News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology
MAD Foods, a Singapore-headquartered company specialising in plant-based ready-to-drink beverages, is partnering TurtleTree in developing a new line of functional oat milk coffee containing lactoferrin that will be launched in mid-2025.
The early bird delegate sale, with a 25% discount, for our Growth Asia Summit has been extended to December 24.
Asahi Group Holdings (Asahi) has seen steady growth in the third quarter of 2024 buoyed by a rise in local Japanese demand for beer as well as international interest in its Super Dry product.
An inter-ministerial committee from India has put forth a list of recommendations on how nutraceuticals could be regulated, which has received mixed industry response, especially around disease risk reduction claims.
Premium water brand BE WTR aims to “revolutionise hydration” with its filtration and flavour-enhancing technologies, as it actively sets up bottling plants across the globe on the back of new funding.
Saudi Arabian F&B major Almarai is partnering with Google Cloud to accelerate its digital transformation initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, drive innovation and growth, and elevate customer experience in an increasingly competitive market.
The CEO of Japan’s biggest candy company, Kanro, has revealed how it hopes to drive sales to JPY50bn (US323m) by 2030.
Recent research findings by Euromonitor International highlight the prominence of probiotic and botanical ingredients in packaged foods in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, which also underscores innovation opportunities for wider application and variation.
Vitafoods Asia 2024
Supplements for sleep support are moving beyond melatonin or GABA pills designed for the general population, as companies place greater attention on insomnia and menopause, and designing non-pill products, such as meal replacement powders.
Natural colours manufacturer Oterra is boosting its production capacity in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region while continuing to create “bold innovations” based on its latest survey findings.
The supplementation of a whey-derived peptide has been shown to lower self-perceived levels of stress among middle-aged adults, according to a six-week study conducted by Kirin Holdings.
Finnish dairy co-operative Valio believes a focus on lactose-free milk innovation with an identical taste profile to regular dairy is the way to gain more prominent recognition within the Asian dairy market.
Suntory-owned Bowmore’s new travel retail range aims to beat competition through differentiated whiskey ages and a revamped packaging design, which it says depicts its storied history and forward-looking efforts.
Chinese firms are looking beyond common plant-based ingredients such as soybeans and oats to develop their own take on the alternative proteins sector, based on much deeper traditional and cultural heritage.
Blackmores’ strong sales performance in Q3 FY2024 has helped parent company Kirin reduce the operating loss coming from its health science business.
London-based Berry Bros. & Rudd says that the increased accessibility, spending power, and “thirst for knowledge” about wine among South East Asian (SEA) consumers have contributed to the company’s growth in the region.
Singaporean brand Re.juve’s ability to navigate cold pressed juices’ transition from being a trendy detox drink to a daily staple for meeting nutrient gaps, as well as support from loyal customers, have been crucial for its survival.
There are plans among China botanical extracts suppliers to build operations in South East Asia in a bid to bypass potential tariffs hikes under the new Trump administration.
The government of Poland has set its sights on South East Asia as the next major trade and exports market for its various food products, particularly apples and aronia berries.
India-based Origin Nutrition has launched a range of high-protein, compression-popped pea-based chips in a bid to target the slow-but-sure local healthy snacking market.
Alcohol major Pernod Ricard is focusing on increasing awareness and availability of its prestige brands in burgeoning markets and channels, while expanding its premium craft spirits portfolio to meet growing interest for niche products.
South Korean kimchi-focused company Narichan has launched a new ready-to-drink (RTD) kimchi drink in a bid to move beyond the traditional concepts of the product and consumption boost exports.
Greater cross-border collaboration across food chains is urgently needed in South East Asia to meet the rising threats of climate change, supply risks and geopolitical uncertainity.
Spain-based Eggnovo has set its sights on the beauty-from within and joint health markets in Asia, believing that its collagen upcycled from eggshells can provide consumers with a versatile option that is required in much lower doses than regular collagen.
The food and beverage sector in Indonesia believes that it is high time for a larger scale food innovation centre focusing on the advancement and development of domestic companies to be established in the country.
