Snack trends: Nutrient-dense grazing hitting its stride
Snack brands are targeting fluid eating occasions with products that deliver nutrition in smaller portable formats, aligning with healthier snacking trends to suit busier lifestyles
Asian tastes
Young and sweet: Apple cider vinegar reinvented as RTD drinks
Shandong-based Lv Jie launches RTD apple cider vinegar with apple juice and prebiotics – a younger, tastier makeover to attract younger consumers
Old-school soy, new-school appeal: Oatside’s fresh soymilk take
Oatside is repositioning soymilk for younger Asian consumers with a high-protein, clean-label offering focused on taste and wellness
FBIF 2026
Not Just a Flavour Strategy: How KitKat Embedded Itself in Japanese Culture
From ‘Japanisation’ to deep cultural alignment, Nestlé KitKat is one of the few foreign brands to have thoroughly cracked Japan’s competitive chocolate market
WALOVI taps food-as-medicine trend to grow in Saudi and beyond
China’s WALOVI is seeking growth globally in markets from the Middle East to Africa for its traditional herbal teas
FHA 2026
ASEAN poised as next halal growth market amid Middle East turmoil
South East Asia has all the parts in place to emerge as the key halal growth market for food amid the Middle East conflict — but will the region be able to grasp this opportunity?
ジャパン フォーカス：グリコが語るスナックのトレンド、甘酒ゼリースティック、お茶のイノベーション
今月のJapan Focus:では、スナック分野におけるグリコの成長戦略、消費者に合わせた甘酒の現代的なアレンジ、お茶のイノベーションなどについて深く掘り下げています。
FBIF 2026
Ginseng democratisation: Advancing the Food as Medicine movement
With the concept of Food As Medicine growing rapidly in Asia, ginseng specialist firm Herbal Player is making the most of its nanotech to make affordable, market-first products
Taylors Wines bets on lighter reds and Asian cuisine for Syrah launch
As demand grows for lighter, food-friendly reds, Taylors Wines is entering the category with a Syrah targeted for Asian cuisine
Japan Focus: Glico on snack trends, amazake jelly sticks, tea innovation and more
In this edition of Japan Focus, we dive into Glico’s strategy for growth in the snack category, modernising amazake for consumers, tea innovations, and more
Up The Food Chain
Embracing ‘genba’: Glico on balancing global trends with localisation
Yukio Kimura, COO of Glico Asia Pacific, says understanding ‘genba’ – the field where operations and consumer interactions take place – is key to keeping brands relevant in diverse markets
Chewable beauty: Convenience meets functionality in amazake jelly sticks
Snack brand Hananomi transforms the traditional amazake drink into convenient jelly strips to boost gut and skin health for busy consumers
Tea among the stars: Space sakura and decaf drive Japan firm exports
Space sakura tea and decaffeinated teas are part of Japan GreenTea’s export push, combining novelty, aesthetics and healthier beverage options
Food Ingredients China 2026
Healthy China 2030 spurs wellness-driven food additive innovation
Food companies pivot to plant-based additives and health-forward messaging to meet consumer demand and align with the Healthy China 2030 Blueprint
Dignified food for seniors: Closing gaps in an ageing world
As societies age rapidly, a pressing question emerges: how can we better support seniors with dysphagia, a condition many may one day face?
FHA 2026
Taiwan courts overseas halal food markets with culture, health benefits
Taiwan’s halal brands are leveraging health messaging and cultural appeal to attract overseas consumers from Asia Pacific and the Middle East
Tee Yih Jia targets plant-based growth with Asian-Western fusion
Tee Yih Jia is betting on Asian-Western fusion to grow its ALTN plant-based range, diverging from Western-style formats amid slowdown in the plant-based category
China Focus: TaoKaeNoi x Chen Zheyuan collab, processed foods debate, gut health trends in China, and more
This edition features TaoKaeNoi’s new brand ambassador Chen Zheyuan, a rethink of processed food additives, rising demand for natural gut health products in China and more
FIC 2026
Flashy and sweet: Brands tap health trends in artificial sweetener push
Leveraging weight loss, gut and dental health trends, Chinese firms are increasingly creative in reframing artificial sweeteners as a health aligned choice
Food Ingredients China 2026
Gut health, clean label foods surge in China market
Chinese consumers are driving demand for natural, gut-friendly and plant-based ingredients, mirroring global trends and boosting innovation in functional products
TaoKaeNoi taps Chinese celebrity star power to boost seaweed snack growth
Thailand’s TaoKaeNoi has appointed Chinese celeb Chen Zheyuan as its global ambassador, tapping rising demand for Asian snacks and building a healthy positioning
Nestlé backs filtered brews as next major coffee trend
Nestlé predicts filtered coffee will see a surge that reflects rising consumer demand for cleaner flavours and innovative brews, especially in APAC
FIC 2026
‘There are no bad additives, only bad humans’: Experts urge fairer view of processed foods
Top Chinese food science leaders have urged consumers and industry to make fairer judgements of processed foods and additives, calling the sector badly misunderstood
Alt protein strategies: ‘Identity priming’ and hybrid meat
The concepts of shared identity messaging and hybrid meat show potential to increase alt protein uptake
Animal-plant mince key to revive APAC alt-protein push: NECTAR study
Blended chicken-plant mince has outperformed real meat in APAC taste tests, though gaps remain across the category in flavour, appearance and compositional balance
Japan Focus: Sodium labelling shift, Asahi cyberattack, silkworm protein, and more
This edition covers Japan’s sodium labelling shift, Asahi’s profit dip post-cyberattack, silkworm protein for health, and more
6 key food innovation trends driven by feel good indulgence
Consumer demand for indulgence — and feeling good about it — is increasingly driving food innovation strategies. Here are six key drivers powering this change.
