Beverages

Becoming a Japanese energy drink Monster isn’t easy…

09-Aug-2012 By Ben Bouckley

Monster Beverage Corporation admits its Q2 brand launch in Japan has hit problems, but said the nation’s distributors and retailers were far less tolerant of shipping damages and leakages than in the US.

Oz-NZ proposes WHO bottled water chemical limits

07-Aug-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Australia and New Zealand’s food standards regulator is calling for submissions on an application seeking to adopt World Health Organization (WHO) limits for chemicals in packaged water in the region.

Foster’s and Diageo rocked by Australian Facebook ads ruling row

07-Aug-2012 By Ben Bouckley

Foster’s Group has hit out at complaints leveled at its Victoria Bitter (VB) brand Facebook page and upheld by the Australian Advertising Standards Board (ASB), arguing that brands are accountable for user comments as 'advertisements'.

Philippines justice department goes after Thai Red Bull

06-Aug-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Filipino legal authorities are targeting the Thai manufacturers and local distributors of Red Bull over alleged violation of Philippines’ intellectual property and food safety regulations.

Indian non-carbonated beverage market to boom, says report

06-Aug-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Lifestyle-related issues is pushing Indians to drink more non-carbonated beverages –a market set to grow by 35% annually according to a new report.

Heineken closes in on Singapore takeover target in potential S$7.5bn deal

03-Aug-2012 By Ben Bouckley

Heineken has struck an agreement with the board of Fraser and Neave (F&N) to acquire the latter’s interest in Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) for over S$5.1bn, as one analyst told BeverageDaily.com that the Dutch brewer was paying over the odds to ensure...

Coke move for F&N beverage arm would ‘make sense’ after Heineken shake up: analyst

02-Aug-2012 By Ben Bouckley

A Singapore-based analyst tells BeverageDaily.com that rumours of a Coca-Cola Company move for Fraser & Neave’s (F&N’s) non-alcoholic beverage business would be ‘no surprise’, as Heineken chases down its brewing arm APB.

Branding heaven: The sociable, young Indonesian minimarket

31-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Snacks and soft drinks brand owners looking to build traction in Indonesia should target local convenience stores amid a soaring trend for young, wealthy consumers to socialise in this retail space, Euromonitor says.

Asahi invests to meet Malaysian beverage demand

30-Jul-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Asahi’s Malaysian unit has built a new bottling line to cope with a growing demand for carbonated beverages in Malaysia.

Indian imported spirits growing 25% yearly, says report

30-Jul-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Indian spirit imports will soar to five million cases or 55m litres by 2015, says the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

Chinese challenges: Sparking growth in a slowing FMCG sector

26-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Manufacturers must refocus efforts on Tier III and IV cities in China and delve into e-commerce to re-ignite consumer spending in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) sector amid a slow, according to analysts.

Influence the influencer: NZ wine makers target China

24-Jul-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Wine makers in New Zealand are planning to use an “influence the influencer” strategy in an aim to increase their market share in China’s booming wine market.

Filipino food: Captivating a tasty global market?

23-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

The unique flavours of Filipino foods should captivate the global market and underpin a surge in exports, according to the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

US alcohol firm to plug the Chinese wine brand gap

19-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

US premium alcohol specialist Winery Exchange has struck up a partnership with a local Chinese food and importing company in a bid to cash in on the lack of brands in China’s wine market, the MD said.

Kiwi retailer wins trademark battle with Scottish whisky watchdog

12-Jul-2012 By Ankush Chibber

A New Zealand whisky brand with a Scottish-sounding name has won a copyright battle with the international Scotch whisky watchdog.

High frequency of plasticizer contamination in China’s food: Study

12-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Plasticizers occur more frequently in Chinese foodstuff than elsewhere in the world, a new study has shown.

‘We won’t be pushed around by the alcohol industry’: Australian ads review board

09-Jul-2012 By Ben Bouckley

The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) says that the nation’s new ‘independent’ Alcohol Advertising Review Board (AARB) should be scrapped for lack of results.

‘Surprising’ wine label study shows brands should speak to Chinese

02-Jul-2012 By Ben Bouckley

A new study assessing Chinese attitudes to wine labeling has debunked the traditional view that consumers are only really attracted to wines promoting traditional and French labeling cues.

Bottled water blooms in India

28-Jun-2012 By Ankush Chibber

India’s bottled water industry is poised for stark growth pushed by pure drinking water shortages and a rising awareness of water-related health issues, a new report said.

Clipped wings? Indian regulators threaten to ban ‘energy’ drink label

25-Jun-2012 By Ankush Chibber

India’s food safety watchdog is set to issue new regulations and crackdown on caffeinated energy drinks, possibly stripping them of their ‘energy’ tag.

AFGC urges consumers to reject container tax

19-Jun-2012

Australia’s food industry body has launched a nationwide public education campaign to highlight the significant cost impacts that a national drink container deposit scheme (CDS) will have on consumers.

Synergy milk flavours plug Asia’s flourishing reduced-fat RTD sector

18-Jun-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Flavours and ingredients firm Synergy has launched a milk flavours line in response to the surging fat reduction demands across Asia’s ready-to-drink (RTD) category.

Australia considers alcoholic energy drink ban

11-Jun-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Health and consumer groups in Australia are calling on government authorities to ban alcoholic energy drinks, which have been linked to the death of a teenager this year.

Health and wealth drive Australian beer industry

07-Jun-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Australian beer manufacturers are being affected by the trend toward ready-to-drink (RTD) spirits, but there is solace in the premium beer segment, a new report from research firm IBISWorld says.

Yihaodian: A wine gateway to China?