FNA DEEP DIVE: FOOD SAFETY & TRACEABILITY
Investments into food safety and traceability tech are becoming major priorities for many food and beverage firms across the Asia Pacific region, with regional experts telling us this is inn response to rapidly-evolving local needs.
South Korea is looking to improve the Children’s Diet Safety Index in its rural areas, after seeing poorer results compared to urban cities and the national average.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the nutraceuticals industry could become a ‘crucial’ component of innovation and regulatory compliance processes, but care must be taken regarding the information that is fed into the technology.
Cargill is building on its decades-long experience in infant nutrition and know-how on flavours to grow its specialised nutrition business, a focus area for the company’s next stage of development.
Tate & Lyle has highlighted that speedy innovation and operational digitalisation are more important to the food and beverage sector in Asia than anywhere else in the world, amidst the unveiling of its new globally-connected research laboratory.
Condiments market leader Kraft Heinz has identified convenience and localisation as particularly important drivers for the market in China, particularly when it comes to format and taste innovation.
Saudi Arabia’s Vlinder Chocolate recently debuted its “Dubai chocolate-style” products in South Korea, on the back of the viral food trend that has taken the market by storm over the past year.
Flavours specialist McCormick has highlighted the importance of innovating with spicy flavours in tandem with sodium reduction across savoury food categories in the Asian market.
South Korean firm Ildong Bioscience says that raising consumer awareness and the entry of more players may be crucial for pushing the growth of postbiotics in the local market.
Australia-based Cauldron Ferm has received funding from the Queensland Government to develop a first-of-its-kind precision fermentation facility in Mackay, which is expected to reduce costs and raise production capacity significantly.
Japanese dairy giant Meiji will invest USD28m into its US subsidiary to increase production capacity of its hero brand Hello Panda, aiming to raise overseas sales ratio to 10% or more by 2026.
The Asia Pacific functional beverage industry is increasingly seeing consumer demands for sugar reduction, label transparency and allergen aversion becoming commonplace.
Diageo-owned The Singleton has identified flavours as a key focus area to further drive growth in Asia, where the complexity of Scotch whiskey and its versatility in localisation are increasingly recognised.
South Korean ministries have signed a formal data-sharing agreement with local organisations in order to formulate more timely responses to illegal food and beverage trade at its borders, in response to a reported rise in such cases.
Nestle is reintegrating the Greater China region with the rest of Asia, as new CEO Laurent Freixe unveiled a significant U-turn from its 2021 geographical ‘sharpening’ strategy.
A recent study has found water-soluble tomato concentrate (WSTC) to have a significant impact on blood pressure regulation, which could contribute to the development of novel dietary approaches for protecting heart health.
Taiwan-based Han-Sient believes it has struck gold with its patented technology to produce guava leaf extract for blood sugar control and fat-burning, eyeing the diabetic and weight loss markets in South East Asia as its next major expansion step.
The Singapore food industry has voiced several concerns over government plans to extend the Nutri-Grade traffic light nutritional labelling system to sodium and fats.
The New Zealand government will introduce a new bill specifically to regulate natural products in the country, but no decisions have been taken on the scope or approach to be adopted, officials have announced.
Mongolian spirits firm Chinggis Khan has its eye firmly on the international stage with its premium vodka, believing that its premium base ingredients and specialised distillation process will give it an edge over the competition.
A study on coffee consumption patterns in Saudi Arabia has found that Saudi coffee is more widely consumed than Turkish coffee among the local population, and that caffeine intake levels remain within the daily recommended limit despite the category’s boom.
FNA TRAILBLAZERS EP 53
Australia’s Tummy Buddies believes that healthier product innovation for children needs to focus on bright colours and visual appeal in order to secure that crucial first purchase.
China may allow health foods in the form of chocolates, candies, jellies, and beverages to go through the official health foods filing process.
Global food and beverage giant PepsiCo has granted the winner of its 2024 GreenHouse Accelerator APAC programme Alterno US$100,000 to develop its thermal energy solution, with an eye on further collaboration with the firm in this area.
Food manufacturers in Indonesia face a particularly salient challenge in meeting consumer demands for healthier options, while being accustomed to strong and heavy flavours.