Gen Z habits shift energy drinks towards flavour and drinkability
Gen Zs are leaning into lighter, natural flavours to support lifestyle habits, from prolonged screen time to gaming and studying
Growth Asia Summit 2026: Duke-NUS Medical School, Morinaga, Yeo’s to present kids’ nutrition
Growth Asia Summit 2026 takes place from July 8 to 10 in Singapore, and childhood nutrition is one of the main themes to be covered on the first day of the summit.
Vanity-led demand: Vitagen taps female audience with beauty-focused drinks
The probiotic cultured milk brand refocuses on gut health and collagen, riding on the beauty food revolution that has swept across food and wellness categories in Asia
Silkworm protein firm taps health and familiarity for regional growth
Japan’s Morus Inc is betting on demand for functional products and cultural familiarity with silkworms to drive expansion in Asia
Localised and functional: Asia energy drinks tap health demand
Energy drinks in Asia are evolving beyond caffeine as consumers seek added health benefits, opening opportunities for functional, better-for-you innovation
FIC 2026
Next-gen beancurd: Reinventing traditional protein for functional convenience
One of China’s most traditional proteins has been reimagined in a functional, convenient format, driving modern food industry growth
China Focus: Chinese brand appeal, tighter transport rules, mental health trends, and more
This edition explores the rising appeal of Chinese food brands, tighter transport rules for edible oils, alcohol and syrups, mental health trends, and more
Food and mental health in China: 2026 trends that brands should watch
China’s growing focus on mental wellness is shaping food trends, driving demand for fresh foods, dairy and lower-sugar options that balance health and indulgence
China appeal: Chinese food brands eye global growth via Singapore
Chinese food brands are using Singapore as a launchpad for overseas growth, partnering retailers such as Scarlett Supermarket to test international demand
UPFs linked to adult uric acid risk: China study
Adults under 60 found to eat more ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), putting them at risk of getting hyperuricemia (high uric acid), leading to gout and kidney diseases
Kimchi in Japan: Daesang taps fermented food demand for exports
South Korea’s Daesang Corporation is targeting Japan’s growing appetite for fermented foods as it expands exports of kimchi and gochujang
Diageo’s cocktail focus: A shift to moderation and wellness
Diageo’s World Class Cocktail Festival presents traditional spirits through lighter serves and localisation amid growing health and moderation trends
Trade war impact: China’s health foods exports to the US slides 14.7% in 2025
The United States is China’s largest health foods export destination; however, exports were down 14.7% last year partly due to U.S. trade tariffs and changing trade policies.
Japan study links eating rice to better weight control
A Japanese study suggests regular rice consumption is linked to better weight control in adults, challenging low-carb weight-loss narratives
Healthier Choices: Top functional ingredients, trehalose and SmartMilk
Top functional ingredients, trehalose and SmartMilk feature in this edition of Healthier Choices
Our top 10 most-read F&B industry news from Feb 2026
Check out our top 10 most-read food and beverage industry stories from February 2026, including GLP-1 foods in Asia, India alcohol regulations, matcha chicken nuggets and more
Flavour feature: Scallion in the spotlight for ‘modern savoury’ appeal
Ingredients giant Kerry has spotlighted scallion as a ‘hero’ flavour amid strong focus on wellness and tradition in its 2026 Taste Charts
Crunch appeal: Japanese snack brand revamps karinto for overseas growth
Heritage snack firm Asahi Seika reimagines traditional karinto with longer shelf life and trending flavours while retaining its signature crunch and sweetness
Why familiarity drives texture acceptance in food and drink
Consumers are more receptive to new food and drink products when textures reflect familiar eating experiences
From comfort to function: How snacking is being redefined
Today’s consumers are redefining snacks, favouring products that combine nutrition, heritage, and convenience
China cracks down on food live-streaming with strict new regulations
In a world-first move, China has introduced specific regulations to govern live-streamers and related companies dealing in food products
Top functional ingredients shaping food & drink in 2026
Protein, fibre, nootropics and antioxidants are emerging as key functional ingredients shaping food and drink innovation as wellness continues to steer buying decisions
聚焦日本：麒麟控股增长计划、食品过敏原管控、姜糖浆健康产品趋势及更多动态
本期聚焦麒麟研发战略、日本加强食品过敏原监管、冲绳姜糖浆健康产品出海，以及更多行业动态。