Confectionery

Unfavourable habits: Lebanese adults ate more sweets and snacks, less fruit and veg during lockdown

22-Sep-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Lebanese consumers had a lower intake of water, fruit, and vegetables, and a higher consumption of sweets and snacks during the COVID-19 lockdown, according to a new study.

Stellar production: South Korea’s CJ CheilJedang, Hite Jinro and Nongshim top national list for food manufacturing performance

21-Sep-2021 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government has named domestic food and beverage manufacturing giants CJ Cheiljedang, Hite Jinro and Nongshim as the 2020 national top performers in terms of food production, whilst celebrating an overall increase in output amid COVID-19...

India’s plant-based blow: FSSAI order to delist products with dairy terms to hit online AND offline sales

20-Sep-2021 By Pearly Neo

The plant-based industry in India is set for a further blow after it was confirmed the Food Safety and Standards Authority India’s (FSSAI) recent order for online platforms to delist all plant-based products using dairy terms will apply to products being...

Lick and light: How one Indian firm has created a glow-in-the-dark ice cream and lollipop with jellyfish protein

16-Sep-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

India-based firm Rexofa Food Technology has developed a bioluminescence ice cream and lollipop that glows-in-the-dark when licked.

The Pantone of flavours: Taste-based profiling tech vows to redefine flavour industry and boost NPD

16-Sep-2021 By Pearly Neo

A food tech firm making advances in Asia is aiming to redefine the flavour industry by focusing on taste as a never-before-used parameter, which has enormous potential to help food and beverage manufacturers boost product development and productivity...

Big slim pickings: South Korea’s plant-based sector flourishing thanks to ‘weight-loss’ concerns

14-Sep-2021 By Pearly Neo

South Korean plant-based firm The PlantEat has highlighted the pursuit of weight loss, especially amongst the younger generation in the country, as a major driver behind the growth of the local plant-based sector.

‘Matchless versatility’: Why palm oil’s widespread prevalence in Asian food industry makes it irreplaceable for now

13-Sep-2021 By Pearly Neo

The use of palm oil in the Asian food industry has become so vast and commonplace due to its versatile applications in just about every finished food sector that it will be near-impossible to find another edible oil offering all of palm oil’s functionalities,...

Iran school food scandal: More than half of products do not comply with national and regional standards

08-Sep-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

A large proportion of foods and beverages sold in school canteens in Iran do not comply with both national and regional guidelines.

‘Speed is everything’: Australian e-grocery looks to reinvent local e-commerce with 20-minute delivery promise

08-Sep-2021 By Pearly Neo

Australian online supermarket Geezy Go has big ambitions to reinvent local e-commerce in the country by committing to deliveries within 20 minutes or less, whilst also offering consumers the same product range as conventional supermarkets at more competitive...

Post-COVID-19 export challenges: Freight and marketing the biggest hurdles for food firms exporting into ASEAN

06-Sep-2021 By Pearly Neo

Freight costs and marketing challenges have emerged as two of the most major trade hurdles for food firms exporting to the ASEAN market as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with businesses advised to be extra cautious when selecting on-the-ground distribution...

Middle East Focus: IBFI's Star Signature premium soda, Emirati Coffee retail, food safety in Egypt and more feature in our round-up

31-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

IBFI's Star Signature premium soda, Emirati Coffee retail, food safety in Egypt and more feature in this edition of Middle East Focus

‘Per capita leader’: International food firms targeting South Korea’s booming e-commerce sector urged to localise

31-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

Foreign food companies looking to benefit from South Korea’s e-commerce boom are being advised to prioritise localisation to maximise reach, with the nation’s per capita online transactions having been revealed as the highest worldwide.

‘360-degree view’: Mars Australia taps predictive tech to accelerate post-COVID consumer understanding and NPD

31-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

Mars Australia has stepped up its use of predictive technology and big data to boost its understanding of post-COVID-19 consumer purchasing behaviour, as well as accelerate its new product development and innovations.

‘Voting with wallets’: Fonterra CEO urges industry to wise up to sustainability demands or consumers will walk away

30-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

Consumers across the food and beverage landscape will simply walk away from brands that merely pay lip service to sustainability concerns, argues Fonterra’s APAC CEO, who believes that many are already ‘voting with their wallets’.

Date to remember: New retail strategy drives Al Barakah Dates Factory to record annual performance amid pandemic

25-Aug-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

The UAE’s Al Barakah Dates Factory has achieved a record year thanks to a new retail strategy, with sales up by 30% amid the pandemic.

ASEAN ‘incredibly important’ to Nestle: Upcycling and plant-based innovation main areas of focus in upgraded R&D centre

25-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

Nestle has revealed that its newly-upgraded R&D centre in Singapore will place heavy focus on areas such as food upcycling and plant-based innovation, while also announcing the launch of a new ASEAN-specific R&D Accelerator.

