Heineken last week announced its decision to acquire a 40 per cent
stake in the Chinese brewery Jiangsu DaFuHao, after intimating in
its February results that it would continue to look for investment
opportunities.
South Korea's Food and Drug Administration has begun inspecting
outlets of fast food restaurant operators after the Chinese
operation of KFC admitted that it had discovered traces of the
banned food dye, Sudan 1. The threat of...
The future of the milk formula market in China lies with better
product quality and greater brand loyalty following the revelation
last year that much of the formula on sale there was fake. The move
towards higher margin products...
Enzymotec, the Israeli company which develops lipid-based
ingredients for the nutraceuticals and functional foods markets, is
hoping to take advantage of a perceived demand for healthy cooking
oils in the Asia Pacific region.
As Chinese consumers become more aware of genetically modified (GM)
food, rejection of the technology is also growing in China,
according to Greenpeace.
Thirty-two Chinese companies are to appeal against a ruling by the
US Department of Commerce which found them guilty of dumping large
quantities of shrimps onto the US market and imposed punitive
import duties.
China is becoming an increasingly potent force in the worlds food
market, with sales continuing to grow each year in line with
substantial gains in consumer spending power, writes Chris
Jones.
Indofood, Indonesia's biggest food company, has reported 2004
profits severely hit by the devaluation of the rupiah, but remains
hopeful of an upturn in 2005 following efforts to reduce its
exposure to exchange rates and the...
One of Asia's biggest food retailers, Dairy Farm, has this week
announced strong sales growth for 2004 helped by the recovery of
many local economies and a raft of recent acquisitions. But
increasing competition from European...
Indonesia's largest noodle producer Indofood Sukses Makmur has
joined forces with the world's biggest food company Nestlé to
create a new joint venture which will expand production and
marketing of the two firms' various...
Scientists at the University of Derby and the University of Malaya,
in Kuala Lumpur, are working on a freezing technology that aims to
help save the Malaysian banana - which is in danger from being
wiped out due to fungal disease.
China Food Industries has announced plans to triple the size of its
cold room facilities, despite announcing a fall in sales for the
full year ending in December.
The world's biggest food retail groups are continuing to strengthen
their positions in the massive Chinese market, buoyed by a recent
relaxation of the regulations requiring them to use local partners.
Carrefour and Wal-Mart...
The Shanghai Jinshan District Government has confirmed that Suntory
Investment, a Chinese investment company, has acquired 74 per cent
equity of Shanghai Eastern Sea Beer, a leading brewery company
located in Zhangyan County of the...
China has announced a slew of initiatives to boost its agricultural
sector in the face of rising imports and domestic producers
struggling to meet demand, reports Anand Krishnamoorthy.
Europe and the US continue to dominate demand in the €4.5 billion
flavours market, but Asia Pacific region is quickly catching up
thanks to high single-digit growth, reveal figures from a new
report.
The Vietnam Food Association says that in 2005 turnover in rice
exports is expected to reach $1 billion, but with no plans to
increase crop growing areas, the target may well prove difficult to
reach.
China, potentially one of the most promising markets for
genetically modified (GM) crops, is stalling the adoption of
transgenic plant cultivation as a cautious government ponders their
safety reports Anand Krishnamoorthy.
The tsunami waves have had a devastating impact on the fisheries
sector in many countries of the Indian Ocean, the FAO says,
inflicting major upheaval on the seafood processing category.
A significant drive from Asian rice producers has helped boost
global paddy production in 2004 to an estimated record 611 million
tonnes. But the Food and Agriculture Organisation says that supply
is still not meeting needs, writes...
Three senior executives from China dairy group Yili have been
detained by police authorities allegedly investigating accusations
of company embezzlement. Analysts believe the news is likely to
send shock waves through the sectors...
The Vietnamese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development says
that a lack of up-to-date processing equipment is holding back
progress for much of the country's food and beverage industry.
Although new EU regulations could bring increasing opportunities
for Asian food companies, many European businesses see it as a
threat. But whilst Hungarian food canning companies say their
future existence could be threatened, manufacturers...
Jinro, South Korea's largest spirit producer, has confirmed that it
will invite bids by the end of this month, a move that aims to
raise $2 billion (€1.5 bn) and allow the bankrupt company to pay
off its creditors. Simon Pitman...
