China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) is implementing stringent new rules on the advertising of health foods, Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs), and medical devices from May this year.
Nestle is utilising novel refillable dispensing technology for the Milo and Koko Krunch brands via vending machines in Indonesia - its latest waste reduction initiative that can withstand the humidity and heat of the local climate.
Supplementation of curcumin extract has shown to reduce body mass index (BMI), body weight, as well as the waistline more effectively than whole compounds or bioavailability-enhanced forms, according to a meta-analysis conducted by researchers from Thailand.
Singapore food tech firm SoiLabs says it aims to launch finished products made from soy waste (okara) within the next year, and has partnered with Sanyo Chemical to accelerate commercialisation of upcycled foods in Japan.
South Korean healthy foods firm PhytoCo has tweaked its marketing strategy to focus on both rising health and sustainability demands from consumers with marked results, having recently secured recognition from the national government as a provider of...
Snacking giant Mondelez International says the familiarity of brands as well as consumer demand for indulgence in their daily diets are key drivers for snack market growth in the AMEA region.
New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra has outlined its functional beverage ambitions across South East Asia after a spate of new ready-to-drink (RTD) product launches under the Anchor and Fernleaf brands.
Higher purchasing power and heightened awareness of conscious consumption mean there is considerable scope to grow the artisanal butter market in Singapore, says a start-up that is innovating with a range of Asian flavours.
Brewery giant Asahi Japan recently released a new round of green bonds valued in the billions in local currency, tapping on burgeoning local sustainability trends to diversify its financing methods and achieve its environmental commitments
Coffee consumers in the Asia Pacific region are increasingly making purchasing decisions that are driven by by localisation and ready-to-drink format innovation, according to industry heavyweights such as Nestle, Suntory and Movenpick.
Tea-based beverages are emerging as a growing trend in APAC, but manufacturers need to integrate novelty and excitement into their beverage innovation in order to attract and maintain the attention of younger consumers.
Government and industry representatives from the palm oil and rubber sectors in Malaysia have urged the European Union (EU) to withdraw ‘highly demeaning’ clauses within its controversial deforestation regulation, punctuating this with a 500-strong protest...
Indian functional foods and beverage firm Auric is eyeing expansion in the Middle East with its easy-to-consume products, riding on increasing demand for health products in convenient formats in the region.
India’s food safety authority has launched a set of formal standards for the premium Basmati rice variant in what appears to be a further step in its quest to establish it as intellectual property belonging to the country under the protection of Geographical...
Thailand-based food giant CP Foods has committed to further improve its food safety and sustainability initiatives in 2023 on the back of a successful 2022 financial year, but also plans to proceed with more caution due to ongoing challenges spanning...
Nestle Malaysia has vowed to continue its progress in environmental and business sustainability areas such as renewable energy, recyclable packaging and plant-based product innovation even amidst current global economic instability.
Taiwan’s largest plant-based food manufacturers claim consumers are increasingly adopting vegetarian diets for sustainability and health reasons, as opposed to religious factors, and say that recent government policies are helping propel further growth.
Rice noodle brands in South East Asia need to gear up product innovation efforts to create new and unusual varieties and pique consumer imagination in order to achieve further industry growth in one of the region’s most traditional markets.
The kiwifruit sector in China is facing an uncertain 2023 after one of the most severe heatwaves ever recorded wreaked havoc on production, with even large firms having to rely on government aid to maintain resilience.
The South Korean government has announced a new food imports plan to be enforced in 2023 which will involve the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve its monitoring and inspections processes.
Whey protein supplementation could raise the effectiveness of resistance exercise by boosting increases in muscle mass, muscular strength and endurance, say Korean researchers.
Consumer demand for alternate proteins is unlikely to end up growing at a uniform rate due to local dietary differences, much of which will still prioritise animal protein in the long run, according to an expert panel.
Junlebao Dairy Group has launched its Nutrition Science Strategy, aiming to strengthen the science behind its products, as well as to identify novel functional ingredients.
China has published new draft regulations for wine labelling standards in the country, with an emphasis on protecting domestic firms’ trade and formulation secrets while maintaining strict food safety standards.
