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s (FSANZ) code of standards could face a revised set of costs, under plans put forward for consultation.

Healthy Ageing APAC Summit 2018

Healthy ageing product innovation does not follow the typical F&B business model: Nestlé China's research deputy

09-Jul-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Product innovation for the ageing population should not follow the usual food and beverage business model, according to the deputy manager of the Nestlé research centre in Beijing.

Move away from trans fats and focus on clean label spurs AAK's APAC expansion drive

09-Jul-2018 By Lester Wan

Ingredients firm AAK has been rapidly growing its footprint in Asia-Pacific across a number of categories, backed by plans for a new plant in the Philippines and a customer innovation centre in Japan.

Australia's Country of Origin Labelling rules come into force with spot checks for 10,000 items

04-Jul-2018 By Lester Wan

Australia’s new Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) rules are now fully in force, with regulators set to embark on 10,000 spot checks to ensure adherence.

'New retail' convergence of offline and e-commerce sales transforming Asia's business landscape

28-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

The merger of offline and online retail being pioneered by the likes the Alibaba — dubbed ‘new retail’ — will provide the foundation on which emerging economies will be built, a new report claims.

Low-GI outfit SunRice reveals business growth plans with proposed capital raise

28-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

Australian low-GI rice firm SunRice is seeking to raise up to AU$30m to accelerate new product development and expansion across Asia Pacific.

Strategies for success: How food and nutrition firms can reap the rewards of China's $125bn cross-border e-commerce market

27-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

China's cross-border e-commerce or haitao purchases are set to reach US$125bn, but it appears food and nutrition firms need to develop more comprehensive strategies in order to overcome inherent market challenges.

Slashing sugar: Biggest Australian beverage companies to cut content by 20% over next seven years

26-Jun-2018 By Tingmin Koe

A 20% sugar reduction across non-alcoholic products will take place in Australia by 2025, the nation’s beverages council has announced.

New skin pigment test can shed light on low fruit and veggie intake

26-Jun-2018 By Gary Scattergood

New technology that measures the colour and intensity of reflected light on skin pigments could help detect if people are consuming enough fruit and vegetables, new research by Curtin University in Australia has found.

Fi Vietnam 2018

Consumer food trends in Vietnam: Rising incomes offering big opportunities for manufacturers

26-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

The Vietnamese food and beverage industry is seeing strong growth along with rising incomes, and its unique characteristics and preferences bring opportunities that food firms need to know how to seize.

Fi Vietnam 2018

10 global food and beverage trends transforming the Thai market

25-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

10 food and beverage trends around the world have already trickled into the Thai market in 2018, and are starting to shape the 'next generation' of consumer demands.

Fi Vietnam 2018

Four factors to succeed in health-focused product innovations: Ex-Unilever VP of R&D

21-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

If major food manufacturers are not striving to make genuinely healthier products then they are shaping up for failure, according to a former senior research and development executive at Unilever and Masan Consumer.

Could computationally designed sweet proteins revolutionise sugar replacement sector?

19-Jun-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Israeli firm Amai Proteins has developed computerised 'designer' sweet proteins as it seeks to tap into the sugar replacement market.

Hemp milk the latest product innovation finding favour with Aussie consumers

19-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

Hemp milk is the latest product to be launched in Australia after the ingredient was permitted for use by regulators at the end of last year.

Healthy Ageing APAC Summit 2018

Australia still leading the way with low-GI products but hopes are high that Asia can follow suit

19-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

Experts from Australia are hopeful that Asian manufacturers and consumers can learn from their experiences in leading the fight against diabetes by formulating low-GI foods.

Healthy Ageing APAC Summit 2018

Alternative protein firms 'need to rethink' Asian preferences and nutrition priorities

18-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

Interest in alternative protein is rapidly growing across Asia, but food firms need to rethink their approach in terms of local preferences and health and nutrition priorities.

US functional coffee firm has eye on Asia growth with new Korea subsidiary

14-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

US functional coffee and matcha tea firm NuZee has established a new, wholly-owned subsidiary and broken ground on a new manufacturing plant in Korea as it seeks to boost its trade in Asia.

Healthy Ageing APAC Summit 2018

Food reformulation: Industries warned against searching for all-in-one ‘miracle food’

14-Jun-2018 By Tingmin Koe

Reformulation experts have warned food and beverage manufacturers against seeking to create ‘wonder foods’ in an attempt to solve Asia Pacific’s growing health challenges.

Healthy Ageing APAC Summit 2018

Healthy Ageing innovation: Five key consumer trends driving market growth in APAC

13-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

From fortification to free-from, there are five key trends shaping demand for new products suitable for Asia’s rapidly ageing population, our first Healthy Ageing APAC Summit in Singapore has heard.

Edible insects insights Pt 3: Growth potential should pique interest of investors

07-Jun-2018 By Gary Scattergood

Bangkok-based expert of edible insects, Massimo Reverberi, has penned a three-part overview into the history, opportunities and challenges of expanding the market for alternative sources of protein. In this final article, he unveils the industry's...

