Convenience foods and snacks

Driving transformation: PepsiCo expands healthy portfolio, ramps up innovations to meet global nutrition needs

25-Jul-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Food and beverage giant PepsiCo says it is continuously improving the nutrient density of products and expanding its better-for-you portfolio based on a strategy that it says is aligned with both global and local dietary guidelines.

Localisation landslide: Ritter Sport zooms in on APAC consumer flavour and festivity popularity to enhance relevance

24-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Ritter Sport has zoomed in on APAC consumer preferences for its fruity yoghurt flavours as well as demand aligned with cultural festivities to create newseveral product lines.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 51

‘Not all protein is made the same’: Mamame touts nutritional benefits of black-eyed beans to boost healthy snacking

24-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Tempeh chips brand Mamame has highlighted the multiple nutritional benefits of black-eyed beans as a key factor behind its success in the APAC healthy snacking sector, fuelling its upcoming growth into the UK and US markets as well.

Feeding with GUSTO: New data indicates need for much better diet quality amongst Singapore children – Growth Asia Summit 2024

24-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

New data from one of Singapore’s largest child-focused studies has indicated that there is ‘much room for improvement’ in the diet quality of children to prevent them suffering from negative health and cognition issues in the long run.

Nurturing novelty: Samyang, CJ and more MNCs join South Korean project tapping big brand networks to export SME innovations

23-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Samyang, CJ Cheiljedang, GS25 and more large South Korean corporations have joined a government initiative to boost SME food exports and distribution channels.

No ‘new’ bugs: Singapore Food Agency emphasises food safety and labelling transparency in new Insect Regulatory Framework

22-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has emphasised that its recent announcement to allow insect imports for human consumption is underscored by food safety and transparent labelling regulatory requirements to ensure smooth integration of this nascent sector.

'Better than popcorn': Singapore start-up taps wellness trends and markets fox nuts as next go-to snack

18-Jul-2024 By Audrey Yow

Singapore start-up Strictly Nuts is hoping to convince consumers that fox nuts are versatile go-to snacks for all ages, with a focus on heath and versatility to grow its reach in the market.

Longer-lasting: South Korea launches new database and guidance values to refine expiration dates system

17-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government has refined its new expiration dates system with the launch of a new database that is equipped with a search function and specific guidance on ‘use-by’ timeframes for processed foods.

South Korea’s Harim releases protein-focused RTH products and snacks to ride 'healthy pleasure' trend

16-Jul-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

South Korean brand Harim seeks to meet growing consumer demand for protein-rich products in the country with a new cookie range and ready-to-heat chicken breasts seasoned with popular local flavours.

Export adventures: Thailand’s MAMA targets overseas instant noodle markets with local flavours and premium positioning

15-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Thailand instant noodle giant MAMA is setting its sights on export market consumers with its new Thai ConNext range, which focuses on fusing ‘very Thai’ flavours with a premium positioning.

K-food strategy: CJ CheilJedang’s bibigo debuts ready-to-heat rice rolls in Australia on the back of sales growth

15-Jul-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

CJ CheilJedang’s food brand bibigo recently introduced its frozen rice rolls in supermarket chain Woolworths in Australia, a market where the firm is reaping significant sales growth.

Bureaucratic bungle: EU deforestation regs face postponement pressures amid ‘urgent’ commodity trade concerns

15-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is undergoing further pressure – this time from within its own Parliament – to postpone implementation as an ‘urgent’ matter, with concerns looming over key trade commodities such as palm oil and cocoa.

Baby steps: Ajishoya looks to train healthier children’s palates with new product lines

09-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Malaysia-based children’s food brand Ajishoya believes that it is key to train children to cultivate healthier palates from a formative age in order to develop healthier diets later, and has launched various new product lines to aid parents towards this...

Forever young? PepsiCo China on how localisation and indulgence appeals to younger snack consumers

09-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

PepsiCo China has revealed its snacking strategies based on localisation and indulgence that have successfully captured and retained the interest of younger local consumers in the market.

Tilapia tales: Singapore’s Aqua Gold banks on valorisation and clean label trends to launch new furikake brand

08-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Singapore-based Aqua Gold believes that rising interest in food products that can meet the elements of nutrition, valorisation and clean label have laid out a strong foundation for the success of its new furikake brand O.NILO.

Salt-free strategy: Heartful Flavours on a mission to reduce sodium levels with innovative Asian staples range

03-Jul-2024 By Audrey Yow

Australian-based start-up Heartful Flavours is on a mission to educate consumers that their taste buds can get used to less salt, as it ramps up promotion of its salt-free Asian staples.

