An increasing number of young consumers are looking for novel alcoholic drinks in low or zero ABV formats, and are willing to pay a premium for the pleasure, say industry experts.
Brands in APAC should take into account the rising demand for product packaging that is convenient, responsible, and good for the environment to capture consumers’ attention, says a global packaging firm that has ramped up investment in China.
The kiwifruit sector in China is facing an uncertain 2023 after one of the most severe heatwaves ever recorded wreaked havoc on production, with even large firms having to rely on government aid to maintain resilience.
Junlebao Dairy Group has launched its Nutrition Science Strategy, aiming to strengthen the science behind its products, as well as to identify novel functional ingredients.
China has published new draft regulations for wine labelling standards in the country, with an emphasis on protecting domestic firms’ trade and formulation secrets while maintaining strict food safety standards.
Singapore-based beverage giant Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) has finally found its way back into the black thanks to positive growth in South East Asian markets, despite its recent leadership overhaul and negative China performance.
The Shanghai Consumer Council has called for authorities to be “more responsible for consumers” due to what it claims is inadequate regulation for function claims in food and beverage products containing hyaluronic acid.
China is considering mandating mass nutritional fortification for various staple foods in order to boost public health and combat nutrient deficiencies.
Recent data from Japanese brewery giant Kirin has revealed that China has topped global rankings for beer consumption and shown significant growth even amidst a general downturn in consumption in many Asian markets.
Poor dietary habits are significantly associated with obesity and depression, which in turn increase risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), say researchers.
China’s post-pandemic food testing policy, results of the ‘Excellent Milk’ project, Haofood’s peanut plant-based innovation, and more feature in this edition of China Focus.
Increasing protein intake appears to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in older age, while an extreme decline in animal-based protein consumption is linked with a 48% increase, new data from a long-term China study suggests.
Trends and Innovation Opportunities Across the Life Stages
After a hugely successful debut as a face-to-face event in 2022, our Growth Asia Summit returns for 2023 this September in Singapore with a raft of new content themes.
China’s national ‘Excellent Milk’ project says it is on track to implement further quality and safety advances to locally-produced dairy as it seeks to slash reliance on imports.
China plant-based meat brand Haofood believes that the versatility and affordability of its peanut-based products, as well as its clean labels, are key to attracting domestic consumers to the category.
The supplementation of French pine bark extract has shown to increase hair density in women who have undergone menopause, according to a six-month clinical trial conducted in Shanghai.
Selenium supplementation may be effective in reducing insulin resistance in those with cardio-metabolic diseases (CMDs), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis by researchers in China.
China is ramping up its efforts to move past the immense impacts COVID-19 has had on the country over the past three years, including removing all requirements for nucleic acid testing on frozen food imports and reducing tariffs.
Town-level efforts to reduce salt intake in China have had mix results, say researchers, who argue that reduction strategies are going to take several years to trickle down.
China’s decision to provide additional subsidies to soybean and grain producers appears to have reaped rewards, with the state officials claiming the former increased by 27% and the latter hitting record levels.
The Chinese government has launched strict draft standards to govern excessive food packaging in the country covering fruit, meat, egg and seafood products, allowing public comments on these until January 2023.
Plant-based protein consumption could contribute to better muscle health among the elderly population in China, although overall protein-intake recommendations are inadequate in counteracting muscle loss, say researchers.
China dairy firm Junlebao has launched a new milk powder targeted at supporting calcium absorption in middle and old-aged consumers, and hopes to rejuvenate the well-established category by improving bio-accessibility and bioavailability.
Lowering the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) while increasing parental and school health advice could help reduce childhood weight gain, according to a new study from China.
Rising affluence is driving premiumisation and innovation in the meat sector in South East Asia (SEA), but there is still ample space for NPD, not least in the snacking category.
Nutrition products for gut, liver, eye health and sports have recorded strong growth during this year’s Double 11 shopping festival, says China’s leading e-commerce platform JD Health.
Health supplements brands are prohibited from engaging celebrities to endorse their products, the Chinese authorities have again warned, in a move which an expert says is targeted at a ‘grey area’ for overseas brands.
Water-soluble tomato concentrate made from fresh tomatoes could potentially play a role in the early prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and elderly adults, according to the recent findings of a Chinese RCT.
FNA DEEP DIVE: CULTIVATED MEAT & FERMENTATION TECH
Novel protein production technologies such as cultivated meat and precision fermentation are seeing consumer acceptance soar in APAC, but are still some way off achieving price parity for the everyday consumer due to challenges with regulations and scale.
