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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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...
Indian farm-to-fork startup Superplum is looking to expand its digitised cold chain logistics system to wine and other temperature-sensitive products after successfully making cross-country transportations of fruits previously not deliverable by land.
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.
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...
China’s first plant-based coconut yoghurt brand Yeyo has highlighted the importance of novelty, premiumisation and brand building in capturing the holy grail of middle-class consumers in the country after successfully launching its first flagship store...
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,...
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...
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.
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.
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,...
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.
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.
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’.
UAE healthy ice cream company House of Pops is anticipating a 250% increase in sales this year amid the pandemic, citing its commitment to driving sales across five channels as a key differentiator.
The head of Dole’s packaged foods division has revealed how product affordability and access are at the core of the firm’s strategy in the Asia Pacific region, as it pursues plans to achieve further expansion in major regional markets.
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’...
The plant-based dairy industry in the Asia Pacific region has traditionally seen products such as soy milk and almond milk lead the pack, but recently firms have been utilising many more unique plant-based sources to produce dairy alternatives, or creating...
A Malaysian firm that built a niche for itself within the country’s billion-dollar sweetened condensed milk market as the first product of its kind to use stevia instead of sugar has now set its sights on a major expansion drive.
Singapore-based Sophie’s Bionutrients intends to create a brand new category of products based on its microalgae fermentation technology, including yoghurt and cheese, after successfully creating the world’s first pure microalgae-based milk alternative.
Baladna CEO Malcolm Jordan has highlighted value consciousness, affordability and home cooking as three of the biggest trends currently driving sales in the Middle East dairy industry, a situation brought on by economic concerns linked to the COVID-19...
With a young, dynamic population, tremendous agricultural production and business-forward outlook, Vietnam has all the factors to become a halal food powerhouse…apart from that face that very few people are aware of it.
Qatar dairy giant Baladna’s CEO Malcolm Jordan has revealed the firm’s secrets to surviving and thriving amidst the COVID-19 pandemic as the early implementation of operational improvements and being quick to innovate in its product portfolio.
Frozen foods and alcohol have found favour with APAC consumers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, garnering huge leaps in growth across various countries in the region amid lockdowns and tightening economics.
A Singapore agri-food marketplace harbours ambitions of being the halal-tech world’s first unicorn, even though it started off modestly and remains largely bootstrapped.
Philippines’ and Thailand’s F&B manufacturing sectors shrunk amid the COVID-19 pandemic last year, while Vietnam and Indonesia saw positive growth, according to a new report.
Food and beverage manufacturers in Asia have been urged to utilize two or more GI-reduction strategies when conducting product reformulation to maximise effectiveness and feasibility, according to Singapore food experts.
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven up demand for food and beverage packaging that is secure and resealable as food safety and security concerns rise, according to a new report by packaging heavyweight Tetra Pak.
Turkish organic and natural foods firm Polenkoy, which focuses on healthier food products such as spreads, honey and oils, has its eye on solidifying business expansion in the Asia Pacific region by mirroring its success in offline channels in the digital...
Japanese supermarkets need to rapidly embrace contactless transactions and other measures to limit physical contact and maximise COVID-19 prevention, with consumers increasingly factoring in such services when choosing where to shop, say industry insiders...
Australian F&B brands and retailers will need to ensure their business strategy encompasses sustainability, affordability and the identification of a right niche if they wish to achieve growth in what looks to be a ‘tough year ahead’, according to...
New Zealand’s debate over creating a Grocery Code of Conduct has now moved to the parliamentary stage after the NZ Food and Grocery Council (NZFGC) presented it to parliament in the name of preventing potential ‘abuse of power’ by local supermarkets.
Italian frozen fruit snack company Frutteto will start manufacturing part of its products in Japan, its largest market, and is on-track to launch in China this year.
Malaysian healthy snacks firm Signature Market has ambitious hopes to launch of four to six new healthy snacks a week as it pursues its mission to become the Trader Joe’s of South East Asia.
China has implemented mandatory traceability requirements for all food products transported via cold chain, including dairy products, fruits and drinks, in an expansion of its efforts to prevent COVID-19 from entering the country via imported foods.
Kerry is preparing to ramp-up promotion of its plant-based innovation service to brands in APAC and the Middle East, while also doubling down on emerging taste trends and better-for-you product innovation.
Nestle Indonesia has revealed plans to search for ‘mutually beneficial’ collaborations with start-ups that can complement its local tech, consumer and environment ambitions, citing the importance of innovation and continued learning to sustain strong...
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has launched a nationwide investigation into a widespread local honey adulteration scandal and is mulling ‘better’ test methods – but researchers are calling for the agency to take more ‘stronger,...
Researchers have consolidated the glycaemic index (GI) of 940 common Asian and Middle Eastern food items such as nasi lemak, chapati, dim sum, dates and habba hamra in a review article published in the Nutrition and Diabetes journal.
Singapore-based ice cream firm Kelato Dolce plans to first build up its market with health-conscious dessert lovers, before expanding to cater to more niche areas with products offering more functional benefits.
Japan has updated its nutrition labelling rules to both reflect the quality as well as the quantity of carbohydrates present in processed foods, and also better reflect the calculation of calories being consumed per serving.
The yoghurt industry in the Asia Pacific region has highlighted continuous innovation, particularly in terms of flavours and formats, as the key driver to remaining relevant in the eyes of local consumers - despite the sector being one of the oldest in...
Singapore firm Silverconnect will focus on expanding its snacks and breakfast options for dysphagia patients for this year, including a pureed pineapple tart in time for the Chinese New Year.
Singapore-based foodtech firm Nutrition Innovation is bringing its sugar reduction technology Nucane Life to Malaysia in partnership with local sugar giant CSR, offering local food manufacturers a clean label option for reformulation with added functional...