Chasing China: Ferrero says freshness and flavours key to ensure lasting power for chocolate brands

02-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Chocolate giant Ferrero believes that freshness and flavour variety are key factors for chocolate brands to ensure lasting power in the China market, with product innovations needing to be both diverse and unique.

Affordable - but not ‘cheap’: Thai consumers’ demand for value spells big opportunities for private label products

02-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Consumers in Thailand have been found to be among the most inclined in the ASEAN region to seek out affordable products but still focus on value, driving a strong demand for ‘stacked benefits’ innovation and spelling major opportunities for local private...

Advertising accuracy: South Korea drills down on stricter food product labelling laws to avoid ‘deceptive’ claims

01-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has announced new, stricter regulations governing food product labelling, specifically prohibiting links to various types of herbal medicines and other health or nutritional claims.

Malaysian yoghurt leader Sunglo sets sights on neighbouring markets in SEA for its first overseas expansion

26-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Malaysia-based yoghurt brand Sunglo is looking to expand overseas after leading the category in its domestic market for the past 40 years, with South East Asian countries being its main target markets.

FNA DEEP DIVE: FRUIT-BASED INNOVATION

Fruity future: Thai Coconut, TipCo, Zespri and more on the evolution of fruit-based innovation in APAC

26-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

Fruit-based product innovation and consumption formats in APAC are evolving far beyond conventional use, with innovation spanning bakery products to alternative seafood, according to industry experts.

SAMBAZON eyes growth opportunities for açaí products in Middle East

24-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

US-based SAMBAZON is looking to expand uptake of açaí products in the Middle East, where the firm says awareness about the superfruit still has much room for growth.

Raising the bar: The Brooklyn Creamery adds protein ice cream bars to portfolio amid rising demand for fortified options

24-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

The Brooklyn Creamery has launched a range of protein ice cream bars in its domestic market and the UAE, where it is leveraging its partnership with a quick-commerce platform to meet growing consumer demand for protein-rich desserts.

Mixing it up: Loacker highlights multi-pack formats as key travel retail sales driver for wafers sector in APAC

20-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

Confectionery heavyweight Loacker has highlighted the multi-pack, single serve format as a key driver for sales of its famous wafer products in the APAC region, banking on a growing demand for options catering to sharing and portion control.

APAC consumers increasingly seeking rich flavours, visual appeal and bite-sized formats in chocolate, cakes and confectionery – Cargill

19-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

An increasing number of consumers in Asia-Pacific desire an all-round experience when it comes to chocolate and confectionery, including rich flavours like caramel, visually appealing products, and “healthy indulgent” formats, says Cargill.

Fat for fitness: Smaller packs and keto options driving nut butter popularity in Asia

19-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

New Zealand nut butter specialist Forty Thieves believes that its flexibility in providing smaller packaging options as well as a dedicated keto range is driving growth across the region.

‘Use it - or be made to’: ANZ ministers gives food firms 17 months to hit Health Star Ratings targets

19-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

Food firms in Australia and New Zealand have been told that that if current 70% Health Star Rating uptake targets are not hit by November next year, it is likely to lead to mandatory implementation.

Biscuits burnout? Lotte to focus on new and premium product markets for growth in Asia

18-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

Biscuits heavyweight Lotte believes that it needs to increase its focus on markets out of its comfort zone in order to accelerate growth, particularly in Asia where the market for baked products is becoming increasingly saturated.

Job Creation Law challenges: Indonesia delays halal mandate for small food firms by two years in view of slow progress

17-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

The Indonesian government has announced a two-year postponement of its mandate for all food and beverage enterprises to be halal certified, originally set for this year, in view of governance changes and the slow progress being made.

Reaching more children: South Korea expands ‘healthy food corner’ project to convenience stores nationwide

13-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government is expanding its successful ‘healthy food corner’ project from major metropolitan areas to convenience stores nationwide in order to reach more young consumers.

Super snack: Mamame aims to provide allergen-free, better-tasting alternative to traditional tempeh chips

12-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Indonesia-based Mamame says that its tempeh chips are made without soybean and seed oils to overcome allergy concerns and taste issues of the traditional snack, in the hope of catering to consumers worldwide.

Beyond salted egg: Singapore’s IRVINS looks to diversify product flavours and categories amid continuous growth

11-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore-based IRVINS is looking to diversify its product flavours and formats beyond its best-known salted egg snacks, to further market expansion and business growth.

Sugar overload: Thai students exceeding WHO limits, researchers warn of chronic health issues

10-Jun-2024 By Audrey Yow

A majority of Thai students are consuming more added sugar than is recommended by the WHO, but researchers did not find a link with increased BMI.

