Asia is more open than any other market to trying natural products due to its long history of traditional remedies, but scientifically-backed and clinically trialled ingredients are now fast becoming a key consumer demand.
Too many plant-based firms are ‘overengineering ingredients’ and ‘forcing solutions’ on investors and consumers, without paying enough attention to Asian culture and context, according to a regional expert in the alternative protein space.
Ribena Malaysia has taken its first venture out of its traditional blackcurrant beverage range with a strawberry line of products, citing their nutritional value and visual appeal as major reasons for this innovation.
Australian firm Doctor V is moving beyond an energy drinks focus to innovate in the wider functional beverage space, hoping to ride on the growth of the functional drinks trend in APAC.
The kombucha market in South East Asia is poised for explosive growth over the next few years due to a significant rise in consumer health awareness and demand for immunity-boosting drinks across various markets.
CP Foods’ partner in cultivated meat production Future Meat Technologies (FMT) believes that successfully cracking the code to cultivated dark meat production is the sector’s best solution to conquering Asia Pacific consumers, due to an unusual fascination...
Indonesia-based palm oil heavyweight Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) has highlighted the importance of sparing no cost in implementing traceability technology, in order to achieve greater commercial gain further down the line.
Asia’s first mycoprotein technology firm Mycovation believes that its products are the true future of alternative protein, with the firm touting its flavour, nutrition and sustainability credentials.
Thailand insect-based brand Cric-Co believes that there is a large potential market for insect-based snacks both within its home market and also in international ones, but it is vital that they are in formats that resonate with mainstream consumers.
The supplementation of milk protein, specifically alpha-lactalbumin, has shown to improve menstrual-related symptoms, including reducing fatigue, a crossover study by Meiji has shown.
Women in seven South and South East Asian countries urgently need nutritional intervention and monitoring to battle the double burden of malnutrition (DBM).
Thai firm Sesamilk is planning a major portfolio expansion for its dairy alternative products, whilst also calling for the government to provide more taxation and financial support for SMEs to accelerate growth.
Cultivated meat firm GOOD Meat aims to multiply its output by building second plants in both Singapore and the US as it strives to take lab-grown protein mainstream.
Dietary vegetable oils might help improve hypocholesterolemia due to the role played by cholesterol-lowering phytonutrients in the gut microbiome, according to a recent study.
China’s first homegrown hard seltzer brand ZEYA has big plans to expand its production and distribution both in and out of its home market after closing its seed funding round led by multinational luxury cognac brand Camus Cognac.
Olam’s new direct-to-consumer (D2C) nuts brand Re- says it is tapping into three major trends – traceability, sustainability and health – as it eyes expansion from its Singapore launchpad into wider Asia, the US and UK.
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Japanese cultured meat firm Integriculture has highlighted its co-culture technology as one of the fastest ways to bring down the cost of cellular agriculture and allow more F&B industry players to become part of the cultured meat sector.
There are ‘big growth opportunities’ for Kellogg’s to be found in the APAC region by diversifying its consumer base and product range, as well as ensuring a broad mix of price points, its South East Asia CMO told us in the second part of an exclusive...
Consumers are willing to make the switch to low-sodium foods in order to reap the health benefits, but with a caveat that these must taste good, according to new data from MSG giant Ajinomoto.
South Korea’s strategy of assigning dedicated aircraft solely for premium strawberry exports seems to be stuttering after it experienced a drop in volume in its latest run.
The cultivated protein sector holds a distinct advantage over its plant-based counterparts by having better relationships with existing big meat and food industry brands, but more work still needs to be done in terms of boosting government partnerships...
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.
Chinese plant-based yoghurt firm Jooma has launched a new coconut yoghurt range and revamped its almond yoghurt recipe, in addition to colour-coding its various products to enhance its consumer appeal in the market.
The Japanese government has drafted a new set of labelling guidelines specifically targeted at regulating foods and beverages sold online, with emphasis on the displaying of expiration dates and food allergens.
Thai healthy snacking brand MUNCHHH has developed an award-winning range of snacks based on what it has termed the ‘middle ground’ of snacking, with a priority on balancing health and indulgence to keep consumers coming back for more.
Thai mushroom-based protein firm More Meat is taking steps towards obtaining clean label recognition while also working on launching a new line of ready-to-cook (RTC) products to later this year.
Products with a healthier focus are the next major trend within frozen foods sector, with NPD thriving from countries with advanced cold chain systems such as Australia to those with less developed logistics such as India.
Shanghai plant-based firm Haofood has exclusively revealed its ambitious expansion spans, both at home and abroad, after receiving a major funding boost from investors.
Japanese firms will gradually introduce a new voluntary net alcohol labelling scheme to avoid cost and environmental impacts, according to beer giant Kirin.
Meiji is expanding its infant formulas offerings in Cambodia as part of the company’s strategy in growing its overseas business – where South East Asia is identified as a region for new opportunities.
Food and nutrition-based businesses across APAC have reported continued logistics problems plaguing their supply chains due to rising costs and customs delays, some of which still stem from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
China’s dairy industry witnessed a large growth in per capita consumption in 2021, backed by rising consumer incomes and firms responding to current trends with the development of functional products.
The Thai government has set its sights on emerging as the South East Asian regional leader in the areas of both organic food production and cannabis technology development, amid hopes that these sectors will help deliver a boost to the local economy.
Fish oil supplementation has shown to lower blood pressure increase in seniors, but no significant improvement was seen in cognitive health, according to a 12-month RCT conducted in New Zealand.
Green Rebel, an alternative protein start-up from Indonesia offering whole-cut plant-based meat for the Asian taste bud, aims to be on major Singapore supermarket shelves by Q3.
Singapore’s upcoming implementation of its sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) labelling system Nutri-Grade is driving local beverage firms to reformulate and create low-sugar product options to avoid potential repercussions, including upcycled drinks firm...
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.
There has been a slew of product innovation surrounding gamma-aminobutyric acid – better known as GABA – in Japan, with the ingredient incorporated in an array of dosage formats under the Foods with Function Claims (FFCs) framework.
Nestle has announced healthy growth in Asia in the first quarter of 2022 after imposing price rises across all its markets, with the F&B giant warning of further hikes to come due to the Ukraine crisis.
Chinese consumers have determined the traffic light labelling system as well as distinct warning labels highlighting ‘negative’ nutrients such as sugar, salt and saturated fat to be the most effective forms of front-of-pack labelling (FOPL), according...
Chinese dairy heavyweight Mengniu has urged the government to focus efforts on boosting local dairy self-sufficiency alongside its efforts to increase consumption, highlighting that a dependence on dairy imports is not an effective food security strategy...
Singapore-based Umami Meats has highlighted its innovation focus on fish species that are popular as part of Asian cuisines but are also on the IUCN Red List in terms of vulnerability, targeting a 2024 product launch date for its blended cultivated-plant-based...
China dairy giant Yili has outlined its new product launch strategies, including the introduction of a solid beverage formulated with probiotics and GABA as the key ingredients.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients might enjoy a better health-related quality of life (QoL) and nutritional status if they consume more magnesium.
The alternative protein sector in China – more commonly known as New Protein locally – is hopeful that it could finally get its own Green Financing system in line with China’s 2060 carbon neutrality goals, similar to existing financing systems in the...
The Japanese government has introduced a new national fishery policy to promote efficient industrialisation and revitalisation for the local industry in view of the many challenges the one-prosperous sector has faced over the past several years.