News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS
Ready-to-cook (RTC) pastes can tap the rising at-home cooking boom in Asia by including a combo of heritage and convenience in their innovations.
FNA TRAILBLAZERS EP 56
Singapore’s Petale Tea believes it has found a unique niche in the market for premium, personalised consumption in the shape of blooming tea balls.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 55
Australia-based The Calmer Co believes that kava-based drinks are well-positioned as part of the second generation of low-to-no alcohol (NOLO) beverages, providing relaxation functional benefits in addition to being an alternative to booze.
FNA TRAILBLAZERS EP 54
Singapore-based children’s food firm HaruPlate is looking to tap on mediums of gameplaying as well as cultural influences to get kids in the APAC region to first eat at all, then eat healthier.
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.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 52
Singapore-based Flojo believes that it has found a sweet spot in Asia's beverage market with an AI-powered ‘productivity drink’ targeting consumers who regularly use a lot of brain power.
Nutrachampion podcast
Singapore nutraceutical start-up NanoSG is honing up its AI avatar and online tools, as consumers are relying more on data and information to guide their purchase decision.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 51
Tempeh chips brand Mamame has highlighted the multiple nutritional benefits of black-eyed beans as a key factor behind its success in the APAC healthy snacking sector, fuelling its upcoming growth into the UK and US markets as well.
New Zealand nut butter specialist Forty Thieves believes that its flexibility in providing smaller packaging options as well as a dedicated keto range is driving growth across the region.
Nutrachampion podcast
A Malaysia homegrown postbiotics company has set the ambitious goal of reducing the country's reliance on imports of overseas “biotics” raw materials, managing director of the firm told NutraIngredients-Asia in the latest episode of our Nutrachampion...
FNA FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 49
Singapore cultivated seafood firm Umami Bioworks believes that strategic mergers are crucial to overcome doubts about the sector and achieve buy-in from major brands which can help the category scale-up.
FNA FOOD & BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 48
Focusing on flexitarians and doubling down on the perceived health benefits of consuming less meat and dairy is the best way for APAC’s sluggish plant-based sector to secure significant growth.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 47
The APAC tea sector need to focus on functionality and format innovation and not just increasing blend varieties if it is to enjoy sustained growth, according to Sri Lanka and Europe-based tea specialist English Tea Shop.
FNA FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 46
Singapore-based plant-based products firm Thoughtful Food believes that the sector needs to look more closely at dry and ambient innovation as a key driver, particularly for brands seeking to solve ultra-processing challenges or go more clean label.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EP 45
Affordability is emerging as the main driving factor for insect-based foods in the APAC region, possibly even more significant than its often-lauded protein or sustainability factors.
FNA FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 44
The cultivated meat industry in APAC needs to focus on localisation and realistic pricing strategies to avoid repeating past alternative protein ‘pitfalls’, says pioneer Aleph Farms.
FNA FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EP 43
Singapore-based Curated Culture has big plans to enter the ‘sports and wellness’ space in the APAC region with its probiotic tea products, which the firm has stressed is ‘not kombucha’.
FNA FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EP 42
Better-for-you beverage trends and ingredients are starting to see a convergence between markets in the Asia Pacific and United States as comsumer awareness grows, according to energy tea brand YATE.
Children are the ‘toughest food critics’ meaning that healthy snack firms have to pay equal attention to taste and nutrition if they are going to attract mass appeal and help improve the diets of young people.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EP 40
Singaporean plant-based firm Vitality Foods is targeting the still-active seniors demographic in APAC with its all-natural, clean label products, believing it has found a gap in the industry that is as-yet underserved and full of unmet needs.
FNA FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 39
Plant-based brands in South East Asia need to step up their game by integrating unique health and localisation features to stand out in the increasingly crowded market, according to a Philippines brand blazing a trail in the sector.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EP 38
The rise of new ingredients and innovations in the better-for-you confectionery space is shifting candies and other sweet treats into a guilt-free indulgence space, and has to the potential to progress further into the functional foods realm.
NutraChampion podcast
Shock statistics showing that one in five adults in Indonesia is obese is a wake-up call that needs to be urgently addressed through public education via social media, argues the president of the Indonesian Nutrition Association (INA).
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 37
The interest in cleaner and better-for-you snacks shown by big food and beverage brands, including Mondelez, Nestle and Vitasoy, is paving the way for a new specialised area of plant-based proteins to enter the market, namely the RuBisCo leaf protein.
F&B TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 36
Ensuring that brand focus is maintained after joining a larger company is crucial to sustain and boost growth, according to sugar replacement start-up Swiftlet which has become part of Vietnamese conglomerate Senix Health Group.
