India-based Beyond Snack recently expanded its repertoire of banana chips in the hope of attracting Millennials and Gen Zs, whom the firm believes are particularly receptive to flavour innovations.
Nissin has committed to further product development plans for instant noodles using alternative proteins, after a first launch featuring plant-based ‘eel’ was well received in Japan.
Chinese snacking sensation San Chun has revealed a focus on the ‘strange and unique’ is behind its transition from a local viral hit to a launch in major supermarkets nationwide.
Hypertensive and diabetic patients could benefit from diets prepared using low-sodium salt, with blood pressure significantly reduced following an eight-week intervention, findings from a China study showed.
Beer giant Asahi is tweaking the taste and packaging of its long-time product, the Asahi Super Dry, and says that today’s consumers are seeking out an “elevated experience” through a brand story, healthier options, and flavour innovations.
The South Korean government has opened three food safety reports on genetically modified soybean, corn and canola for public comment, with the caveat that all opinions submitted must be ‘based on science and logic’ or risk being ignored.
South Korea’s imports of Health Functional Foods (HFF) saw a decline for the first time in four years, with volumes shrinking 9.5 per cent in the first six months of this year.
Thailand-based Bangkok Cookies is planning to expand its presence into more export markets as well as eyeing plans for local supermarket retail after having achieved resounding success as a souvenir product in the travel retail scene.
Japanese brewery giant Kirin has announced the launches of two beverages – one alcoholic and one non-alcoholic – as it continues its efforts to tap novel ready-to-drink innovation opportunities.
Product innovation, technology and data alone are no longer sufficient to make strides in the China beverage sector with consumers increasingly wanting ‘emotion and culture’ alongside their drinks, claims Coca-Cola.
Japanese sauces brand Kikkoman is seeking to cement its foothold in the Indian market via food service partners and retail channels, with the firm believing local consumers are becoming increasingly receptive of international flavours.
China dairy giant Mengniu believes that the direction for domestic dairy growth lies in the development of localised protein product innovation, especially in the form of ready-to-drink beverage formats.
Singapore start-up Altimate Nutrition has developed a range of cricket-based products that are ready for mass manufacturing and distribution, except that it continues to be hindered by regulatory approval delays.
Singapore-headquartered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) company Eu Yan Sang is actively pursuing growth in North America’s health and wellness market by targeting not just the Chinese diaspora, but also those who are willing to give the category a...
The India market and increased innovation in health and functional trends hold the key to improved financial performances, claims Korean heavyweight Lotte.
There is a lack of vitamin A, C, calcium, and iron dietary intake among adolescents and adults in South Korea due to poor dietary habits, warns the country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).
China energy beverage giant EastRoc will continue to use sugar as a primary ingredient in its best-selling products despite rising costs and a rapidly growing sugar-free trend in major cities.
Thailand could be set to revamp its rules around expiration dates and allergen warnings after regulator Thai Food and Drug Association (FDA) issued draft proposals for prepackaged foods
Precision probiotics firm Biome Australia says that giving practitioners a foundational understanding of microbiome modulation, before reinforcing efficacy via clinical trials, will be key to its ongoing growth objectives in the market.
Food and beverage brands looking to make inroads into Asia need to tread the line between growing health consciousness and increasing consumer concerns over costs.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has stressed that existing local guidelines do not endorse the replacement of sugar with sweeteners for weight loss, while joining calls for more localised research to be conducted on its impacts.
Premium organic tea brand English Tea Shop has designated the Asia Pacific region as its next major target market after a decade of growth in Europe, citing growing consumer demands for premiumisation and products designed for gifting as strong drivers.
Carlsberg has pledged to continue with its premiumisation drive in Malaysia and Singapore despite seeing its higher end beers suffer a significant slump as consumers tighten their belts.