With the market for canned food doubling in size in the course of
the last eight years, further growth is expected in line with the
rapidly expanding China economy in the coming years.
Wal-Mart China has confirmed that it is opening up its first store
in Shanghai. The store is due to open up next year and the company
has confirmed that recruitment of staff has begun, reports Simon
Pitman.
Wal-Mart has reversed its decision not to allow trade unions for
its store workers in China. Bowing to pressure from government
authorities, the move comes as a strong sign that international
food and beverage businesses must heed...
The rising price of global freight and fuel costs means that food
business worldwide need to streamline their operations. As the
transport requirement of China continue to put pressure on shipping
availabiliy, a new report suggests...
China is cracking down on government officials over alleged
misconduct that led to the deaths of at least 13 babies in China's
North-Eastern provinces following the illegal sale of fake milk
powder.
As retail regulations in China are set to undergo big changes, many
leading multinational retailers are queuing up in readiness to
capitalize on more liberal trading conditions. Simon Pitman
takes a closer look at the changes to find...
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions said that it will continue
to press foreign companies to unionise its operations in China. The
federation highlighted ongoing disputes with several foreign-owned
companies - including Wal-Mart...
Cambodia became the World Trade Organisation (WTO)'s 148th member
this month, a move that should help the poorest country in the A-P
region improve its food production sector, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
A rise in global stocks of wheat after a 30-year low will offer
continued relief to the tighter prices experienced by the food
industry in previous years, but the food chain still needs to stay
on the alert.
The EU, Vietnam's largest trading partner, is the first major
partner to conclude its bilateral deal with Vietnam, giving a boost
to Vietnam's accession to the WTO.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) will be releasing a 'Chinese
Simplified' translation of its groundbreaking Global Standard
for Consumer Products on 26 October 2004.
European Commission president Romano Prodi and commissioner Pascal
Lamy are attending this week's ASEM 5 Summit in Vietnam, which
represents a landmark in Asia-Europe relations.
Latest research from market analyst Mintel shows that the Asia
Pacific rim is bursting with food and nutraceutical innovations
such as banana-flavoured mayonnaise and green tea cereal.
Southeast Asia's largest food and beverage firm San Miguel is
considering a bid for 40 per cent of Philippines' Del Monte
Pacific, currently held by insolvent Italian food group Cirio.
Vietnam plans to earn at least $2 billion in revenue from agro-food
exports to the European Union by 2010. The pledge comes in the face
of tough trade, health and safety regulations imposed by the EU
authorities, which should make...
Asian bird flu is back in the headlines again this week, after a
woman in Thailand died from the infection H5N1. Medical experts
believe that the death was caused by human contact, a fact that
could force a re-think over regulations...
With coffee sales in China growing by 90 per cent in the five years
up to 2003, international companies are queuing up to carve up
their slice of a market. Although tea is still the mainstay, the
rapid switch to all things western...
Danish brewer Carlsberg has acquired a 34.5 per cent stake in Wusu
Brewery, located in the Xinjiang Autonomus region. The move
represents Carlsberg's ambitions to increase its presence in the
less developed Western provinces.
China's food industry grew by 26.2 per cent in the first six months
of this year. And despite rising power and ingredients prices, The
China National Food Industry Association says that continued
economic strength, backed by...
The World Health Organisation met in Beijing this week to discuss
key threats to the safety of the world's food supply chain,
including a number of issues specific to the Asian Pacific region.
Singapore-based QAF limited, one of South East Asia's leading food
companies, has said that its wholly owned subsidiary, Singfood
Investment has entered into an agreement with Mega Ocean Holdings
to acquire a 27 per cent stake...
In Asia rising meat consumption is being fed by an increasing
number of highly refined and processed product launches. A look at
the Mintel's databases reveals that pâte, meat balls, cheese-filled
hotdogs are all on the menu.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development has
said that it is working with Australian authorities in an effort to
reduce waste caused during the production and harvesting of
temperate fruits.
Although Asian consumers have traditionally sought out their
vegetables in 'wet' markets, a lack of time and increasing income
levels is leading to a boom in the packaged vegetables sector, as
the latest releases from Mintel...