NutraChampion podcast episode 34
Like several Asian countries, Thailand is experiencing a greying population. While interest in healthy ageing is high, the level of innovation for this category of products remains relatively low.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 36
Increased consumer demand for premiumisation and alternative protein products, as well as inflation-driven price hikes, are driving the need for technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in traditional ‘commodities’ that have so far not been...
Flavour localisation is a crucial strategy for healthy snacking brands to win over Asian consumers’ ‘sophisticated tastebuds’, according to Vietnam’s Lecka, which is rapidly expanding across the region.
FNA FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 33
Sesame’s nutritional and sustainable properties could make it Asia’s best option for traditional milk replacement, despite it being a relative newcomer in region’s plant-based dairy alternative space, claims a Thai firm seeking to pioneer the sector.
FNA TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 32
Alternative meat firm More Meat has cited rising local food ingredient prices and the prevention of food waste as major drivers behind the creation of its ready-to-cook (RTC) range, a format that is still at the early stages of growth within Thailand’s...
FNA F&B TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 31
A three-pronged marketing approach spanning health, safety and taste is crucial to drive sales in China’s burgeoning plant-based space, both to attract new customers and then retain them for sustained sales growth, according to pioneer of the category.
FNA F&B TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 30
India’s first ice popsicle brand Skippi is aiming to achieve Nestle-level market penetration in the country within the next 12 months, with plans afoot for a large-scale production plant as well as building up its national distribution network.
PepsiCo has developed groundbreaking tech for condensing and treating the steam evaporated from its fryers to recover more than 50% of the water used in potato chip manufacturing lines, an approach that could save 60 million litres of water a year.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 29
Asia has the potential to lead the way in the food and beverage sector’s packaging sustainability endeavours, but retailer red tape and legacy mindsets need to quickly be overcome to achieve maximum impact.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 28
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Heidi Peuten, Co-Founder of Ulu Hye, about her pioneering journey to create the world’s first dairy-free mylk bases, and life juggling entrepreneurship with a very young family.
FNA Food and Beverage Trailblazers Podcast Episode 27
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Coco Tse, Vice President of Strategy and Operations at HEROTEIN, about the rise of the ‘New Protein’ movement in China, the need for localised products, and format innovation.
FNA Food and Beverage Trailblazers Podcast Episode 26
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Nicci Clark, CEO and Co-founder of Re:Nourish, about how the rise in demand for foods with functional health benefits are driving the fresh soup category, as well as the link she...
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 25
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Ahmad Syafik Jaafar, Co-founder of Malaysia’s NANKA, about the niche hybrid plant-meat product category and the potential of using these as a ‘transitional’ product for consumers...
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 24
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Michael Fox, CEO of Australia’s Fable Foods, about how his entrepreneurial journey from fashion to food, as well as whether mushroom-based meat products should still be considered...
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 23
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Lisa King, Founder of New Zealand’s AF Drinks, about how the firm is leading the domestic non-alcoholic cocktail category as well as her challenges in making the switch from MNC’s...
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Alex Min, Founder and CEO of Korea’s RE:Harvest about introducing food upcycling to Asia, a market where byproducts are often seen more as ‘food waste’.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 21
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Athena Zhu, Co-Founder and COO of Marvelous Foods about her experience as a food industry leader in China, as well as plans to premiumise the local plant-based dairy category.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 20
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Christoph Langwallner, CEO of WhatIF Foods about his vision to change the world ‘one meal at a time’ using regenerative crops instead of today’s commercial ones, and the need to...
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 19
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Zac Chua, CEO of Singapore popcorn firm The Kettle Gourmet about starting a business right out of school with no prior experience, and working with ‘controversial’ artificial...
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 18
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Nalin Sood, CEO of Indian tea specialist firm Teamonk about defying traditional procurement norms and his experience moving from beverage MNC PepsiCo to a start-up.
In time for National Chip And Dip Day on 23 March, Nature’s Eats – a brand of Texas Star Nut & Food Company – is launching Nutchos, all-natural grain free chips made from almonds.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 17
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast, we speak to the co-founder and director of Singapore biotechnology and healthy noodle firm KosmodeHealth about her journey from pharma to food, and why pragmatism is just as important as...
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 16
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast, we speak to the CEO of Singapore-based sugar innovation firm Nutrition Innovation Matthew Godfrey about the challenges he faced when moving from an MNC to a start-up, and why he believes...
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 15
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast, we speak to the CEO of Malaysian insect-based food firm Ento Kevin Wu about his massive career shift from law to food entrepreneurship as well as how he is tackling consumer fears over insect...
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 14
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast, we speak to the CEO of Indian traditional and plant-based dairy firm Epigamia Rohan Mirchandani about his aspirations to contemporise the Indian dairy industry, and the challenges in getting...