Leaf-powered protein: Leaft blazes new trail in APAC with Lacto Japan
Exclusive: New Zealand-based Leaft Foods partners with Lacto Japan to bring its leaf protein into staple categories such as bakery and dairy foods
Oceania
Why Lactalis bought Fonterra’s Mainland Group
What does dairy’s richest player stand to gain?
Organic sector questions ‘unclear’ GM food rules but ANZ push ahead
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is moving forward with new GM food definitions that some say weaken the distinction between ‘natural’ and modified foods
Lactalis to buy Fonterra’s Mainland Group for US$2.2bn
The sale is set to complete in H1 2026 subject to approvals and farmer shareholder vote
Calling all start-ups: Global Food Tech Awards seeking future food leaders
Start-ups can now enter the APAC Heat of the Global Food Tech Awards 2025, showcasing innovations from AI to personalised nutrition, until September 30
Start-up Spotlight: Cultured quail, Brazil nuts, Asian snacks, and more
Vow’s cultured quail, sustainable Brazil nuts, Kantin Lab’s Asian snacks, and more feature in this roundup
Vow eyes APAC growth with cultured quail candles and cocktails
With regulatory approval in Singapore and Australia, Vow is expanding its cultured meat business in APAC, debuting novel quail formats in both markets
ANZ Focus: AIFST, Brownes Dairy, convenience vs health and more
AIFST, Brownes Dairy, convenience vs health and more feature in this edition of ANZ Focus
Consumers crave convenience, comfort — but also affordability and health
Online delivery consumers are driven by convenience and emotion towards ‘unhealthy’ foods, but also support making healthier options more affordable
Cheese-whiz: Australia’s Brownes Dairy to expand 140-year legacy in Asia
From cheese lollipops for kids to flavoured cheddars for adults, Australia’s Brownes Dairy is hoping innovation will drive sales success in Asia.
Next level functional snacks: Is COA on the money with high protein chocolates?
High-protein chocolates look set to lead the next wave of innovation in the functional snacks category
Access inequity in Australia’s food retail impacting consumer diets
Retail access inequity in Australia is affecting consumer decisions to make healthy food choices, says new report
Lactalis, Bega, among suitors for Fonterra’s Oceania assets
The largest global dairy group has applied for regulatory clearance – but a local player is also in the running
FSANZ proposes stricter egg safety rules to prevent Salmonella outbreak
Stricter monitoring, clearer traceability, and tighter temperature controls are among new egg safety measures proposed in New Zealand in response to rising Salmonella risks.
How digital ad monitoring can help curb unhealthy food marketing – Aussie study
Australian researchers have demonstrated how a “data donation infrastructure” can track digital food marketing, revealing how online advertising can be monitored and held accountable.
ANZ フォーカス：オージー スーパーマーケット調査、Fonterra 決算、Suntory biotics
今回のANZ Focusでは、オージーのスーパーマーケットに関する調査、Fonterra の決算、Suntory bioticsなどを取り上げています
Australian food industry urges more targeted government assistance after Budget 2025
The food and grocery industry in Australia has urged the government to consider providing more targeted assistance for the sector after the announcement of Budget 2025, to improve areas such as risk mitigation and energy.
ANZ Focus: Aussie supermarket inquiry, Fonterra financial results, Suntory biotics and more
Aussie supermarket inquiry, Fonterra financial results, Suntory biotics and more feature in this edition of ANZ Focus.
Australia supermarket inquiry: Co-op sector calls for government support to overcome ‘oligopoly’
The Australian co-operative (co-op) retail sector wants better support for small stores in the country, after the supermarket sector was branded an ‘oligopoly’.
Australia supermarket report: More grocery competition needed to break ‘oligopoly’ but barriers may be too high
More grocery competition is required within the Australian grocery sector in order to break the ‘oligopoly’ currently led by Woolworths and Coles, but the barriers to entry may be too high.
FSANZ proposes new rules for caffeine in foods to address overconsumption risk
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is proposing new caffeine regulations for retail foods to mitigate overconsumption risks among vulnerable groups.
Back to booze? Kiwi mixer brand Good Cocktail pivots to alcohol to weather economic downturn
Kiwi mixer brand Good Cocktail, which had enjoyed a boom on the back of the low-2-no trend, is now pivoting its strategy to focus on the alcohol sector.
Japan springboards 2025 international food trade initiatives with Australia agreement, GI successes
Japan has made a roaring start to its plans for international food trade in 2025 with the announcement of a new collaboration with Australia as well as six new successful Geographical Indications (GI) registrations.
Healthier innovations and sustainable packaging efforts key drivers of Aussie beverage sector, say experts
Australians are more health- and eco-conscious than before, prompting shifts in drinking behaviour towards more functional products.
Ready relaxation: The Calmer Co launches kava shots in US market after Australian success
Australia’s The Calmer Co is launching ready-to-drink (RTD) kava shots into the United States this year, after having seen success with consumers in its home market.
ANZ Focus: Our top 2024 Oceania stories, Binggrae’s Aussie focus, a2 Milk in China and more
Our top 10 Oceania stories from 2024, Binggrae’s Australia focus, a2 Milk in China and more feature in this edition of ANZ focus.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 55
Kava drinks set to shake up NOLO market as next-gen alcohol alternative - The Calmer Co
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.
