Diageo-owned The Singleton has identified flavours as a key focus area to further drive growth in Asia, where the complexity of Scotch whiskey and its versatility in localisation are increasingly recognised.
Nestle is reintegrating the Greater China region with the rest of Asia, as new CEO Laurent Freixe unveiled a significant U-turn from its 2021 geographical ‘sharpening’ strategy.
Taiwan-based Han-Sient believes it has struck gold with its patented technology to produce guava leaf extract for blood sugar control and fat-burning, eyeing the diabetic and weight loss markets in South East Asia as its next major expansion step.
Mongolian spirits firm Chinggis Khan has its eye firmly on the international stage with its premium vodka, believing that its premium base ingredients and specialised distillation process will give it an edge over the competition.
Australia’s Tummy Buddies believes that healthier product innovation for children needs to focus on bright colours and visual appeal in order to secure that crucial first purchase.
Global food and beverage giant PepsiCo has granted the winner of its 2024 GreenHouse Accelerator APAC programme Alterno US$100,000 to develop its thermal energy solution, with an eye on further collaboration with the firm in this area.
South Korea’s Natural Good Things (NGT) is eyeing an expansion across Asia with its Active Enzyme sticks after successfully making a name for itself in the domestic women’s beauty and wellness market.
Winner of the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2024 prize for Healthy Ageing Kaneka Corporation believes that it is crucial to raise the awareness of ubiquinol amongst Asian consumers to promote effective healthy ageing.
Malaysia-based seafood company Yeam Seng Frozen Goods & Fishery is channelling more resources into expanding its ready-to-cook portfolio to capture busy consumers and facilitate entry into overseas markets.
South Korean firm Clio has debuted its ingestible beauty brand, TRUE RX, in drugstores across Japan, underlining its expansion endeavours in this market beyond the cosmetics sector.
Japan-based Hanamaruki believes that its newly launched flavour-enhancing koji powder is in a prime position to cater to product innovation in South East Asia that fulfils both sodium reduction and affordability requirements.
Plant-based cheese brand Swees has launched what it claims to be the world’s first vegan rice-based cheese stick product with support from the Thai government, believing this will help it to gain a stronger standing in the snacking category.
South Korean convenience store chain GS25 is looking to build on the “successful cross-industry partnership model” that it claims to have established after achieving strong sales of food products launched in collaboration with Netflix.
Singaporean brand JiaTaste is looking to export its ready-to-cook prawn noodle paste to more markets, particularly in the west, where it sees opportunities among consumers who enjoy Asian flavours.
Cell Biotech-owned supplement brand DUOLAC expects its recent entry into Taiwan’s major supermarket chain to accelerate expansion in the greater China region, amid strong efforts to promote Korean probiotics globally.
Kraft Heinz recently introduced a hands-free “snack dipper” device, which the food major says would solve the so-called problem of not being able to eat while gaming.
Nicaragua-based Grupo Aquamar is looking to strengthen brand awareness in Singapore and Hong Kong, while aiming to attract more consumers in Asia for its premium produce.
Vietnam-based Sokfarm believes that the rising demand for reduced sodium consumption as well as its natural coconut nectar production advantages have laid a strong foundation for the sales of its new aminos soy sauce alternative.
Australia-based Jatcorp will focus on building its nutrition brands and potentially acquire at least one new brand in the upcoming year, as it moves away from product distribution and OEM.
South Korean distilled soju brand SUUL SUUP has launched what it claims to be the first premium aloe vera soju, tapping on its use of ingredients from the renowned Jeju Island.
IFF wants to accelerate speed to market for food manufacturers in the Middle East and Africa, after its Creation and Design Center in Turkey was officially recognised as a key innovation centre by the country’s Ministry of Industry and Technology (MoIT).
South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang is accelerating the expansion of its Oceania and European business led by its “bibigo K-food strategy”, following a surge in sales and positive consumer reception.
China energy drink heavyweight EastRoc is moving to a multi-beverage portfolio, hoping to establish itself as a leader in the wider beverage industry and not just the energy category.
Danone is introducing its growing up milk for children born via caesarean section (C-section) into more South East Asian countries, with the latest launch happening in Malaysia.
Global gummies specialist firm Haribo believes that a combined focus on sour flavours and variety packs will be its route to attracting more teenage and young adult consumers to the brand in the APAC region.
Middle East food and beverage giant Agthia has reaped the rewards of solid investments into new product innovation with significant volume-led growth in the first half of 2024, and hopes to further boost this with its newly opened protein facility.
South Korean food giant Nongshim remains optimistic for the prospects of its plant-based meat alternative brand Veggie Garden, believing that the sector still has a bright future in the South East Asian region and especially Thailand.
Thai juice heavyweight TipCo has cited the growth of wellness trends in the region as the main catalyst behind its recent beverage innovations and category investment decisions.
Japanese beverage major Kirin Group has seen its launch of a new beer brand as well as investments into functional beverage innovation and overseas whiskey expansion bear fruit in the first quarter of 2024.
The MD of prosecco specialist firm Bottega has highlighted the company’s plans to increase supply and marketing spend to boost its position in the Asian region, predicting that this is likely to become its biggest market in the near future.
Qatari dairy firm Baladna has announced plans to double down on its new product innovation and international market expansion strategy, particularly in Algeria, after seeing a record growth in net profits over the first six months of 2024.
Morinaga Milk Industry has launched a series of functional foods across yogurt, sachet powder, milk formula, and fermented drinks to support the nutritional needs of Japan’s rapidly ageing population.
Singapore-based Jääde is actively strengthening its presence in the local market for its packaged Finnish spring water, while working to expand across the region in the long run.
Thai seafood giant Thai Union has highlighted its ambient product business as the main sales growth booster for the company in the first half of 2024, further supplemented by rising tuna prices and its rapidly-growing value-added product category.
Singapore-based Hey! Chips says that its switch in business strategy from overseas expansion to building presence in the local market has enabled it to gain a foothold in the healthy snacking category and a spurt in brand awareness.
Craft beer firm Lion Brewery has described Singapore as one of the most vibrant and important craft beer markets in the region driven by strong consumer demand, despite facing significant ‘anti-competitive’ challenges to entry and growth.
Experts at the Nestle Health Sciences Institute believe that it is critical to develop personalised health strategies and products targeted to each life stage in order to ensure the best possible healthy ageing outcomes in Asia.
Coca-Cola Europacific (CCEP) has seen its newest acquisition of Coca-Cola Philippines pay off with strong sales contributing to significant APAC growth in the first half of the year.
Singapore-headquartered OATSIDE attributes its meteoric rise in Asia to a marketing strategy encompassing targeted campaigns and strategic partnerships, and constant innovation of flavours to satisfy myriad consumer preferences.
Hindustan Unilever India (HUL) has highlighted the strong potential of its premium coffee and tea businesses to lead growth in the shorter term, amidst a flat performance by its Health Food Drinks (HFD) portfolio in the last quarter.
Premium chocolatier brand Guylian has widened its pricing strategy in Asia to include smaller, more affordable packs in order to increase accessibility and target a new consumer base.
Singapore-based Flojo believes that it has found a sweet spot in Asia's beverage market with an AI-powered ‘productivity drink’ targeting consumers who regularly use a lot of brain power.
China dairy giant Yili has ventured into the ready-to-drink (RTD) tea segment with an entirely new product concept dubbed the ‘instant brewed tea’ under its INIKIN brand as it looks to capture a new base of local consumers.
Japan beverage giant Asahi has seen significant growth in its RTD alcoholic beverages category as well as the South East Asian market as major contributors to profitability over the past six months, despite negative impacts from Oceania sales.