Chinese start-up Starfield Food Science & Technology expects to launch its first plant-based retail product in the country by June, after two years of operations in the foodservice sector.
Homegrown Japanese alcohol firm Vinvie believes that there is major untapped potential to be found in the ‘niche’ local cider market as consumers are increasingly on the lookout for lighter, lower-alcohol options.
More South Korean brands with products containing only trace amounts of genetically modified (GM) ingredients could be able to make ‘non-GMO’ label claims, as the country considers aligning its rules with international standards.
China has emphasised that stability will be the name of the game in government strategies to ensure national food security and the upcoming Fourteenth Five-Year Plan, with particular emphasis on market stabilisation and grain management.
Kirin Beverage will focus on no-to-low sugar, low-calorie and products with health benefits across its non-alcohol range after seeing soft drink sales slip by 9% in 2020.
The Japanese government has found no sign of genetically modified (GM) soybean and rapeseed crops having any impact on surrounding biodiversity over 15 years of natural growth, further strengthening its argument for further GM-related approvals in the...
The South Korean regulator has said it will be issuing “Inspection Orders” on imported probiotics that have failed conformity tests three or more times in the past three years.
The Chinese government has issued a series of warnings and directives on the consumption of fermented foods, counterfeit foods and beverages on the back of a deadly mass food poisoning event and the rapid rise of food fraud cases in the past year.
Consumption of an omega-3 supplement produced by Australian health company Max Biocare is clearly linked to socio-demographic status among adults residing in China, Thailand and Vietnam, according to new research.
LINGYA (零呀), the company which produced China’s first locally made hard seltzer has rebranded to ZEYA, in line with a new local and regional strategic plan.
Kirin Brewery is focusing on its core beer brands and canned craft beer business, amid a not-so-positive outlook for the low-malt happoshu sector and new categories following COVID-19 and a recent liquor tax revision.
The South Korean government has laid out its food safety upgrade plans for the first half of 2021, with a great deal of focus centred on meat and meat product imports and processing, in response to consumer concerns.
China’s reduction of import tariffs, including supplement products such as fish oil soft gel capsules and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs), will make both imports and local production more competitive, according to industry experts.
South Korea’s ‘New Southern’ policy focusing on tightening relations with South East Asia and India appears to have paid off in skyrocketing food and agricultural export numbers, some of the highest in recent years, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan has updated its nutrition labelling rules to both reflect the quality as well as the quantity of carbohydrates present in processed foods, and also better reflect the calculation of calories being consumed per serving.
The Japanese government has approved a bill to increase the intellectual property (IP) protection over local high-value produce in a bid to prevent these from being illegally exported and planted overseas, losing control over further cultivation, sales...
Japanese instant noodle manufacturer Nissin Food Products has extended its hugely popular mystery meat cup noodle series with a new kimchi flavour hitting the shelves this month.
The Chinese government has announced a new three-year strategy to further develop the local dairy industry, with emphasis on strengthening R&D as well as tighter governance to quell remaining food safety concerns and boost the sector’s reputation.
South Korea-based food technology firm Phyto Corporation (PhytoCo) has doubled the sodium reduction rate of its world-first plant-based salt PhytoSalt - making it the only salt worldwide capable of reducing sodium intake by 40%.
Indonesia and China have been highlighted by experts as major opportunity markets for halal F&B brands looking to internationalise their products post-COVID-19, banking on rising purchasing power and government support in both countries – though some...
Japan’s plan to reduce the gap in taxes levied on the three main beer categories in the country is expected to first stimulate rapid new product innovation across the board, then also deliver a boost to the traditional beer segment in the long run, according...
Leading Japanese firms Asahi, Ajinomoto, Kirin, Hotei Foods, Nippn and Nissin have underlined how their manufacturing, R&D and employee safety are being maintained as certain prefectures come under another state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Major China infant formula brand Feihe’s patent application for a special medical use goat milk powder has been granted, with market observers now expecting the company to expand its range and retail channels.
China-based manufacturer Angel Yeast is set to open a new R&D centre in Yichang, Hubei Province this year to accelerate product innovation, with a particular focus on the plant-based sector and sports nutrition.
Thailand-based Sesamilk Foods is eyeing China and Taiwan as part of its global expansion strategy to increase export business from 30% to 80% in just two years.
Food ingredient supplier BCFoods is set to open a new seasoning factory in China to tap into soaring demand for herbs and spices, that has shot up amid the pandemic.
Halal food and beverage brands looking to penetrate the Japanese market have been urged to look beyond just ‘halal’ as a unique selling point, in addition to paying closer attention to translational branding and prices.
FANCL has launched a new immune supplement that uses technology to protect tablets from premature disintegration during the production and storage process.
Problems with registration and ingredient compliance are some of the most common mistakes that nutraceutical firms have made when exporting their products to South Korea, according to a regulatory consultancy firm.
Malaysia-based and Australia-listed food tech firm Holista Colltech has set its sights on marketing its low-GI bread premix in several APAC markets after a successful partnership in the United States with bakery manufacturer Costanzo’s.
E-commerce giant JD has seen a boom in organic product sales in China after working with brand partners to establish the country’s first-ever organic alliance, with the firm saying demand has been boosted by consumers seeking 'safer and healthier'...
Chocolate consumption in China still lags behind its neighbours in the confectionery category, but it is increasingly finding flavour through innovation in local cuisine – including steamed buns and even rice.
Ho Chi Minh-based edible insect firm CricketOne has its eye on becoming a major cricket powder supplier and alternative meat producer in Japan after recently closing a successful fundraising round, calling the East Asian country a ‘hot bed’ for such products.
Japan is looking to boost the exports and guarantee the food safety of one of its most iconic foods, the fermented soybean product natto, by working with the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) to develop regional standards to govern its production in...
English sparkling wine specialists Nyetimber sees great growth potential in Asia for its products due to high consumer acceptance in the region as well as natural compatibility of its wines with local cuisine.
Arista Cereal Technologies has set its sights on Japan as the next big market for foods made from its special low-GI, naturally prebiotic-containing wheat, particularly in popular local items such as ramen.
Kids protein shake maker Nutritional Growth Solutions (NGS) is planning to enter the Japanese, South Korean, and Australian markets next year via both online and offline channels.
Japan-based co-creation platform Trinus has co-developed a new vinegar drink brand called Hoplus with INHOP, a subsidiary of Kirin Holdings, containing matured hop extract.
Japanese beverage giant Asahi is using an AI-powered design technology to design product packaging with a focus on ‘objectivity’ and ‘originality’, as opposed to going with the general industry flow of creating personalised designs.
Japan’s Kirin Holdings has becoming the first beverage and alcohol manufacturer in the country to transition to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper packaging.
South Korean food and functional health food company Pulmuone has launched a health nutraceutical brand specifically targeted at the online and mass market retail channel – a move away from its traditional door-to-door retail method.
Malaysian candy brand Big Foot has expanded its wildly successful Himalaya Salt candy range with a ginger lemon flavour in response to consumer demand for a ‘warmer’ option.