Sustainability

Rainforest Alliance holds strong for cocoa farmers hit by the pandemic

23-Aug-2021 By Anthony Myers

Its latest report highlights the new 2020 Rainforest Alliance certification programme (which has replaced former Rainforest Alliance and UTZ programmes since July 2021), the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has worked to transform the cocoa...

FNA DEEP DIVE: FOOD SAFETY

Post-pandemic food safety: Mars, UN and Singapore government-backed body on strategies for success

20-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

From genomics to big data, and handheld devices to artificial intelligence, the food industry is awash with new innovations to improve food safety, as the sector seeks to assuage heightened consumer concerns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Angel Yeast spreading its wings: China firm expanding via acquisitions and production investment

10-Aug-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

China yeast firm Angel Yeast is investing heavily in acquisitions and production as it attempts to seal its position as Asia’s largest yeast company.

Keep up: Novel food innovation outpacing regulatory frameworks and consumer communication

10-Aug-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Novel food product development is rapidly outpacing regulation and consumer understanding, with experts calling for better communication and policy advances to ensure innovation leads to commercialisation.

‘New Northern’ targets: South Korea sets sights on Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan after record rise in food exports

10-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

South Korea has expanded its key food export target destinations to include ‘New Northern’ countries such as Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan after seeing record-setting sales of both fresh and processed food exports take off in the region.

Cost benefits not cutting through: Australians still not switching to healthier diets despite price benefits

09-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

Australian consumers are not shifting to more healthy diets, even when it is cheaper to do so, with a lack of time and ‘unhealthy food promotions’ the two main obstacles.

Beyond China and India: Malaysian palm oil industry seeks to broaden export opportunities – MPOC exclusive part 1

09-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

The new leadership team at the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has revealed plans to increase industry engagement as well as diversify the country’s major export markets beyond China and India.

Healthier Choices: Plant-based and meat hybrid products, healthy snacking in Asia, China's first plant-based yoghurt brand and more feature in our round-up

05-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

Plant-based and meat hybrid products, healthy snacking in Asia, China's first plant-based yoghurt brand and more feature in this edition of Healthier Choices.

‘Triple win’: Why the Japanese government is pushing organic food and manufacturing modernisation with AI

03-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

The Japanese government’s new sustainability strategy has highlighted organic food production and increasing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost manufacturing productivity as major strategies to tackle its ageing workforce issue and hit its...

NZ’s grocery duopoly at risk: Commerce commission report and industry body back new retailer entry

03-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

The New Zealand food and grocery industry has voiced its support for the potential entry of foreign supermarkets to break up the current local retail duopoly held by Foodstuffs and Countdown as suggested by a new Commerce Commission grocery sector report.

Egypt listeria testing: Bacteria most commonly detected in meat, fish, sausages and milk

02-Aug-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Listeria monocytogenes was most commonly detected in minced meat, fish fillet, sausage and raw milk, according to a test of 250 food samples collected from the Menoufiya governorate in Egypt.

‘Difficult economic environment’: Nestle sees slower growth in APAC despite positive China, India results

02-Aug-2021 By Pearly Neo

Nestle’s recent half-year financial results report revealed slower growth in APAC compared to its other operating regions due to continuing economic difficulties and likely local struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Go digital or go home: Why Middle East F&B firms must hasten tech transformation to compete for post-COVID-19 growth

28-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

Food and beverage manufacturing firms in the Middle East have been urged by a panel of experts to upgrade their digital capabilities post-haste in the wake of increased industry challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic or risk falling out of the...

Sustainability Snippets: ASEAN-EU palm oil sustainability debate, Nestle Waters' new pledge, Australia meat carbon neutrality and more feature in our round-up

28-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

The ASEAN-EU palm oil sustainability debate, Nestle Waters' new commitment, Australia's meat carbon neutrality and more feature in this edition of Sustainability Snippets.

‘Balancing nutrition and enjoyment’: Nestle Indonesia highlights fortification and reformulation efforts after ‘unhealthy’ food scandal

27-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

Nestle Indonesia has responded to the recent controversy that 60% of its global portfolio is made up of ‘unhealthy’ foods, stressing that reformulation and fortification are key priorities as it seeks to balance ‘nutrition and enjoyment’.

Double or decline: Innovation critical as Australia’s food manufacturing sector arrives at crucial crossroads

21-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

Australia needs to make policy and investment adjustments to prioritise new product development, sustainable packaging and digitalisation in the food and grocery manufacturing to secure growth – otherwise it faces stagnation or decline by 2030.

Plant-based innovation in Asia: Localisation, health, taste and affordability top drivers of industry growth and evolution – Growth Asia panel

19-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

Product localisation, health, taste and affordability have been identified to be amongst the top drivers behind rapid innovation and sector growth for the plant-based industry in Asia, but sustainability must also not be forgotten as its importance continues...

COVID-washing fightback: New Zealand food industry slams ‘weak’ academic accusations

14-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

The New Zealand food and grocery industry has lashed out against academic claims that the sector has heavily engaged in ‘COVID-washing’, or used the pandemic to promote ‘unhealthy’ products, calling this an example of ‘confirmation bias’ and ‘not based...

