Brand New: Ajinomoto, Coca-Cola, Nestle and more big brands feature in our round-up

Taking back control: Onus on food firms to meet taste expectations for low-sodium foods – Ajinomoto​

Consumers are willing to make the switch to low-sodium foods in order to reap the health benefits, but with a caveat that these must taste good, according to new data from MSG giant Ajinomoto.

Ajinomoto’s Sodium Alternatives and Long-Term Solutions (SALTS) study revealed that consumers may understand that sodium overconsumption will result in health issues, but that they also believe the onus is on food firms to come up with the solutions to solve the overconsumption issue, and are unwilling or unable to do this independently.

“People know that too much sodium is bad for one’s health at any age, but they do not see this as a concern that impacts them personally, [and] the numbers show this,”​ said the study researchers.

A lot of bottle? Coke HK aims for 100% recyclable packaging by 2025, 50% recycled material in bottles by 2030​

The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partner Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong is targeting to make its packaging 100% recyclable by 2025 and use 50% recycled material in its bottles and cans by 2030 in a bid to minimise waste.

The first step for its Hong Kong firm was to re-launch the iconic glass bottle for eight beverages to achieve its mission of a “World Without Waste”.

“The world has a packaging problem. Being the world’s biggest beverage company, we have a responsibility to help solve it. This new design is part of our action to minimise waste in the market,”​ said its Director for Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Mongolia, Steve Deng.

‘More price hikes to come’: Nestle warns of further rises after posting positive Q1 figures​

Nestle has announced healthy growth in Asia in the first quarter of 2022 after imposing price rises across all its markets, with the F&B giant warning of further hikes to come due to the Ukraine crisis.

Nestle’s overall organic growth from Q1 2021 to Q1 2022 was 7.6%, with sales values increasing from CHF21.1bn (US$22.1) to CHF22.2bn (US$23.2bn). Profits were not reported in this announcement, but the firm also predicted positive results for the coming year, expecting 5% in sales growth and between 17.0% and 17.5% profits to come.

That said, this growth has come on the back of significant price increases across nearly all of Nestle’s markets. Overall Nestle product prices increased by 5.2% across the board, and specifically for the firm’s Asian markets in the zone of Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA) market this increase was 4.3%.

“Nestle has delivered strong organic sales growth [in the first three months of 2022] due to sustained consumer demand [even] after stepping up pricing in a responsible manner,”​ Nestle CEO Mark Scheneider said at the firm’s most recent investor call.

To be or nut to be: Olam’s new D2C brand Re- on juggling consumer demand for traceability, sustainability and health​

Olam’s new direct-to-consumer (D2C) nuts brand Re- says it is tapping into three major trends – traceability, sustainability and health – as it eyes expansion from its Singapore launchpad into wider Asia, the US and UK.

The brand launched its range of nuts in March 2022 after two years of research and development.

The almond and cashew range is 100% natural, responsibly grown and traceable to the farms that produce them, claims its SVP and CMO, Venaig Solinhac.

“By natural, we mean it is non-GMO, produced using sustainable farming practices and the nuts can be traced back to its farms."​

Meiji expands infant formulas range in Cambodia to speed up growth in SEA​

Meiji is expanding its infant formulas offerings in Cambodia as part of the company’s strategy in growing its overseas business – where South East Asia is identified as a region for new opportunities.

The Japanese dairy giant said it would be launching two new baby formulas in Cambodia this month. 

One of the new products, known as Meiji Hohoemi Infant Formula 800g, is targeted at babies between zero and one year old and is sold at US$27.90. It is said to emulate nutrients found in human breast milk, with DHA, ARA added.