Scandals and more: 10 stories that shook up the APAC F&B sector this year
From restructuring and demergers, to drug accusations and sex scandals, here are 10 of the most shocking and influential stories that shook the APAC food sector in 2025
Business
Singapore firm upcycles food byproducts into diabetic-friendly noodles
Singapore’s KosmodeHealth transforms food byproducts – peanut protein and sweet potato fibre – into low-GI noodles designed to deliver energy without sugar spikes
Start-up Spotlight: Indonesia SME halal, global top 30 food-tech and more
Indonesia SME halal, global top 30 food-tech firms and more feature in this edition of Start-up Spotlight
Supply stars: The Top 10 APAC F&B supplier stories from 2025
We bring you 2025’s top 10 most popular supplier stories from the APAC food industry, featuring Kerry, Cargill, McCormick and many more.
World’s top 30 food-tech companies revealed
From AI-powered ingredient discovery to zero-waste packaging and next-gen proteins, the top 30 global food-tech list showcases the game-changing technologies shaping the future of food
Taiwan’s Rose Box eyes rapid exports expansion with organic rose-based products
Taiwan-based Rose Box is aiming to grow its exports business to more APAC markets over the next year with products such as rose jams and rose pastes.
Big brands in action: Our Top 10 APAC F&B brand stories from 2025
We reveal the top 10 most-read brands news from the APAC food and beverage industry in 2025, featuring a raft of big brand names like MILO, Asahi and Mengniu
Why Amazon Fresh is using French foods to sharpen Asian e-commerce play
Rising demand for European foods in Asia has prompted Amazon Fresh to expand its European range with French products in this region
ANZ Focus: Lactalis-Fonterra drama, Aussie bakeries and more
Lactalis-Fonterra drama, Aussie bakeries and more feature in this edition of ANZ Focus
Fanta’s fractured formula – how sugar taxes and colour bans rewrite the recipe
Behind Fanta’s fizz lies Coca‑Cola’s toughest challenge: keeping one brand iconic while navigating a maze of laws, tastes and taxes worldwide
Kaohsiung Food Show 2025
Popping bobas: A cleaner spin on Taiwan’s global sensation
Taiwan’s Tachiz is reimagining the world-famous boba – from fruity to savoury fillings – to deliver indulgent yet healthier options for food and drink makers
Hershey’s salty strategy
The confectionery giant’s latest move – snapping up LesserEvil – pulls it deeper into the everyday snacking landscape it’s been circling for years
Danone becomes the largest B Corp
The achievement gives Danone a competitive advantage over the likes of Nestlé and Unilever and is a boon for investor confidence
AI-powered, human-led kitchens redefine RTE vending in Asia
Singapore’s first AI vending machines cooking ready-to-eat (RTE) meals on demand, 24/7 are targeting global growth
Coca-Cola: Innovation and local production key to business resilience
Coca-Cola has highlighted local manufacturing and an innovation focus as crucial needs to build resilience for any food and beverage company
ThaiFex-Anuga Asia 2025
Fashion Food’s healthy instant meals blend wellness and convenience
Fashion Food moves beyond snacks with healthy instant rice soups and noodles, tapping into booming convenience and wellness food trends
Big Food Big Moves: Who’s next in the big CPG shake-up
Nestlé, Ferrero, Mars, Unilever and Kraft Heinz are reshaping the food and beverage landscape with bold M&A moves. But what’s next?
Unilever India expects profits boost after ice cream split finalised
Unilever’s widely-publicised ice cream demerger is expected to boost profit margins for its India business next quarter, despite recent delays in other markets
Unilever India confident GST reforms will aid growth despite Q2 declines
Hindustan Unilever India (HUL) is optimistic that the government’s recent tax reforms will help drive growth in the long-run, offsetting current impacts on sales
Monster’s momentum: Energy drink sale surge as innovation and ‘affordable luxury’ positioning redefine the category
Innovation, affordability and shifting perceptions fuel 16.8% year-over-year growth, as Monster Beverage broadens its appeal beyond core users and positions energy drinks as an affordable alternative to coffee
Back to RIG: How will new Nestle CEO’s growth plans impact APAC?
New Nestle CEO Philipp Navratil has reset Real Internal Growth (RIG) as his ‘most important’ priority moving forward – but just how will his plans for this impact APAC?
