Japan Focus: Asahi's plant-based Calpis, Valentine's Day tofu, smaller Coca-Colas and more feature in our round-up

By Pearly Neo

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Asahi's plant-based Calpis, Valentine's Day tofu, smaller Coca-Colas and more feature in this edition of Japan Focus. ©Getty Images
Asahi's plant-based Calpis, Valentine's Day tofu, smaller Coca-Colas and more feature in this edition of Japan Focus. ©Getty Images

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Asahi's plant-based Calpis, Valentine's Day tofu, smaller Coca-Colas and more feature in this edition of Japan Focus.

Calpis goes plant-based: Asahi to launch soymilk version of cultured milk beverage

Asahi is to launch a plant-based version​ of its cultured milk drink Calpis, using soy milk instead of regular milk.

The soy-based Calpis drink (Green Calpis) is expected to be released in April. Calpis is a popular lactic acid drink first launched in 1919 and is made from non-fat dairy milk, which is fermented slowly by adding microorganisms including lactobacilli.

While the flavour is expected to the same as original Calpis, the Green Calpis drink is touted to have a more refreshing aftertaste and lower in sweetness, from its use of soymilk.

Real plants, please: Japanese consumers shun plant-based meats for ‘real’ vegetables

Consumers in Japan have expressed reluctance to shift to plant-based meats​ even as meat and fish consumption rates fall in the country, opting for ‘real’ vegetables instead.

According to research from insights firm FMCG Gurus, just 20% of Japanese consumers have opted to eat meat alternatives even when they actively attempt to reduce their meat intake, whereas the rest mostly opt to avoid this.

“In many instances, consumers would rather opt to avoid meat products completely as opposed to turn to meat substitutes,”​ FMCG Gurus Head of Research and Insight Mike Hughes told FoodNavigator-Asia​.

Say ‘I love you’ with tofu? Japan’s 118-year-old Yamaki Jozo wants to replace chocolate with soy this Valentine’s Day

Japanese specialty soy firm Yamaki Jozo​ is trying to promote health and wellness this Valentine’s Day by getting consumers to replace chocolates with its two special tofu products.

Chocolates are a traditional Valentine’s Day all-time favourite both in Japan and around the world, but this year Yamaki Jozo aims to disrupt that concept and replace this with relatively healthier tofu alternatives.

“[We see] Valentine’s tofu as a unique proposal for our customers, [especially those over 50 years of age] or concerned about their health to join in and enjoy Valentine’s Day,”​ Yamaki Jozo President Mami Kitani told FoodNavigator-Asia​.

Shrink the drink: Coca-Cola launches smaller packaging to cope with demographic changes in Japan

Beverage giant, Coca-Cola Japan has launched two new PET packaging sizes​, 350mL and 700mL for its iconic drink.

The new PET packaging will only apply to Coca-Cola sold in supermarkets, drug stores, discount stores in the Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama prefectures.

According to the firm’s Japan PR department, the existing core packaging sizes for Coca-Cola are 500mL PET and 1.5L PET. Besides PET, there are also a variety of glass (190mL), aluminum bottle (280mL) and can (350mL, 500mL) packaging.

Nestle, Otsuka Pharma and Watsons added to the agenda for Healthy Ageing APAC Summit

Global MNC Nestle, Japanese nutraceutical brand Otsuka Pharma and major Asian pharmacy retailer Watsons have been added to the line-up for the third Healthy Ageing APAC Summi​t in Singapore, which has an earlybird delegate offer closing this Friday.

The event will also feature keynote presentations from Brand's Suntory, Blackmores, Herbalife, NIPPN, Avant Meats and Cerecin, alongside the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, National University of Singapore, the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine in Australia, Mahidol University / The Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT),  the Malaysian Dietary Supplements Association (MADSA), Food Industry Asia, Ageing Asia Alliance and Mercer.

Related topics Markets Japan East Asia

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