Sugar and starches

Got your back: APAC consumers increasingly turning to ingredient lists first - ofi

18-Aug-2022 By Pearly Neo

Asia Pacific consumers are increasingly turning to the back of food packaging to check ingredient lists, before considering any front-of-pack health claims, with interest in clean label products seemingly gathering pace.

Scrapping ‘melting pot’ mentality: Flavour innovation in APAC food firms increasingly driven by culture and localisation

21-Jul-2022 By Pearly Neo

The flavour innovation process for brands in the APAC region is being increasingly driven by culture and localisation, with many of the region’s bigger food firms already grasping the importance of this trend.

Novel entry: Singapore white honey brand Al Honey targets South East Asia, Australia after Saudi backing

11-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Singapore brand Al Honey is planning its expansion in South East Asia and Australia over the next two years with its novel white honey product.

Not cherry picking: NZ hopes cherry functional health benefits can help boost exports

29-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

New Zealand is pumping in cash to boost its cherry-growing industry by funding research to assess the nutritional value of the stone fruit that has been purported to reduce inflammation, regulate blood pressure and improve sleep among many.

Millet consumption reduces cholesterol, cuts risk of hyperlipidaemia and obesity – Study

28-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The consumption of millets reduces total cholesterol and lowers body mass index (BMI), compared to other staples such as rice, wheat and quinoa.

Slashing spoilage: Indian bioactive sachet innovation could boost fresh produce shelf life

27-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Chennai-based start-up Greenpod Labs has invented bioactive sachets that claim to reduce the spoilage of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sweet savings: Sugar reduction an effective cost-cutting solution to overcome Middle East inflation challenges

22-Jun-2022 By Pearly Neo

Sugar reduction strategies can be an effective tool to cut production costs and lower prices whilst also satisfying Middle East consumer and government demand for healthier products, according to Tate & Lyle.

Green is gold: Mondelez on why sustainability leads to economic profitability for food industry

21-Jun-2022 By Pearly Neo

Global snacking giant Mondelez says sustainability in business operations is much more important to food and beverage companies to achieve economic profitability than popular opinion currently dictates, urging firms to think in the long-term.

Deficiency dilemma: Long-term gluten-free diets for celiac women leads to nutrition shortfall – Study

09-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Women with celiac disease following a strict, long-term gluten-free diet could face major deficiencies in major nutrients, including vitamin D, folate, calcium and iron, according to a new study.

Manufacturers pay? Foodstuffs NZ cuts prices to win consumer favour but industry says brands could count the cost

07-Jun-2022 By Pearly Neo

New Zealand’s food and grocery sector says manufacturers could end up footing bill after one of the nation’s largest chains Foodstuffs cuts prices to win back consumer – and likely government – favour.

Claims caution: Middle East manufacturers warned over off-pack claims as more governments take note

25-May-2022 By Pearly Neo

Food and beverage manufacturers in the Middle East have been urged to stop toeing the line in terms of making any off-pack claims for their products, given increasing awareness and warnings raised by governments in the region.

Tech revolution: Intense Chinese uptake of digitalisation, robotics propelling food, ag sector

24-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The rapid adoption of digitalisation and robotics is making serious waves to amplify China’s status in the food and agtech sectors, claims a leading regional investment expert.

Local flavour, global appeal: Singapore’s Melvados aims to expand with fusion snack offerings

16-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Consumers are increasingly demanding more information about ingredients and traceability in the booming East-West fusion food category, that spans everything from pandan nuts to kaya ice cream.

Securing Singapore? Scale of city state’s food security 2030 challenge underlined by new data

04-May-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The scale of Singapore’s challenge to achieve 30% food self-sufficiency by 2030 has been underlined by new data released by the city state’s national food agency.

Low calories beverages viable water alternatives to sweetened drinks in overweight, obese adults - Study

07-Apr-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Drinking low- and no-calorie sweetened beverages (LNCSBs), as a substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) leads to small improvements in body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors, according to a new study.

