Trend Tracker: Halal boom, organic growth and clean label innovation revealed

27-Sep-2018 - Last updated on 27-Sep-2018 at 04:14 GMT

Organic sales are soaring in the UAE. ©iStock

In this month's edition of our Trend Tracker review, we look at halal growth in Malaysia, an organic surge in the UAE and clean label innovation in South East Asia.

Halal food boom: Malaysia predicts rapid growth in exports and foreign demand for certifications

Malaysia is expecting an increase of 10% in halal exports and a significant increase in demand for halal certifications by foreign countries this year.

A total of USD 10.9 billion (RM 45 billion) worth of halal-certified products were exported out of the country last year. Islam is the country’s official religion.

Malaysia Halal Hub Division Director, Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee, attributed both of these factors to a steady rise in demand for halal-certified products in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

Two-thirds of UAE consumers buy organic foods more than once in a month: YouGov Survey

61% of consumers from the UAE buy organic food more than once in a month, according to a survey conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Arla Foods.

In addition, 38% of consumers said they have bought more organic food in the last 12 months compared to the previous year.

1,000 individuals responded to the online survey conducted in February. The findings were revealed last week (September 19), a few days before the International Organic Day (September 22).

Fruit and vegetables (69%) formed the bulk of the UAE organic food market. This is followed by eggs (49%), dairy (40%), fish (36%), poultry (33%), red meat (29%), and cereals and bakery (30%).

Craft yet to peak in Australia says Adelaide lager champion

The man who won the title of Australia’s best craft beer with a simple lager this year believes that the craft beer market still has a long way to go, even if it should be at saturation point by now.

Ewen Brewerton, head brewer and director of the Mismatch Brewing Co. in Adelaide caused heads to turn in June when his beer won the inaugural Australian Independent Brewers Association Awards.

Doing so bucked the trend of heavy, hop-driven craft beers having prominence among craft breweries. The South Australian beer came out on top of 114 entrants in the lager category before beating the trophy winners in the other nine categories to be named champion brew.

Ethnic inspiration and home cooking: Ingredion reveals future directions for clean label innovation

Ingredion is exploring new ingredient sources, ethnic and home-style cooking to invent its future clean label products.

As more companies move into the clean label eating space, FoodNavigator-Asia spoke to Eric Weisser, the innovation director (APAC) at Ingredion to find out their plans for future innovation.

To further meet consumers’ demand for clean label products, he said the firm was exploring food preparation of different ethnic groups and even home-style cooking for potential innovation.

"Feeling good is looking good": Asia leading the way for nutri-cosmetics and healthy ageing

Asia is leading the charge in the nutri-cosmetics and aged care sectors, riding on the growing 'beauty from within’ trend driven by the notion that "feeling good is looking good".

European and Latin American consumers have begun taking a cue from their Asian counterparts, expressing increasing interest in supplements that promise to improve outward appearance by providing inward health benefits.

At the recent Vitafoods Asia trade show in Singapore, ExcelVite nutritionist Diyanah Roslan told NutraIngredients-Asia: "Consumers today do not only want to age healthily, they also want to age beautifully. They are well aware of the idea that 'feeling good is looking good'.