Turning threat into opportunity: How Cargill is navigating the global cocoa crisis

10-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Global food corporation Cargill is leveraging its cocoa-sourcing networks in Asia and other business units to support customers in overcoming the cocoa supply shortage, and ensure consumers continue to have access to chocolate products.

‘Very different markets’: China’s immense protein needs continue to propel plant-based dairy demand – experts

04-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

China’s large population and enormous protein requirements has given the local plant-based dairy sector room to continue to grow in a ‘very different’ way from plant-based meat, according to local industry leader Yeyo.

Broadening horizons: China’s Yeyo looks to expand reach beyond Tier 1 cities with nationwide premium supermarket launch

04-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

Chinese coconut yoghurt brand Yeyo has set its sights on consumers in markets beyond its Tier 1 strongholds with a new nationwide launch in Ole, the largest premium supermarket chain in the country.

Evolving with the times: Singapore’s Gold Kili ventures into new coffee product format and healthier beverages

03-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore-based Gold Kili has launched a new product format for its coffee range and expanded into the thriving healthier beverage category, as part of the firm’s growth strategy.

Food marketing to kids: Member states urged to implement new ASEAN standards to ‘protect’ children

03-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

The ASEAN Secretariat’s newly-launched food marketing standards to ‘protect’ children have put mandatory marketing policies and the establishment of a classification system at the core of its strategy, calling on the 10 member states to put these into...

Dietary signals: Traffic light food labelling encourages healthier choices among Japanese students – RCT

03-Jun-2024 By Audrey Yow

Traffic light food labelling encouraged healthier food choices among Japanese college students, and now has the potential to be used nationwide, say researchers.

Final order: Philippines formalises new regulations requiring food firms to declare ‘sample’ foods entering the market

30-May-2024 By Pearly Neo

The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has formalised new regulations requiring food firms to obtain a new specific ‘Samples Only’ import permit for all products meant for research use after a year of deliberations.

Sustainability

Cocoa investors request major chocolate companies pay farmers more

28-May-2024 By Anthony Myers

An investor letter issued earlier this month by non-profit Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ) has called out international chocolate companies to end what it described as “exploitative purchasing practices,” mainly in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

Digital evolution: Agthia accelerates food safety and AI developments after strong Q1 financial performance

27-May-2024 By Pearly Neo

Middle Eastern food and beverage heavyweight Agthia has accelerated the development of its food safety and AI initiatives as part of the company’s digital roadmap, after strong financial performance in the first quarter.

Stopping single-use: Abu Dhabi to ban specific Styrofoam products from June 1

27-May-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Abu Dhabi is implementing a ban on various “avoidable” single-use Styrofoam consumer products, which will take effect from June 1, 2024.

Ramen rise: South Korea’s Nongshim makes big strides in boosting expansion in Middle East, Europe and US

27-May-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

South Korean food and beverage major Nongshim is intensifying global expansion activities, including raising visibility through event sponsorship in Dubai, entry into prominent supermarkets in France, and increasing production capacity for its US plant.

Health, wellness and environmental responsibility remain key purchase drivers for UAE consumers amid cost-of-living challenges

27-May-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Brands should adapt their offerings and messaging to better address the demands of UAE consumers, as health, wellness and ESG practices remain key purchase drivers despite rising cost of living, new data reports.

Baked in: Mondelez on how baked goods are set to play key role in driving forward APAC snacking market

27-May-2024 By Pearly Neo

Snacking giant Mondelez International believes that baked snacks are set to play a major role in propelling the APAC market , underscoring this belief with the launch of its new US$5mn bakery-focused facility in Singapore.

‘No one left behind’: Food system transformation needs greater focus on tech-tradition combos and the potential of aquatic foods

20-May-2024 By Pearly Neo

World Food Prize winner Dr Shakunthala Thilsted believes that all-inclusive food system transformation will require a greater focus on combining big data and traditional knowledge as well as better recognition of aquatic food potential and consumer diversity.

Corn Thins Minis goes big on health and indulgence to satisfy Australia’s snack cravings

16-May-2024 By Audrey Yow

Australian popped grain specialists Real Foods says consumer health and convenience demands led it to develop a new Corn Thins mini bites range that is now available in Woolworths supermarkets.

Supplier security: Japan issues new food distribution guidelines to protect manufacturers from retailer practices

15-May-2024 By Pearly Neo

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has introduced new distribution guidelines in an effort to protect food manufacturers from retailer practices and prevent food product wastage.

MAFRA Minister Exclusive Part II: Experiential marketing and second-line cities to take centre stage in food export strategy

15-May-2024 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government’s national food export strategy will see experiential marketing and support for food firms to export to second-line cities worldwide become major areas of focus, amid its bid to hit an 80% overseas favourability rating by 2027.