CP Foods’ Food as Medicine roadmap for preventative health
Thai food giant CP Foods has developed a dedicated platform to support consumers making healthier food choices towards preventative healthcare
Kraft Heinz fights weak demand with marketing blitz
The food manufacturing giant plans to divide into two companies by the second half of 2026
Ben & Jerry’s pro-Gaza ice cream blocked by directors
If Ben & Jerry’s can’t make a ‘Peace for Palestine’ flavoured ice cream, co-founder Ben Cohen will make it himself
‘A national shame’: FSSAI embroiled in fight over ORS label misuse
India’s latest labelling ban has been stayed by a New Delhi court, raising concerns over continued sales of high-sugar oral rehydration products
Brand New: Bel Group, PepsiCo, Master Kong and more
Bel Group, PepsiCo, Master Kong and more feature in this edition of Brand New
Hellmann’s and Knorr show food still has life at Unilever
Despite major moves away from categories like plant-based meat and ice cream, food remains central to Unilever’s business
Unilever ice cream demerger delayed
With just weeks remaining before its planned spin-off, the demerger of The Magnum Ice Cream Company has been postponed
Start-up Spotlight: PepsiCo accelerator, ginseng innovation and more
PepsiCo accelerator, ginseng innovation and more feature in this edition of Start-up Spotlight
Opinion
Will Lactalis cut Fonterra’s farmers loose?
A political storm is brewing Down Under as Fonterra’s shareholders vote on the co-op’s megadeal with Lactalis
APAC Agri-food Innovation Summit
Bel Group backs precision fermentation to secure dairy, protein future
Dairy heavyweight Bel Group is exploring precision fermentation as a strategy to reshape dairy production and meet evolving protein needs
Carlsberg & Heineken: Beer business vital to Malaysia’s economy
Carlsberg and Heineken spotlight beer’s crucial role in Malaysia’s economy, highlighting its value to the food and beverage industry via a new economic study
PepsiCo accelerator fuels food industry growth with real-world pilots
PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator (GHAC) APAC is driving agri-food innovation, with start-ups in the region piloting solutions alongside PepsiCo and key partners
Master Kong sesame business targets SEA market amid China challenges
Facing sesame oversupply in China, Master Kong subsidiary Tingzhi is eyeing exports to affordability-focused markets to rebalance supply and demand
Seafood Expo Asia 2025
Seafood sector pivots to Asia amid rising demand and US tariff woes
Asia’s seafood appetite offers growth as exporters diversify from US tariff-hit markets, experts say at Singapore Seafood expo
PepsiCo and Frito-Lay sued for ‘mold-made’ molecule in Poppables
A new lawsuit claims the citric acid in Frito-Lay’s Poppables isn’t natural but brewed from black mold and that PepsiCo misled consumers with its ‘no artificial flavors’ promise
Heineken on how F1 sponsorship is boosting zero-alcohol beer strategy
Heineken is leveraging its F1 sponsorship and Heineken 0.0 to promote moderation and reshape drinking habits among sports fans and global drinkers
Ajinomoto reaffirms 2030 sustainability goals despite CEO shift
Ajinomoto has renewed commitment to its 2030 sustainability strategy despite a sudden change in CEO recently, reinforcing its long-term AminoScience-based green strategy
Roku Gin boosts reach via mixology and localised appeal
Suntory’s Roku Gin is blending mixology expertise with localised appeal to strengthen its market presence across South East Asia
Lactalis is paying a hefty premium in NZ$4.22bn Fonterra deal
The French multi-national will unlock strategic synergies through the acquisition Down Under and beyond: but the price tag may be too high, according to financial advisors
5 food industry leadership scandals that shook the past 18 months
From corruption allegations to sexual misconduct, explore five high-profile food industry scandals that made headlines and reshaped leadership
Quaker Oats leverages TikTok dietitians for fresh brand appeal
The company is still recovering from a devastating recall in 2023 and focusing on the future
Opinion
The snackdown: Trump calls ESG a scam – why snack giants call it survival
ESG’s under political fire in Washington, but the snack giants keep flexing. From Oreos to Doritos, their reports show that in today’s food industry, trust’s as valuable as profit.
Yili H1 financials buoyed by ice cream, milk powder amid profit pressure
Yili has posted resilient H1 results as ice cream and milk powder sales drive growth, cushioning impact from broader dairy sector headwinds
Danone’s Lifeway acquisition collapses
As talks between the two parties fall through, one question looms large: will Julie Smolyansky’s leadership survive?
‘Heartbroken’ Ben & Jerry’s founder steps down over brand’s ‘silencing’
Jerry Greenfield leaves the company he co-founded half a century ago after claiming Unilever has ‘silenced’ the brand’s social mission and independence
How food and beverage spin-offs and separations fare after the split
The future is uncertain for food and beverage spin-offs, but we can look to the past for guidance
BLACKPINK Jisoo-recommended tomato chips expands flavours, packaging
Fashion Food tomato chips, made viral by BLACKPINK’s Jisoo in 2023, have launched bold new flavours and packaging to grow their social media snack success
It’s back: Growth Asia Summit to return in 2026 after biggest-ever event this year
The region’s premier food, beverage and nutrition event, The Growth Asia Summit, will return to Singapore in 2026 – and you can snap up a bargain early bird delegate ticket today.
Ben & Jerry’s has been ‘silenced’ by Unilever - and wants a divorce
As Unilever prepares to spin off its ice cream business, one of its biggest brands wants out