29-May-2012

Chinese online supermarket giant, Yihaodian, is set to launch wines from New Zealand, France and the US on its site – offering a complete business solution for new international entrants, according to a market expert.

India alcohol limits drafted

28-May-2012 By Ankush Chibber

India’s top food regulator has drafted regulations for alcohol content in beer, wine and spirits sold in the country, a move that has ruffled feathers in the local liquor manufacturing industry.

Australia-Malaysia sign food trade accord

25-May-2012 By Ankush Chibber

A free trade agreement between Australia and Malaysia will open a robust corridor for food trade between the two countries, experts say.

Young India takes to vodka

22-May-2012 By Ankush Chibber

The white spirits segment in India is easily outstripping other liquor segments on the back of increased consumption of vodka among the country’s increasing youthful population.

Australia embraces healthy drinks and snacks: Report

09-May-2012 By Ankush Chibber

The consumption of soft drinks and confectionery is estimated to be falling due to health concerns in Australia, while healthy offerings are seeing growing demand.

China halts production at chlorine contamination Coca-Cola bottling plant

02-May-2012 By Mark Astley

Chinese authorities have ordered a temporary end to production at a Coca-Cola bottling plant over production line “problems” - just weeks after confirming the safety of beverage products from the plant.

Sulphite safe foods in Australia?

30-Apr-2012 By Kacey Culliney

‘Nearly all’ Australian foods comply with authorised sulphite levels and this data will be used to compile dietary exposure estimates for Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

Tea to be made national drink of India

23-Apr-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Tea will be affirmed as the national drink of India within 12 months, a government official has said – a move that should benefit beleaguered local growers.

Japan’s beverage and ice cream firms invest to avoid summer meltdown

17-Apr-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Beverage and ice cream manufacturers are investing in power alternatives at Japanese facilities, as the tentative electricity network will not see a major uptick this summer.

Fenchem’s fish collagen targets Southeast Asia’s health market

16-Apr-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Fenchem has launched its hydrolyzed fish collagen in the Southeast Asian market, to target the growing demand for health drinks and supplements in the region.

India sugar is pesticide free, says study

12-Apr-2012 By Ankush Chibber

The pesticide food safety issue that has tainted India’s sugar market for more than a decade has been cleared in the wake of a study suggesting India-produced sugar is pesticide free.

Givaudan: flavoursome in China and Japan

12-Apr-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Givaudan’s sturdy presence in China and Japan has helped secure strong Q1 results for its flavour division; with a 9.4% sales increase in Asia Pacific markets.

Spirit brands need to enter India at local level first: Rabobank

06-Apr-2012 By Kacey Culliney

International spirit brands looking to gain traction in the Indian market need to establish a strong local hold and portfolio, perhaps through a partnership, before introducing premium products to market, according to Rabobank.

Australian grocers reject health claim proposals

05-Apr-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Australia’s biggest food trade group has rejected in its entirety, proposed nutrition and health claim regulations.

Indian state charges Red Bull over caffeine content; court battle looms

02-Apr-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Austrian energy drink leader Red Bull Gmbh has run into rough weather in India with a state level food regulator, which claims to have confiscated 1.6 million cans of the drink over caffeine content.

PepsiCo strikes innovation alliance with Chinese beverage firm

02-Apr-2012 By Kacey Culliney

PepsiCo has formed an alliance with local beverage giant, Tingyi-Asahi Beverages, in a bid to extend its reach and increase traction in China.

Chinese want additive-free drinks; beverage makers not obliging, says report

29-Mar-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Chinese consumers are embracing healthier alternatives of carbonated soft drinks, but beverage manufacturers are being very slow to respond to this changing trend, a new report by UK market research firm Mintel shows.

China food market entry: Traditional routes best avoided

27-Mar-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Going online in China is a cost-effective, viable alternative for food and beverage brands entering the country amid sky-high entry costs and structural inefficiencies in traditional retailers, according to a new report.

Taiwan additive maker sentenced to 13 years for toxic plasticisers

20-Mar-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Taiwan’s High Court has sentenced the owner of a food additive company to 13 years in prison and his wife to 11 years for mixing toxic plasticisers into clouding agents which they allegedly then sold onto various local food and beverage manufacturers,...

Nestlé invests S$5.5m to drive product development in Singapore

20-Mar-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Nestlé will invest S$5.5m in its Singapore R&D centre to expand activities in development of products such as coffee mixes and malted beverages for both the Asian and global markets.

Coca-Cola Japan to ‘cultivate new product category’ with Latino tea product

19-Mar-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Coca-Cola has been driving growth across Japan in 2011 with NPDs and expanded distribution channels; its latest tea product is set to carve an entirely new product category in the local market, the company said.

‘No tea please, we’re British’; UK sales droop frustrates Indian growers

08-Mar-2012 By Ankush Chibber

The Indian tea industry is facing a major challenge after data revealed the UK market for tea would shrink over the next five years.

Soy foods surging at a 6.4% CAGR in Asia Pacific

06-Mar-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Rapid development underpinned by large population bases in China, India, Indonesia and Korea is driving fast growth of soy foods in Asia Pacific, with an overall surge pegged at CAGR 6.4% for the region, according to a report.

Tea makers call for crisis cuppa with government

28-Feb-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Indian tea makers have sent an SOS to the central government after a prolonged period of market losses and estate closures with an aim to rejuvenate the industry.

Market opportunities as Indians trend away from milk

27-Feb-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Indians are slowly weaning themselves away from milk, which has long been the favoured drink of both urban and rural customers, a new survey has revealed.

PepsiCo bets big on digital brand building in India

23-Feb-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Digital marketing innovation and a strong, direct relationship with consumers is key to successful brand building and sales force in India, according to PepsiCo.