Confectionery

Sustainability amid volatility: Nestle Malaysia pushes energy, packaging and plant-based progress despite economic uncertainty

20-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

Nestle Malaysia has vowed to continue its progress in environmental and business sustainability areas such as renewable energy, recyclable packaging and plant-based product innovation even amidst current global economic instability.

‘Collective effort needed’: Cultural and behavioural challenges major hurdles for UAE national project

15-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

The National Food Loss and Waste Initiative (Ne’ma) backed by the United Arab Emirates government still faces immense challenges in the form of cultural practices and consumer behaviour as it seeks to halve food loss and waste.

High-tech inspections: South Korea deploys AI in national food imports plan to boost safety

14-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government has announced a new food imports plan to be enforced in 2023 which will involve the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve its monitoring and inspections processes.

Post-pandemic bounceback: Protein and snacks lead robust business growth for Agthia despite economic challenges

07-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

Middle Eastern food and beverage giant Agthia has recovered strongly from the impacts of COVID-19 on the region, with its protein and snacking businesses both seeing over 70% growth in the past year despite ongoing economic challenges.

What is palm oil sustainability? Forget premiumisation and complex certifications say experts

06-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

The age-old ideas that palm oil sustainability must involve complex certification processes and premium price points needs to be scrapped in order to truly achieve sustainable goals throughout the entire value chain, according to industry experts

Standing strong: Nestle’s affordable products strategy boosts emerging market growth

21-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

Nestle’s strategy to focus on product affordability and accessibility appears to have paid off in 2022, with the firm seeing more significant growth from its business in emerging markets even amid inflationary and economic turbulence.

Hemp at the helm: Hemp Foods Australia unveils expansion strategies to make products mainstream

20-Feb-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Hemp Foods Australia hopes to create higher value products in the functional food space, as well as targets expansion in New Zealand, Japan, and the United States.

‘No place in food’: Egypt food safety authority vows to hit WHO trans fats guidelines within 12 months

14-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

The Egyptian food safety authority has committed that the local food supply will hit World Health Organisation (WHO) trans fats guidelines within 12 months, claiming its recent policy changes will finally take it off the global high-consumption list.

‘Gateway to Asia’: Future Food Asia 2023 seeks to attract international food firms to accelerate regional innovation

13-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

Organisers of the Future Food Asia (FFA) Awards 2023 have revealed a whole new awards track targeting start-ups based outside APAC, hoping that this will bring more expertise and technologies into the region.

Safe for second use: South Korea approves recycled PET as material for new food and beverage containers

08-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

South Korea has given the nod for recycled PET plastic to be used as a material to make new food and beverage containers as part of its national sustainability strategy, citing work by international brands such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo as an inspiration.

Food in the Metaverse: Why APAC F&B brands need to keep up with Web 3.0 to accelerate growth

07-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

Food and beverage brands in the Asia Pacific region would do well to stay up-to-date with worldwide Web 3.0 transformations to accelerate business growth, especially when it comes to capturing younger consumers in the Metaverse.

Cost of living strategy: Mondelez weighs up promotions and affordability as consumers feel the squeeze

01-Feb-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Mondelez is seeing markedly diverse behaviours among consumers on tight budgets, and says it is weighing up more promotions on big packs and pushing low-unit price packs.

Down in the dumplings: Korean diets dominated by flour-based and red meat products linked to greater risk of NAFLD

31-Jan-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Koreans who consume diets dominated by noodles, dumplings and red meat have a significantly higher risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compared to those who eat more vegetables, fish and soy products, new data from almost 45,000 people aged...

Nutritional navigation: UAE eyes ‘virtual elimination’ of trans fats and sets ambitious salt reduction targets

26-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has announced implementation guidelines for its National Nutrition Strategy 2022 – 2030, eyeing the ‘virtual elimination’ of trans fats in the local food supply as well as a 30% reduction in consumers’ average...

Expanding horizons: Mondelez says experiential and digital marketing crucial for confectionery travel retail growth

25-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Snacking giant Mondelez believes that increased focus needs to be placed on improving the experiential and digital marketing of travel retail confectionery in the APAC region and beyond in order to boost category growth.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EP 38

Innocent innovation: How better-for-you confectionery is shifting candies out of the ‘guilty’ indulgence space

25-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

The rise of new ingredients and innovations in the better-for-you confectionery space is shifting candies and other sweet treats into a guilt-free indulgence space, and has to the potential to progress further into the functional foods realm.

Fit for purpose? Australia launches grocery code review amid effectiveness concerns

24-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Australia recently launched a public consultation as a first step towards reviewing its Food and Grocery Code of Conduct following increasing concerns over its effectiveness and ability to resolve disputes between suppliers and retailers.