Tax attack? Aussie beverage sector fights back against government threat of price hikes

06-Apr-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The Australian beverage sector has hit out at veiled warnings of price increases and tax hikes for soft drinks detailed in the country’s latest obesity strategy, claiming that such policy measures are ineffective.

Regulatory landmines: Frucor Suntory exec on the challenges of meeting better-for-you beverage needs in APAC

04-Apr-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

While consumers are clamouring for healthier beverages across APAC, spanning sugar reduction and the added functionality, the regulatory landscape still poses a significant challenge for brands.

Strategic success? How Mondelez is tapping into emerging middle-class markets in India, China

30-Mar-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Major food and beverage MNC Mondelez has revealed its strategies to tap into the India and China markets, both of which have burgeoning middle-class segments with increasing disposable incomes.

Swift expansion: ASEAN sugar alternative firm developing RTE options and eyeing Europe entry

23-Mar-2022 By Pearly Neo

Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore-based sugar alternative firm Swiftlet is widening its portfolio with the development of new ready-to-eat (RTE) and lower-cost options of its sugar replacement product, whilst also planning for entry into the European...

Passing the taste test: Nestle chief on strategies for success with healthy product innovation

21-Mar-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Maintaining price parity and maximising taste are two key priorities when formulating healthy and plant-based products, according to exclusive insights revealed by Nestle’s Malaysia and Singapore CEO Juan Aranols.

Love for loaf: Malaysian firm fulfils four-year mission to launch low-GI bread range

17-Mar-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A four year-long research and development (R&D) project has led to launch of a new low-GI bread range in Malaysia – one of several South East nations battling surges in obesity and diabetes.

Cracking the grocery code: New Zealand food sector declares victory in 12-year competition battle

15-Mar-2022 By Pearly Neo

The New Zealand food and beverage sector has secured victory in a 12-year-long competition battle that looks set to finally see the government introduce a mandatory grocery code of conduct.

‘Economic sabotage’: Philippines sugar dispute grinds on as producers demand import plan is scrapped

28-Feb-2022 By Maria Fortune

Controversy continues to surround the Philippines’ Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) efforts to import 200,000 metric tonnes of premium refined sugar into the country, with the domestic industry securing a temporary halt to the measures.

‘Doubtful practicality’: Concerns over Indonesia’s new trade licensing policy following pilot launch with five food commodities

21-Feb-2022 By Pearly Neo

Food industry and policy experts have voiced doubts about the practical benefits of Indonesia’s new trade licensing policy, the Neraca Komoditas, which is kicking off this year for five major food commodities.

Sweet sustainability: Australian Honey Ventures set foot in Kuwait and UAE with medicinal range

27-Jan-2022 By Guan Yu Lim

Australian Honey Ventures is set to launch its medicinal honey brand, Real Good Honey, in Kuwait and UAE this March, with plans to expand further into the Middle East.

Cross-border caution: South Korea expands food safety guidelines to include e-commerce sales

11-Jan-2022 By Pearly Neo

South Korea has expanded its food safety and monitoring guidelines to tighten control over food and beverage products that are directly purchased by consumers from foreign countries, with implications for items bought via e-commerce.

Five need-to-know regulations on the agenda to impact the APAC food industry in 2022

31-Dec-2021 By Pearly Neo

From new hemp regulations in India, to Singapore’s sugary beverage control policy, and plant-based labelling in multiple countries, we bring you five must-know policies and regulations that look set to have a significant impact on the Asia Pacific food...

‘No hidden messages’: Taiwan seeks to tighten nutritional labelling regulations for all packaged foods

25-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

Taiwan is seeking to approve new regulations that will enforce tougher nutritional labelling regulations for all packaged foods in the country once implemented, in a bid to prevent ‘hidden’ or ‘implied’ messages from manufacturers regarding calorific...