Looking inwards: COVID-19 driving Japanese consumers and food firms to prioritise local products – Government data

12-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

Japanese consumers and food firms have gained an increased appreciation for local food products and raw materials as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with many more looking to ‘support local’ although there are still multiple challenges to be overcome,...

One-stop food and nutrition database: South Korea to establish multi-ministerial information platform to compile ‘scattered’ data

08-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

Multiple South Korean ministries dealing with food, nutrition and education are seeking to reduce business and consumer confusion be establishing a one-stop information service platform to bring together relevant data currently ‘scattered’ across each...

Healthier Choices: Healthy snacks to avoid 'Covibesity', better-for-you dessert success and the rise of regenerative foods feature in our round-up

07-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

News on the rise of the current healthy snacking trend to avoid 'Covibesity', better-for-you dessert success and the rise of regenerative foods feature in the first-ever edition of Healthier Choices.

Local is focal: Australian consumer preference for domestic, trustworthy products going strong - Drakes Supermarkets bosses

07-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

Australian consumers’ appetites for domestic, trustworthy brands is at an all-time high due to COVID-19 and is not expected to disperse any time soon, according to the heads of Australia’s largest independent grocery store Drakes Supermarkets.

‘Complex’ trade unravelled: South Korean F&B firms strike it big as EU accepts local bakery, confectionery and processed dairy goods

06-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

South Korean food and beverage firms have just had a massive new market open up to them after trade discussions between the government and the European Union (EU) led to all 27 EU countries accepting ‘complex food’ imports from South Korea such as bread,...

Gelato growing globally despite pandemic

05-Jul-2021 By Jim Cornall

Asia and North America are the new frontiers of artisan gelato, according to the Observatory run by SIGEP (Italian Exhibition Group’s International expo of Artisan Gelato, Pastry and Bakery and the coffee world).

WATCH: Protein ice cream pioneers LightWhey unveils significant retail expansion in UAE, plans to enter 1,000 outlets

30-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

The UAE’s first protein ice cream brand, LightWhey, is targeting listings in in 1,000 retail outlets in the country by the end of this year.

Organic RoboCop: South Korea warns ‘eco-friendly’ food firms that new robotic authentication scheme is ready to roll

30-Jun-2021 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government has warned organic food firms and sellers to ensure the authenticity of product claims made online as a new robotic authentication system will be rolled out in July to intensify fraud detection, and severe penalties lie in...

NZ’s LILO aiming high to tackle food waste with plant-based cheesecake range

24-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

New Zealand start-up LILO Desserts is gearing up to launch its plant-based cheesecake range in the country this September, and is also eyeing Hong Kong and Singapore as its first export markets.

‘Next frontier of growth’: Increased spend and consumer loyalty driving Aussie supermarkets’ investment in e-commerce

23-Jun-2021 By Pearly Neo

Australian retail giants such as Coles and Woolworths are placing increased importance on developing previously sluggish e-commerce operations in the hope of capturing consumer loyalty to cement future growth.

Post-pandemic supply chains: Collaborative and tech-focused strategies only way forward for Australia’s F&B logistics

22-Jun-2021 By Pearly Neo

Australian food and beverage firms will need to snap out of pre-COVID-19 thought processes when it comes to supply chains and logistics and embrace more collaborative and tech-focused strategies, according to an industry expert.

Fear of ‘Covibesity’: Emergence of snacking trend in APAC boon for fruit-based, wellbeing-focused products

21-Jun-2021 By Pearly Neo

Afternoon snacking has emerged as a rising trend in the Asia Pacific region driven by pandemic-induced habits, which is in turn acting as a boon for healthier snack options with consumers are increasingly wary of COVID-linked obesity or ‘Covibesity’.

‘Fund of Funds’: South Korea zeroes in on food system sustainability and digitalisation with US$70m scheme

16-Jun-2021 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government has poured in an investment over US$70mn to create a new ‘Fund of Funds’ aimed at boosting sustainability and digitalisation across the nation’s food system.

Post-pandemic look: Hygiene standards, at-home experiences and vegan trend will form the future of China and India’s F&B industry

14-Jun-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Hygiene standards, at-home experiences and the vegan and healthy trend are expected to form the post-pandemic future of the food and beverage industry in two of the world’s largest economies, China and India.

Mars discusses the future of food safety: ‘We have a responsibility to help solve critical global food safety challenges’

07-Jun-2021 By Katy Askew

Food safety is a business-critical issue. People worry about food safety and security as much as global warming, pollution and poverty, research from confectionery giant Mars reveals. FoodNavigator hears from Dr Guangtao Zhang, director of the Mars Global...

Food loss in Japan: Manufacturing sector highlighted as highest contributor as government urges consumers to buy ‘from the front’

02-Jun-2021 By Pearly Neo

Japan’s food manufacturing sector has been highlighted as the highest contributor to food loss in the country as the government announced its lowest-ever figure of six million tonnes, whilst urging consumers to do more by buying products ‘from the front’...