Malaysia-based seafood company Yeam Seng Frozen Goods & Fishery is channelling more resources into expanding its ready-to-cook portfolio to capture busy consumers and facilitate entry into overseas markets.
Japan-based Hanamaruki believes that its newly launched flavour-enhancing koji powder is in a prime position to cater to product innovation in South East Asia that fulfils both sodium reduction and affordability requirements.
Singaporean brand JiaTaste is looking to export its ready-to-cook prawn noodle paste to more markets, particularly in the west, where it sees opportunities among consumers who enjoy Asian flavours.
Indonesia will be able to capitalise on a ‘golden opportunity’ with its halal food products industry as long as it improves product quality, safety and infrastructure, according to a leading halal certification official.
Kraft Heinz recently introduced a hands-free “snack dipper” device, which the food major says would solve the so-called problem of not being able to eat while gaming.
Vietnam-based Sokfarm believes that the rising demand for reduced sodium consumption as well as its natural coconut nectar production advantages have laid a strong foundation for the sales of its new aminos soy sauce alternative.
Health, heritage, and convenience are increasingly important to consumers, says Singapore’s food start-up O’nya as it plans strategic expansion with authentic peranakan pastes.
Food safety technologies across the Australian supply chain need to enhance interoperability and data integration, and move away from the current silo approach.
The Vietnamese government has started to draft a proposal for stricter country-of-origin labelling for food products, to prevent fraud and boost international trade.
Japan has earmarked the Middle East as its next major emerging market for exports with the establishment of a specialised export platform in the UAE, banking on the rising interest in Japanese food in the region.
The South Korean government has issued a warning about food poisoning in the country, highlighting concerns that incidences have increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
New data from Japan’s most recent consumer diet and lifestyle survey has revealed that product affordability and local origins are the most important drivers for Japanese consumers when it comes to making food purchases.
The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has named the 11 top-performing food and beverage firms in the country for 2023, with the first and second rankings going to CJ Cheiljedang and Lotte respectively.
The South Korean government has announced new regulations mandating food and beverage firms to indicate portion size changes and any sweetener usage on their product labels.
The Indonesian government has launched a new halal certification system dedicated to international companies which is expected to significantly accelerate certified product imports into the country, including for foods and beverages.
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.
Austrian ketchup brand Curtice Brothers says a focus on natural ingredients, heritage and sustainability is helping it compete with local and international condiment giants in Asia, with the firm seeing success in China, Singapore and Japan.
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...
Kirin has released a spoon that uses electricity to intensify the umami taste of food to address the issue of excessive salt intake among the Japanese population.
Traffic light food labelling encouraged healthier food choices among Japanese college students, and now has the potential to be used nationwide, say researchers.
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.
Thailand-based plant-based specialist firm Buono believes that the success of its business can be credited to its portfolio variety which focuses on more unique products as opposed to meat replacements.
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has launched a new public-private collaborative project focusing on food exports, aiming to boost progress towards the national JPY5tn (US$31.7bn) by 2030 target.
The Japanese government has clarified that the final responsibility to ensure the safety and quality of food packaging lies with food manufacturer producing the end-product that will reach consumers.
Palm oil industry experts have criticised a new EU-backed analysis that identified ‘shortcomings’ in Malaysia’s national sustainability certification scheme that prevent it from being fully accepted under the new EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR).
Malaysia-based food manufacturer A1 has reformulated and repackaged one of its hero products to appeal to the taste preferences of consumers in the UK, as the firm looks to broaden its reach in Europe.
The China State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has announced new regulatory standards for pre-packaged food labels, urging food and beverage companies to comply in order to boost clarity for consumers.
South Korean food major CJ CheilJedang has used new fermentation technology to consecutively launch products with reduced sodium content in response to growing consumer demand for “less burdensome” options.
Close to 90% of municipalities in Japan need to improve accessibility to food for elderly consumers amid the country’s shift to an ageing population, according to new government data.
The South Korean government’s launch of its national ‘Adventurous Table’ global food export strategy will be led by foods and beverages from the fermented and convenience categories, a senior minister has told FoodNavigator-Asia.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is seeking public comment on draft regulations for the newly-coined ‘defined foods’ category, which will cover novel foods, genetically modified foods and insect-related foods.
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is facing major pushback from ministers and trade organisations within Europe, alongside continued pressure from palm oil producer nations in Asia, casting doubt on hopes for a smooth implementation.
Vietnam has completed and recently launched its new digital food safety management system which was developed in partnership with South Korea, with a particular focus on food poisoning outbreak monitoring across the country.
The Japanese government is cracking down on counterfeit agri-food product exports protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) scheme with the use of digital monitoring technology.
The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will establish a new electronic recall system for pre-packaged processed food products found to be in violation of domestic food safety regulations.
UAE conglomerate Gulf Marketing Group (GMG)’s frozen foods brand Farm Fresh has unveiled its latest growth strategy by shifting its focus to healthy snacks, specifically targeting “older Gen Zs and younger millennials”.
Developing markets in Asia and Africa risk being sidelined in the efforts to create a more sustainable food system, unless inclusion and affordability are placed front and centre to improve nutrition.
South Korea is expanding its AI-based screening system SAFE-i24 to include processed food imports, in a bid to maintain food safety and quality while maximising efficiency particularly during peak seasons.
The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has launched a new food allergen labelling guidebook targeted at food and beverage manufacturers, importers and retailers to ease companies into newly-enforced regulatory requirements.
The South Korean government has plans to significantly boost the level of food safety assurance in the local food system by investing into facility and technological improvements for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) advancement.
Nestle Malaysia believes that the strength of its core brands such as KitKat and Maggi, as well as the advantages of its large local production operations, will serve it well in overcoming current ‘subdued’ consumer sentiment in the country.
Global food and beverage giant Nestle has its eye on expanding its premium and healthy ageing product portfolios as it seeks to return to ‘normalised’ growth.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised five countries for their efforts in eliminating industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA), marking the first time it has done so since launching an initiative in 2018 to encourage food manufacturers...
Food and beverage major Nestlé Professional claims there is a need to move away from marketing keywords such as “plant-based” and focus on elevating the taste of alternative protein products to boost “natural” uptake and sector growth.
The Chinese government’s new draft regulations governing the labelling of pre-packaged foods and beverages contains stricter guidelines, including mandating manufacturers to include clearer information on compound ingredients as well as more country of...
Singapore start-up Craft Truffles is aiming to branch out beyond its domestic market by expanding its product portfolio and participating in trade shows to connect with overseas distributors.
China-based Evergreen Food has developed a huge portfolio of convenience-focused ready-to-use seafood products in a bid to expedite exports of local seafood dishes that would usually be too complicated to prepare without expertise.
Saudi food manufacturing major Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Company (SADAFCO) seeks to raise operational and supply chain efficiencies through its newly built depot in Makkah, amid rising demand from neighbouring markets.
Brands in South Korea have been compelled to submit product nutritional information, which the government has used to update its national food database for processed goods.
The Smart Cube’s senior commodity specialist examines the fluctuating commodity market and how things are shaping up this year, as he warns oil, gold and sugar costs are set to rise.