Cheese heavyweight Bel has called for local brands to simultaneously develop local innovations alongside introducing more traditional western concepts in order to drive faster industry growth in China
Malaysian newcomer postbiotic firm My Myracle has commercialised a series of postbiotics using solely bacteria from plants instead of other common sources, such as faeces of healthy individuals or animals. It says that using plant-derived bacteria is...
Singapore-based REVIT is eyeing a bigger market share in the anti-hangover category with its gummy product, on the back of sales numbers that have been tripling month-on-month since its launch in January this year.
Functional beverage specialist firm +PW has set its sights on the ‘huge’ China market for its collagen-enriched RTD drinks, planning to bank on its convenient consumption format and unique flavour formulation to overcome market challenges.
Supplementation with Korean Red Ginseng could reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol, according to the findings of an eight-week RCT conducted among 90 men who reported being under stress.
Japan brewery major Asahi believes that upcoming local regulatory changes and global-scale events will serve as major catalysts to accelerate the growth of the beer category this year.
Grape King Bio will focus on its healthy ageing and women’s health nutrition portfolios in China, which it believes are two sectors poised for growth in the country.
South Korean firm PlantEat believes that innovation must result in minimal sensory changes and products should remain as familiar as possible in order to boost consumer transitions to healthier diets.
The South Korean government has launched a national campaign to reassure consumers that the national seafood supply will not be impacted by neighbouring Japan’s impending release of wastewater from Fukushima.
Singapore-based Curated Culture has big plans to enter the ‘sports and wellness’ space in the APAC region with its probiotic tea products, which the firm has stressed is ‘not kombucha’.
Energy drink giant EastRoc Beverages has set its sights on South East Asia as a key export destination after having established itself as one of the largest brands in China, planning to retain its original best-selling recipe for its initial entry.
Healthplex Expo 2023 / Natural & Nutraceutical Products China 2023
Adding certain probiotics to protein have shown to increase protease activity and in turn facilitate a higher rate of amino acid absorption, which could be a new point of market differentiation for the crowded protein supplement market, says South Korea’s...
The burgeoning plant-based dairy sector in China will need to quickly shift from its first generation focus on emotions and sensory properties to more functional innovation in order to ensure continued growth in the local market.
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has highlighted it will be proceeding cautiously in managing its food business for the rest of the year despite positive results in Q2FY2023, citing continued volatile climate changes and inflationary pressures.
Thailand-based snacks firm Food Onwards believes it has a strong shot at revitalising the fish skin snack category via a localised take on its product manufacturing process and flavour selection.
Thailand’s Eatvolution has developed a chickpea rice alternative that is richer in nutrients and lower in carbohydrates as it seeks to entice increasingly health-conscious consumers as well as diabetic patients.
Food and beverage business leaders in Asia need to issue clear and committed directives for supply chain resilience and secure alternative sourcing regimes to mitigate future disruption risks.
China’s Tidetron Bioworks believes that synthetic bio-manufacturing is growing to be a crucial component of the food and beverage industry based rising demand for sustainable raw materials both in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.
Nestle has voiced support for the continued use of palm oil in the food and beverage sector amid intense debate surrounding the recently-enacted EU Deforestation Regulation, while also striving to guarantee its supply chain sustainability using advance...
After more than a year of development and 13 versions of the prototype, Singapore’s Moom Health has completed the formulation of a new supplement that is specifically targeted at relieving premenstrual symptoms (PMS) and painful period cramps.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) and India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) have officially agreed to collaboratively boost millet consumption at the government level, starting with the nation’s armed forces.
Chinese food and beverage heavyweight Jinmailang has highlighted five key factors that it believes should lay the foundation for innovation food firms’ innovations strategies to ensure that new products are practical, realistic and sustainable.
More Chinese consumers have been taking krill oil supplementation in the past two to three years, with anti-ageing as one of the most common reasons, says CEO of krill oil supplier firm Aker BioMarine.
Healthier snacking brand Hey! Chips is looking to overcome the dominance of ultra-processed snacks in the market by innovating with whole ingredients to make scalable clean label products.
