Revealed: The top 10 most popular APAC food and beverage trend stories of 2018
10 global food and beverage trends transforming the Thai market
Trend: Consumer insights
10 food and beverage trends around the world have already trickled into the Thai market in 2018, and are shaping the 'next generation' of consumer demands.
Dr Pisit Dhamvithee, head of the Product Innovation Research Unit (PIRUN), citing Innova Market Insights, shared that many of these current trends are interconnected and revolve around the emerging values of trust, self-care, individuality and sustainability.
These included mindful choices, sensory motivations, repackaging restaurant quality foods as packaged meals and more.
Four major food trends driving growth in China: Fonterra
Trend: China market
Dairy giant Fonterra says four major trends are driving growth in China — and all of them are stemming from the nation's rapidly-growing middle class.
Geoff Meyer, global channel director of foodservice, Fonterra, said that by 2030, 66% of world’s middle class will reside in Asia and just 7% in North America.
Amongst the trends he discussed were premiumisation, technological development and e-commerce.
APAC sugar taxes: How 2018 is shaping up from a policy perspective
Trend: Sugar taxes and reduction
Sugar taxes are never far from the headlines as governments scramble to deal with rising cases of obesity and diabetes, and their related health costs.
This article features a round-up how things stand for sugar taxes in the major markets across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
Nestlé suspended by RSPO for ‘failing to submit’ palm oil sustainability reports
Trend: Sustainability
Nestlé risked no longer being able to claim the use of certified sustainable palm oil following suspension of its Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) membership earlier in the year.
The food and drink giant was suspended after RSPO said it had failed to report its efforts in promoting the sustainable use of palm oil for two consecutive years.
As a result, Nestlé could no longer be allowed to claim RSPO membership and its use of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).
Six products and trends Japanese buyers are looking for from new food imports
Trend: Consumer insights
At the 43rd FoodEx Japan show in Tokyo, we uncovered what some of the nation’s product buyers are on the lookout for when it comes to selecting new imports.
These included: Halal opportunities, Amazon expansion, traceability and seasonality, flavour and price, shelf-life stability and new local produce.
Kiwi plant-based protein company targets global expansion for Chicken Free Chicken
Trend: Plant-based protein
Auckland-based meat substitute producer Sunfed Meats, which has consistently sold out its Chicken Free Chicken in New Zealand, is in the midst of a series A capital raise to significantly expand production to meet growing local and overseas demand, and to launch new products.
Founder and CEO Shama Lee declined to disclose the amount they are looking for this time but Sunfed raised $1.5m in an earlier round, to commercialise Chicken Free Chicken.
There has been especially strong interest from the US, UK and Australia. The company said the capital raise has been extended to cater to “major interest”.
Sustainable sugar: Australia to employ blockchain to boost provenance and profitability
Trend: Sustainability, traceability, IoT (blockchain)
The Australian sugar industry's push for greater sustainability and traceability has received a shot in the arm, with its Coalition Government providing an A$2.25m grant to fund the Sustainable Sugar Project.
The Sustainable Sugar Project, led by the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation (Canegrowers), will include the use of cutting-edge blockchain technology to implement the Smartcane Best Management Practice (BMP).
Blockchain technology to extend GS1 standards to food testing labs “for first time”
Trend: IoT (blockchain)
Two food testing labs from Vietnam and Australia are joining forces with a blockchain provider to extend globally-recognised GS1 industry standards into labs, in a bid to boost supply chain transparency and trust.
Source Certain International from Australia and Hoan Vu from Vietnam — which both focus on verifying the integrity of food supply chains — will use blockchain infrastructure provided by OriginTrail using GS1 standards.
Self-sustaining 'future food city' likely to be off coast of Singapore
Trend: Sustainability
A self-sustaining ‘future food city’, featuring a mixed crop cultivation of vegetables, seaweed and fish, could be established off the coast of Singapore.
Oceanus Group Ltd has been in talks with Singapore government entities on the likelihood of the new self-sustainable Oceanus Aquapolis City being located there.
Coca-Cola extends health drive with no- / low-sugar RTD tea drink range launch
Trend: Sugar taxes and reduction
Coca-Cola Singapore has launched a new line of low- or no-sugar ready-to-drink (RTD) teas called Authentic Tea House, as the firm continues its focus on reformulating products with lower sugar content.
Currently, the Authentic Tea House range has three variants including the sugar-free Ayataka Japanese Green Tea that has been rebranded from the Heaven and Earth range, which mainly comprised RTD teas that fused fruit flavours with healthy natural ingredients in contemporary expressions.