Danone to cut methane by 30% by 2030 through regenerative farming, feed innovation

17-Jan-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The French dairy giant has become the world’s first food company to make a methane-specific climate pledge - but questions remain around how this ambition could be realized.

Paper power: Nestle moves plastic reduction ambitions one step closer to APAC region with Australia pilot

16-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Nestle has moved one step closer towards its ambitions to reduce plastic packaging in the APAC region with its latest announcement of a paper packaging trial for chocolate in Australia, though its suitability for Asia’s hot and humid climate still remains...

Low sugar, higher calcium: Demand for tasty, healthier treats inspire chocolate innovation at Tatgu

12-Jan-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore chocolate firm Tatgu used the pandemic to press ahead with innovation across its low-sugar and -GI, and high-calcium product ranges, as it seeks to meet soaring demand for better-for-you treats.

Guilt-free gummies: Funday highlights gut-friendly formulation and single-serve packaging as major success factors

12-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Australian guilt-free confectionary firm Funday has highlighted its unique gut-friendly ingredient formulation as well as its one-bag-one-serve packaging as major success factors after entering 3,000 retail outlets in the region.

Kerry Group to offload Sweet Ingredients business in £443m deal

11-Jan-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Kerry Group has announced plans to sell the trade and assets of its Sweet Ingredients Portfolio to IRCA for a consideration of €500m (£443m).

Frozen

Reese’s moves into ice cream with seven new candy combos

11-Jan-2023 By Anthony Myers

Reese’s has announced it is debuting seven new chocolate and peanut combos this month as frozen treats for the North American market in a partnership with Unilever.

ASEAN food sector outlook 2023: Post-COVID-19 growth in Indonesia, Vietnam dampened by food security and inflation woes

11-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Many South East Asian countries remain cautious and concerned over food insecurity and rising inflationary costs despite having seen stellar post-COVID-19 growth in multiple food categories.

Combo craze: ‘Contradictory’ flavour combinations rising in popularity among younger APAC consumers

10-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Younger consumers in APAC are increasingly seeking out food and beverage products that offer a combination of ‘contradictory’ flavours, according to experts in the region.

Returning to normality? China ramps up relaxation of COVID-19 food testing and tariffs

10-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

China is ramping up its efforts to move past the immense impacts COVID-19 has had on the country over the past three years, including removing all requirements for nucleic acid testing on frozen food imports and reducing tariffs.

Marketing

M&M'S female ‘spokescandies’ Green, Brown and Purple flip the status quo for International Women's Day

09-Jan-2023 By Anthony Myers

Mars has announced its M&M'S brand will release a limited edition all-female pack of candies to celebrate International Women's Day on Wednesday, March 8.

Expiration experimentation: South Korea embarks on nationwide project to set ‘use-by’ dates for food and beverage products

03-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government is implementing a nationwide project to set ‘use-by’ dates for some 2,000 food and beverage items, in its latest move in an attempt to cut national food waste.

Thailand’s Halal 4.0 journey: Tech and blockchain to play crucial role in ensuring product integrity

20-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

The halal food and beverage sector in Thailand is ramping up its use of technology as a crucial tool to achieve ‘Halal Integrity’, and hopes to establish a halal blockchain platform within the next few years.

‘No more wasteful gimmicks’: China issues strict constraints for fruit, meat, egg and seafood packaging

14-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Chinese government has launched strict draft standards to govern excessive food packaging in the country covering fruit, meat, egg and seafood products, allowing public comments on these until January 2023.

GM food in India: Debate reignited after food security and trade concerns drive government to assess rules

14-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Indian government appears to be softening its stance as ‘no-GMO’ country in light of ongoing food security and trade disputes – sparking fresh debate in the country.

RSPO RT2022

‘Ownership still lacking’: FMCG brands need to step up public support of sustainable palm oil – RSPO leadership

12-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

FMCG food and beverage brands making popular consumer products need to step up and publicly support sustainable palm oil in order to make a real impact in the sector, according to leaders of the RSPO.

Pride and palm oil: PepsiCo calls for big brand sustainability involvement to attract smallholder producers

05-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

Food giant PepsiCo believes that the involvement of major food and beverage brands in palm oil sustainability initiatives is crucial to attract smallholder producers and make a bigger impact.

‘Making it happen’: NZ industry says new grocery competition bill is ‘concrete step’ towards fairness

01-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

The New Zealand food and grocery sector has voiced wholehearted support for the government’s announcement of a new legislative bill addressing unfair competition in the local grocery sector, which was previously dominated by a duopoly of major retailers.