Edible insects insights Pt 2: Why flour power will continue to be strongest in Asia

06-Jun-2018 By Massimo Reverberi

Bangkok-based expert of edible insects, Massimo Reverberi, has penned a three-part overview into the history, opportunities and challenges of expanding the market for alternative sources of protein. In part two, he assesses the global farming landscape,...

ASIA'S FOOD FUTURE VIDEO SERIES

WATCH: Reformulation in focus — can industry fight the region's health battles head-on?

05-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan & Gary Scattergood

APAC's well-documented battle with obesity and diabetes is putting ever-greater pressure on manufacturers to reformulate to improve health outcomes, but what more can be done to encourage consumers, industry and policymakers to make changes for the...

Edible insects insights Pt 1: Is the West ready to follow Asia’s entomophagy lead?

05-Jun-2018 By Massimo Reverberi

Bangkok-based expert of edible insects, Massimo Reverberi, has penned a three-part overview into the history, opportunities and challenges of expanding the market for alternative sources of protein. In part one, he assesses growing interest from the West...

Next-gen nutrition: How new Korean 3-D food printer can meet individual dietary needs

04-Jun-2018 By Lester Wan

A new 3-D food printer that can create food items to meet an individual's nutritional needs at the push of a button has been unveiled in South Korea.

Put freeze-dried on ice, says Aussie flash dehydration entrepreneur

29-May-2018 By Richard Whitehead

An Australian start-up believes it has found a better way to dehydrate all manner of food than freeze-drying, claiming its technology can even unlock the nutrients that are often discarded from processing as sludge and slurry.

India’s FSSAI to finalise on-pack traffic-light labelling regulations

28-May-2018 By Lester Wan

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plans to finalise its food labelling and display regulations for packaged food products — including proposed traffic light labelling for high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) foods — within the next two...

How sharing services can help put Singapore dairy firms on the global map

24-May-2018 By Tingmin Koe

A one-stop dairy hub that will offer a range of research and development, processing, warehouse and tech services could help Singapore firms slash costs and increase export opportunities.

‘Omnipork’: Plant-based pork product debuts in Hong Kong

17-May-2018 By Lester Wan

A new Hong Kong vegan brand, Right Treat, has introduced its first product in Hong Kong — a plant-based pork alternative called Omnipork or “new pork” in Cantonese.

DuPont to open new Japan innovation centre as wellness, 'snackification' and healthy ageing take centre stage

14-May-2018 By Lester Wan

DuPont is set to open a new Innovation Application Centre in Japan later this year, highlighting wellness, snacking and ageing as the region's hottest trends.

People, product and place: The key to independent retailer success amid the onslaught of multiples and online giants

02-May-2018 By Gary Scattergood

At first, independent Australian grocery and health food retailers had to contend with the challenge of the big beasts Woolies and Coles, and more recently, Aldi and the threat of Amazon, but a former exec at Whole Foods insists the future is bright for...

The battle to lower GI: Top tips and the latest innovations to be unveiled at Healthy Ageing APAC Summit

01-May-2018 By Gary Scattergood

With APAC in the midst of a diabetes and obesity crisis, there has never been more pressure on industry to create products that can help lower the glycaemic index, and two experts will be showcasing the latest innovations and opportunities in this field...

The power of local: Indian Greek yoghurt firm Epigamia enjoys rapid expansion

25-Apr-2018 By Lester Wan

The boss of Drums Food International, owner of booming Indian Greek yoghurt brand Epigamia, has revealed to FoodNavigator-Asia his ambitious expansion plans.

Fact not fad: Why the vegan market is going from strength-to-strength in Australia

25-Apr-2018 By Lester Wan

Forget throwing burgers on the barbie, Aussie consumers’ desire for vegan products shows no sign of sizzling out with analysts highlighting the ongoing surge in sales and product launches.

Low-GI go: Holista Colltech primed for Asia expansion with healthy bread and noodle innovation

24-Apr-2018 By Lester Wan

Malaysia-based Holista Colltech says it is set for significant Asian sales growth with its low-GI formulas for bread and noodles, on the back of securing its first major deal in North America.

Seaweed superfood: Malaysia seeks UN recognition to boost international awareness

23-Apr-2018 By Lester Wan

Malaysia is seeking recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) for its seaweed to be classed as a superfood.

Grape expectations: New Welch’s strategy targets Japan expansion and China market entry

19-Apr-2018 By Gary Scattergood

Welch’s – which is owned by the US National Grape Co-operative – has unveiled its new global ingredients strategy, with expansion in Japan and an examination of the potential in China high on the agenda.

Ajinomoto jumps on AI bandwagon with consumer recipe app

16-Apr-2018 By Richard J. Whitehead

Japanese condiment maker Ajinomoto has launched a new service that uses artificial intelligence to select the perfect recipe for a dish depending on a consumer’s tastes.