Sesame’s nutritional and sustainable properties could make it Asia’s best option for traditional milk replacement, despite it being a relative newcomer in region’s plant-based dairy alternative space, claims a Thai firm seeking to pioneer the sector.
Specialist peanut butter brand BNutty has its eye on the Singapore market this year, and is banking on its flavours a ndtextures to accelerate its growth in the region.
Innovations in blockchain, QR codes and a wealth of outside investments have propelled the global halal food sector, with Malaysia becoming a key beneficiary, according to new data.
Snacking giant Lotte has revealed that low-and-no-sugar are key trends guiding its new product development across both its snacking and confectionery portfolios, while also reveal plans to boost sales in the Middle East and South Africa.
Thai juice giant Tipco believes that consumers are turning to beverages as a tasty yet convenient means of ‘drinking’ in additional nutrients, leading to a rise in popularity of items such as vegetable juices and herb-infused drinks.
Corn and dried produce specialist V Foods has launched a new range of plant-based products with an emphasis on not being meat alternatives, looking instead to focus on the appeal of whole foods to draw in sceptical consumers.
Food and beverage MNC Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) has highlighted food safety, convenience and alternative proteins as major industry trends set drive consumer purchasing decisions in the next decade.
Malaysia’s regulator is conducting a public consultation on how manufacturers of traditional medicines and health supplements could validate the amount of active ingredients claimed on the product label.
Fruit product heavyweight Dole has revealed plans to focus on developing more clean label and fortified juice products for the Asia Pacific market, citing rising consumer interest in the region as a major motivation.
Singapore bio-fermented tonics firm Akesi hopes new research on the polyphenol content of its products will be the catalyst for the firm’s growth in APAC over the next five years.
Too many plant-based firms are ‘overengineering ingredients’ and ‘forcing solutions’ on investors and consumers, without paying enough attention to Asian culture and context, according to a regional expert in the alternative protein space.
Global seafood giant Thai Union says it is placing a significant focus on microalgae omega-3, besides its usual marine sources, as it seeks to diversify its ingredients business.
Ribena Malaysia has taken its first venture out of its traditional blackcurrant beverage range with a strawberry line of products, citing their nutritional value and visual appeal as major reasons for this innovation.
The kombucha market in South East Asia is poised for explosive growth over the next few years due to a significant rise in consumer health awareness and demand for immunity-boosting drinks across various markets.
Indonesia-based palm oil heavyweight Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) has highlighted the importance of sparing no cost in implementing traceability technology, in order to achieve greater commercial gain further down the line.
Thailand insect-based brand Cric-Co believes that there is a large potential market for insect-based snacks both within its home market and also in international ones, but it is vital that they are in formats that resonate with mainstream consumers.
Thai firm Sesamilk is planning a major portfolio expansion for its dairy alternative products, whilst also calling for the government to provide more taxation and financial support for SMEs to accelerate growth.
Cultivated meat firm GOOD Meat aims to multiply its output by building second plants in both Singapore and the US as it strives to take lab-grown protein mainstream.
Olam’s new direct-to-consumer (D2C) nuts brand Re- says it is tapping into three major trends – traceability, sustainability and health – as it eyes expansion from its Singapore launchpad into wider Asia, the US and UK.
State intervention in East Malaysia to combat iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) among children has been hailed a success after new research found there had been “significant improvements”.
Thai healthy snacking brand MUNCHHH has developed an award-winning range of snacks based on what it has termed the ‘middle ground’ of snacking, with a priority on balancing health and indulgence to keep consumers coming back for more.
Thai mushroom-based protein firm More Meat is taking steps towards obtaining clean label recognition while also working on launching a new line of ready-to-cook (RTC) products to later this year.
Shanghai plant-based firm Haofood has exclusively revealed its ambitious expansion spans, both at home and abroad, after receiving a major funding boost from investors.
Meiji is expanding its infant formulas offerings in Cambodia as part of the company’s strategy in growing its overseas business – where South East Asia is identified as a region for new opportunities.