Japanese beverage giant Asahi has updates its corporate sustainability strategy as is seeks to improve its chances of hitting its 2050 carbon zero commitments.
Singapore-based beverage giant Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) has finally found its way back into the black thanks to positive growth in South East Asian markets, despite its recent leadership overhaul and negative China performance.
The age-old ideas that palm oil sustainability must involve complex certification processes and premium price points needs to be scrapped in order to truly achieve sustainable goals throughout the entire value chain, according to industry experts
The rapid rise of health and sustainability trends in the Asia Pacific region has made its way into staple foods such as rice, edible oils and salts, with extensive new product innovation helping to propel growth, our exclusive in-depth report reveals.
South Korean authorities have mandated nutrition supplements for the elderly aged 65 and above, as well as six functional raw materials used in Health Functional Foods, to come with country-of-origin labelling.
Japanese brewery giant Asahi has highlighted that its 2023 plans will focus on driving its premiumisation strategy in hopes of delivering long-term sustainable growth, despite the current pressures of inflationary cost increases.
Japanese beverage giant Kirin says it wants to close the “gap between consumer awareness and action” in immune health on the back of a new product launch and tweaks to two of its existing products.
It is “still too early to tell” how a post COVID-19 pandemic consumer environment will look like, says Blackmores, which has seen a mixture of gains and losses across Asia-Pacific in its latest financial results.
Swiftlet believes that developing everyday sugar-reduced food products such as snacks are a key gateway to integrate sugar reduction into APAC consumers’ daily diets.
Plant-based brands in South East Asia need to step up their game by integrating unique health and localisation features to stand out in the increasingly crowded market, according to a Philippines brand blazing a trail in the sector.
Trends and Innovation Opportunities Across the Life Stages
Delegate tickets are now on sale at a special earlybird rate for our Growth Asia Summit 2023, as we also announce a raft of new content themes and high profile keynote speakers from Danone, Nestle, H&H and Dole.
Nestle’s strategy to focus on product affordability and accessibility appears to have paid off in 2022, with the firm seeing more significant growth from its business in emerging markets even amid inflationary and economic turbulence.
Energy tea brand YATÉ believes that young music fans and night owls will be key for success with its yerba mate-based drink in Asia’s better-for-you beverage space.
Creating a sustainable food supply to meet population demands will require more than just a focus on growing the alternative proteins sector despite its current hype, according to industry experts.
Expanding seaweed farming would help address the planet’s food security and could contribute up to 10% of future diets, an ‘ambitious’ model by Australian researchers has shown.
Hindustani Unilever Limited (HUL), the Indian arm of international FMCG giant Unilever, has stressed that its beverage-based nutrition or health food drinks (HFD) portfolio will remain a major area of focus for the business despite current setbacks caused...
From January next year, the Eucalyptus globulus leaf and extract can no longer be used as a food raw material, except as a food flavouring, Taiwan authorities said.
Beer giant Asahi has highlighted the importance of utilising striking packaging to connect with consumers in the APAC region, particularly in times of festivity when many beverage brands are competing to stand out on retail shelves.
Organisers of the Future Food Asia (FFA) Awards 2023 have revealed a whole new awards track targeting start-ups based outside APAC, hoping that this will bring more expertise and technologies into the region.
Japan food heavyweight Ajinomoto has highlighted localisation and innovation as key pillars of its sustainability strategy in the firm’s most recent report, with its leaders pledging to take a ‘fundamentally different’ path from other MNCs.
China is considering mandating mass nutritional fortification for various staple foods in order to boost public health and combat nutrient deficiencies.
Manufacturers of plant-based seafood need to ensure they get the sensory experience right if the sector hopes to reach the scope and consumer acceptance that other plant-based meat alternatives have achieved, according to Thai Union.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has made it mandatory for infant and follow-up formula sold in the market to be printed with a new logo from January 2025.
Singapore plant-based egg firm OnlyEg believes that 2023 will be the year for the plant-based egg sector to shine in APAC given the technological advances that have been made, as well as the food safety and nutritional benefits.