ANZ review: The Top 10 most-read Oceania food and beverage stories from 2024
Read our top 10 most-viewed food and beverage stories from Australia and New Zealand throughout 2024, featuring NZ trade opportunities after China tariff removals, FSANZ added sugar definition, Fonterra’s Australia sale and more.
Cauldron Ferm’s new precision fermentation facility in Queensland set to reduce production cost, raise capacity
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.
New Zealand to get ‘new bill’ to regulate natural products, while industry body voices ‘grave concerns’ over exports policy
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.
FNA TRAILBLAZERS EP 53
Drink your biotics: Bright colours and visual appeal crucial to deliver healthier beverages to children – Tummy Buddies
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.
No one-size-fits-all solution: Irresponsible of WHO to expect adherence to its guidelines over local laws – Australia’s Infant Nutrition Council
Local laws governing infant nutrition cannot be subservient to WHO guidelines that were not approved by member states, says Australia’s Infant Nutrition Council (INC) as it questions the global bodies role over policy.
New Australian supplements data part 1: China set to be first billion dollar export market in 2024
Australian supplements exports to China are forecast to exceed US$1bn for the first time this year, with the key Asian market set to continue to account for a staggering three-quarters of all products shipped overseas.
WHO infant nutrition guidelines spark controversy over complementary feeding and formula policies in Australia
World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines have ignited debate in Australia over when to introduce complementary food into an infant’s diet, and the policies governing of infant formula manufacturers.
Peranakan delights: Health, heritage, and convenience sell – O’nya
Health, heritage, and convenience are increasingly important to consumers, says Singapore’s food start-up O’nya as it plans strategic expansion with authentic peranakan pastes.
The ‘missing piece’: Australia food safety technologies must shift from silo approach
Food safety technologies across the Australian supply chain need to enhance interoperability and data integration, and move away from the current silo approach.
New territories: CJ CheilJedang extending footprint in Oceania, Europe propelled by bibigo’s sales spike
South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang is accelerating the expansion of its Oceania and European business led by its “bibigo K-food strategy”, following a surge in sales and positive consumer reception.
Countering antibiotics: How gut microbiota improvement could boost immune protection in exposed infants - Growth Asia Summit 2024
The use of probiotics to improve the gut microbiota of infants that have been exposed to antibiotics has strong potential to boost the extent of immune protection conveyed by vaccination, according to recent research data.
Kava boom in Australia as consumers seek healthier alternative to alcohol – The Calmer Co
Kava is seeing a rapid uptake in Australia as consumers are looking to replace alcohol with a healthier alternative, says kava firm The Calmer Co.
India snack trends data: Makhanas and dry fruits top picks for 67% of consumers
India snack specialist Farmley has revealed new data showing that makhanas and dry fruits are popular across generations, with chocolate and vanilla flavours among the top favourites in its 2024 Healthy Snacking Report.
Push to profitability: Asahi sees major growth in local non-alcoholic beverages and ASEAN region despite Oceania decline
Japan beverage giant Asahi has seen significant growth in its RTD alcoholic beverages category as well as the South East Asian market as major contributors to profitability over the past six months, despite negative impacts from Oceania sales.
Reach for the stars: Starward launches colourful packaging range to put ‘modern’ Australian whiskey on the map
Australian spirits distillery Starward has launched a range of whiskies with brightly-coloured packaging to distinguish its ‘modern’ products from traditional scotch and carve out a place for itself in the liquor market.
‘Deliberately different’: Vow targets Singapore’s premium consumers to boost awareness and acceptance of cell-cultured meat
Sydney-based firm Vow is targeting premium consumers in Singapore through the launch of its cell-cultured meat at high-end restaurants, which it says is the first step towards wider acceptance and adoption of such products.
Instant gratification: Lúave’s Vietnamese boba milk tea to launch in Singapore with healthier ready-to-drink options
Vietnamese brand Lúave is aiming to launch its instant boba milk tea across Asia, starting with low fat, low sugar options in Singapore.
K-food strategy: CJ CheilJedang’s bibigo debuts ready-to-heat rice rolls in Australia on the back of sales growth
CJ CheilJedang’s food brand bibigo recently introduced its frozen rice rolls in supermarket chain Woolworths in Australia, a market where the firm is reaping significant sales growth.
Starting from young: Zespri invests in research to cultivate higher consumption of fruits and vegetables in children
Kiwifruit firm Zespri plans to shape future initiatives aimed at increasing awareness and consumption of fruit and vegetable (FV) based on findings from its recent study, which showed positive effects of FV intake on children’s well-being.
Salt-free strategy: Heartful Flavours on a mission to reduce sodium levels with innovative Asian staples range
Australian-based start-up Heartful Flavours is on a mission to educate consumers that their taste buds can get used to less salt, as it ramps up promotion of its salt-free Asian staples.
Classic with a twist: Scandi-inspired traditional liquors by Nordic Gin House finding favour in Asia
Nordic Gin House believes that timeless favourites will continue to resonate with consumers in Asia as its regional expansion plans benefit from the premiumisation trend.
Young, adventurous, and health-conscious: Goa-based Ochre Spirits rides the global cocktail wave with low-calorie gins and vodkas
India's Ochre Spirits is tapping into the global cocktail trend with its premium, lower calorie spirits that promise a superior drinking experience.
Consolidation concerns: Australian dairy sector highlights worries over Fonterra sale of local business
The dairy sector in Australia has highlighted concerns of ‘yet another blow’ to the industry as a result of Fonterra’s recent strategy change that includes plans to divest its consumer brands.