Mitigating ‘business risk’: Nestle expands APAC sustainability initiatives with regenerative projects in Australia

22-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Nestle has highlighted its Australian business as the next major market to implement its sustainability plans in the APAC region, with a focus on regeneration and carbon footprint reduction.

‘Not a shiny new toy’: How ofi’s new Singapore site will lead to ‘holy grail’ localised innovation

22-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Localisation strategies are crucial in order to achieve the ‘holy grail’ of food innovation in the Asia Pacific region, by combining health, taste and convenience, according to Olam outfit ofi.

Safety over shelf-life: Thai consumer concerns over long expiry dates driving demand for clean label ingredients

16-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Rising awareness amongst Thai consumers regarding the potential unhealthy connotations associated with long expiry dates is a key factor driving up the demand for clean label food ingredients in the country, according to leading industry experts.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 37

Cleaning up snack foods: Big brand interest in cleaner and healthier options paving path for leaf protein sector

16-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The interest in cleaner and better-for-you snacks shown by big food and beverage brands, including Mondelez, Nestle and Vitasoy, is paving the way for a new specialised area of plant-based proteins to enter the market, namely the RuBisCo leaf protein.

Organic observance: Japan tightens regulations for food imports and certification label sizing

15-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Japanese government has implemented tighter regulations for organic food imports, with firms required to appoint specific personnel and use standard organic certification labels to avoid being rejected.

Trans-fat fight: Philippines to ban all prepackaged processed foods with high trans-fat levels by 2023

14-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Philippines government has announced a ban on all prepackaged processed foods containing high trans-fats levels as part of its objective to completely eliminate their presence by 2023.

COP27 climate smart food initiative accused of greenwashing as partners pledge increased investment in innovation

11-Nov-2022 By Katy Askew

The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) partners have pledged to ramp up their investment in climate smart food systems ahead of Agriculture Day at COP27. But for critics the US$8bn on the table doesn't go nearly far enough...

Cannabis commotion: Thailand tightens use of hemp and CBD in foods three months after decriminalisation

07-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Thai government has announced new regulatory edicts specifying tighter regulatory control over the use of hemp and CBD in food and seasonings, just three months after announcing the decriminalisation of cannabis in the country.

Paradoxical pressures: APAC consumers demanding both food indulgence and cost-savings

03-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Both indulgence and affordability are emerging as major APAC consumer demands for food and beverages today, leaving a manufacturers with a paradoxical challenge that can only be solved using innovation.

Limited access: Indonesia drafts new risk-based rules for imported processed foods

02-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Indonesia has decided to push ahead with plans to tighten regulations governing imported processed foods by introducing a risk-based assessment system.

Growth Asia Summit 2022

Proof and pride: Science-backed ingredients and sensitive marketing key for healthy ageing success in Asia

02-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The scientific validation of ingredients and sensitive marketing strategies are key for brands to drive repeat purchases in Asia’s thriving healthy ageing category, according to an expert panel at our Growth Asia Summit 2022.

FNA INNOVATE: CHILDREN’S SNACKS

Keeping kids keen: Growth in India’s children’s snacking market driven by convenience, health and safety

01-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Convenience for parents and guaranteed food safety for children are the primary drivers of growth for the kids’ snacking market in India today, with the category evolving to become an increasingly important dietary occasion in the country.

‘Tough conditions’: Nestle Malaysia predicts continued challenges as economic woes hit Q3 profits

31-Oct-2022 By Pearly Neo

Nestle Malaysia saw its profits for the third quarter take a hit year-on-year due to rising commodity costs and poor exchange rates, with firm predicting that this challenging situation will not abate any time soon.

Brand New: Thai Union, Suntory, Nestle India and more big names feature in our round-up

28-Oct-2022 By Pearly Neo

Thai Union, Suntory, Nestle India and more big names feature in this edition of Brand New.

Beyond just a trend: Policy measures further pushing Asian food colouring sector towards natural

27-Oct-2022 By Pearly Neo

Regulatory pressure from Asian governments will drive food and beverage firms to use natural colours, with it rapidly becoming less of a trend and more of a necessity.

F&B TRAILBLAZERS PODCAST EPISODE 36

Hitting the sweet spot: How sugar-replacement start-up will maintain brand focus after conglomerate merger

26-Oct-2022 By Pearly Neo

Ensuring that brand focus is maintained after joining a larger company is crucial to sustain and boost growth, according to sugar replacement start-up Swiftlet which has become part of Vietnamese conglomerate Senix Health Group.