Not so sweet situation: More than half of packaged beverages sold in Singapore contain high levels of sugar

18-Nov-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Sixty per cent of packaged non-alcoholic beverages (NABs) sold on the Singapore market contain high amounts of sugar and would be assigned under Grade C or D in the soon-to-be-implemented Nutri-Grade system.

From Coca-Cola to coffee: How food and beverage brands are using Bilibili to attract Gen Z consumers

15-Nov-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Food and beverage brands are increasingly turning to Chinese video platform Bilibili to develop videos better catered to the country’s Gen Z audience, with many securing millions of views.

Encouraging reformulation: South Korea tightens food labelling standards for products with reduced sodium and sugar

27-Oct-2021 By Pearly Neo

South Korea has announced new, tighter standards for food firms looking to label their products as being reduced or lower in sodium or sugar, starting with the nation’s most-consumed food product, ramen.

Tate & Lyle’s Dubai innovation centre set to drive efforts to cut sugar and calories in the region

22-Oct-2021 By Gill Hyslop

The global ingredients specialist has opened a $2m Technical Application Centre in Dubai, designed to help local producers in the bakery, dairy, beverage, sauce and dressing categories to develop formulations that address growing consumers demand in the...

Rooting for sugar reduction: Dole banks on both reformulation and innovation to enhance packaged product portfolio

19-Oct-2021 By Pearly Neo

Fruit product heavyweight Dole has revealed that it is focusing heavily on the use of new technologies and collaborations to overcome sugar reduction challenges for its packaged products portfolio, in hopes of reaching its 2025 zero processed sugar sustainability...

FNA DEEP DIVE: BAKERY

Home baking, flavour innovation and healthier options: Top APAC bakery firms weigh in on trends dominating sector

23-Jul-2021 By Pearly Neo

Bakery products have always been a staple in the Asia Pacific region for breakfast and snacking occasions, but the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the sector’s growth significantly in the past year, primarily driven by the home-baking, flavour innovation...

‘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,...

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.

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.

‘Next Milo’? Malaysian diabetic drinks business has eyes on becoming FMCG major-player

27-May-2021 By Pearly Neo

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.

Central obesity, higher fasting glucose more common in Koreans teens with greater fat, calorie intake – Decade-long study

25-May-2021 By Tingmin Koe

A decade-long study has shown that there is a rising number of Korean children and adolescents with a larger waist circumference and higher fasting glucose levels, amid an increase in calorie and fat intake during the same period.

Tech ambition: OneAgrix has dreams of being the first halal unicorn

29-Apr-2021 By Richard Whitehead

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.

F&B manufacturing in Philippines and Thailand shrinks while Vietnam and Indonesia see growth: Oxford Economics report

20-Apr-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

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.

Sugar strife: Indian association standing firm amid attacks over ‘Sugar and Health’ campaign

30-Mar-2021 By Pearly Neo

The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has launched a Sugar and Health campaign and corresponding website as it seeks to stop ‘blind attacks’ on the commodity and encourage localised research – sparking widespread public criticism.

‘Concentration of power’: NZ Grocery Code of Conduct moves to parliamentary stage as suppliers fight for their rights

08-Mar-2021 By Pearly Neo

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.

Artisan appeal: Jones the Grocer CEO highlights opportunities in Saudi Arabia and Egypt with latest expansion push

24-Feb-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

Food emporium Jones the Grocer is expanding into Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as part of its plan to open 200 new stores globally over five years.

Well spent: Healthy noodle firm KosmodeHealth seeking spent barley partnerships with major F&B brands

23-Feb-2021 By Pearly Neo

A Singapore food tech firm that upcycles barley into healthier noodles wants to partner with major brewers and beverage brands to put their by-products to better use.

Three-pronged approach: Kerry pins focus on plant-based growth, new taste trends and better-for-you innovation in APAC

17-Feb-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

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.

Sticky situation: Criticism voiced over India’s nationwide investigation into widespread honey adulteration

15-Feb-2021 By Pearly Neo

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,...

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