Consumers are increasingly demanding more information about ingredients and traceability in the booming East-West fusion food category, that spans everything from pandan nuts to kaya ice cream.
The Thai government has set its sights on emerging as the South East Asian regional leader in the areas of both organic food production and cannabis technology development, amid hopes that these sectors will help deliver a boost to the local economy.
Green Rebel, an alternative protein start-up from Indonesia offering whole-cut plant-based meat for the Asian taste bud, aims to be on major Singapore supermarket shelves by Q3.
Singapore’s upcoming implementation of its sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) labelling system Nutri-Grade is driving local beverage firms to reformulate and create low-sugar product options to avoid potential repercussions, including upcycled drinks firm...
The scale of Singapore’s challenge to achieve 30% food self-sufficiency by 2030 has been underlined by new data released by the city state’s national food agency.
Indonesia’s palm oil export ban announced earlier this month has left the door open for Malaysia to swoop in and expand its market share – but this will very much depend on contract timings and labour viability, say industry experts.
Singapore-based Umami Meats has highlighted its innovation focus on fish species that are popular as part of Asian cuisines but are also on the IUCN Red List in terms of vulnerability, targeting a 2024 product launch date for its blended cultivated-plant-based...
The palm oil industry is urging governments, food firms and consumers that have boycotted to reconsider their approach, claiming that sustainable palm oil is a credible alternative to oils such as sunflower oil, which is in short supply due to the Ukraine...
Greek organic herbal tea firm Anassa Organics says sales in Japan are performing strong, one year after entering what remains a niche category in the country.
The palm oil sector will need to emphasise how its current sustainability and development strategies are also ‘future-oriented’ beyond standards and certifications if it is to successfully penetrate new markets in the Middle East.
Mondelez International’s newly appointed Managing Director for Malaysia and Singapore believes that it is crucial to build in sustainability and affordability as core business components if it is to grow its snacking business in the region, even if that...
The Thai government has pledged to pick up the pace of its nationwide digital transformation plans for the local food and agriculture industry this year, with a major focus on big data, smart agriculture, e-commerce and agribusiness improvement.
South Korea has completed of the first two phases of a new national food safety management system for Vietnam, using technology and information systems used in its home market.
A Singapore bird’s nest pioneer is experimenting with a new format and production techniques to make the traditional Asian health product relevant to younger consumers.
Premiumisation and flavour experimentation are the major trends driving growth for the alcohol industry in Indian and South East Asia, AB InBev’s Regional President revealed in the second part of our exclusive interview.
Malaysian Tiger milk mushroom supplier Nexus Wise is eyeing overseas growth amid local success for the ingredient traditionally used for cold, flu, and immunity.
The Malaysian palm oil sector is calling for the implementation of better branding and consumer communication strategies to increase its marketability, saying that providing high quality and sustainable products is not enough to achieve export recognition.
Mondelez International’s newly appointed Managing Director for Malaysia and Singapore has revealed product localisation and digitisation as key priorities to drive the company’s regional growth, in an exclusive interview.
Abbott is promoting public awareness on muscle health in Singapore through an initiative targeting food hawkers, amid concerns that consumers have less awareness of the condition compared to other ageing-related difficulties.
Major food and beverage MNC Mondelez has revealed its strategies to tap into the India and China markets, both of which have burgeoning middle-class segments with increasing disposable incomes.
Supermarket-bought imported seafood has been identified as the main source of seafood adulteration in Singapore, with calls for new technology to tackle the problem.
AB InBev India and South East Asia President Kartikeya Sharma has reveals how the firm utilised innovation and marketing strategies to weather COVID-19 challenges and emerge with healthy brand growth, in the first part of our exclusive interview.
Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore-based sugar alternative firm Swiftlet is widening its portfolio with the development of new ready-to-eat (RTE) and lower-cost options of its sugar replacement product, whilst also planning for entry into the European...
Persistent supply chain challenges and lactose intolerance in a large majority of consumers in the South East Asian region has led to difficulties for dairy firms to achieve sales or market shares as high as those in western countries, but industry leaders...
