Carlsberg Malaysia has predicted that the year ahead will continue to be a challenging one for the beer industry in view of rising costs and the COVID-19 Omicron variant, despite having seen a significant rise in profits and premium product sales in the...
Hybrid meat products comprising ‘real’ meat and plant-based meat have been hailed as one of the steadiest strategies available for the alternative protein industry to convert consumers, gain acceptance and maximise its reach in Asian markets.
Hybrid products containing both animal and plant proteins are offering manufacturers the chance to overcome taste and texture challenges, while simultaneously tapping into the large number of consumers who are eager to learn about alternative proteins.
South Korea has chosen to focus on national staple food ramen as the first target for the enforcement of its new reduced sodium labelling rules, doubling down on the category by announcing the specific sodium values for manufacturers to adhere to.
Meiji’s sales of functional yogurt in Japan have been declining due to the levelling of demand and an intensifying market competition, but sports nutrition is on the up, the firm has revealed.
Singapore firm Inmarch Holdings is launching its first kimchi brand for supermarkets, called Go Young, after initially finding success with its JIN Kimchi range for foodservice and ecommerce outlets.
Almost nine-out-of-10 people surveyed online in Japan have not heard of Health Support Pharmacies (HSPs), a new category of pharmacies that provide consultations on diet, nutrition, health foods and nursing care, alongside prescription medication.
China’s first hard seltzer company, ZEYA, has turned the attention to supermarkets and on-trade channels, after pivoting from e-commerce which accounted for the majority of sales over the last few pandemic-stricken years.
China’s corporate daigou channel is witnessing high growth momentum and demand for infant formulas is exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels, according to Australian infant formula maker Bubs.
Korea Ginseng Corp (KGC) continues to top the country’s health functional foods sales chart, while Korea Yakult has been pushed out of the top five, according to new data.
Both the South Korean and Japanese governments have moved to reinforce the robustness of their food authenticity systems against Geographical Indication (GI) and country-of-origin adulteration via initiatives including a new operational council and strict...
Chinese dairy giant Yili has revealed its growth strategy for the South East Asian dairy market, claiming that products need to have a richer and sweeter taste profile to entice consumers.
Flavettes, a brand by Malaysia-headquartered Duopharma Biotech, is moving a step further into the health and beauty segment by incorporating well-known beauty ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramide, and collagen peptide into effervescent tablets.
The Ministry of Health in Japan has urged local food manufacturers to provide scientific evidence and proof of their products’ food safety credentials if they want to take advantage of new licensing exemptions for 17 food categories.
The South Korean government’s grand plans to overhaul local dairy policies and pricing systems have been met with major pushback from industry groups and confusion from farmers, with the ministry in charge calling on detractors to ‘clarify their misconceptions’...
Taiwan-based Kavalan Distillery has predicted that the whiskey sector in Asia is set to be driven by premium and ready-to-drink (RTD) products in 2022, while also revealing its secret to winning over 100 international awards last year.
The recently adopted CODEX framework for stevia looks set to propel the sweetener into new APAC markets, with industry insiders hailing the prospect of more standardised regulations.
The Japanese government has published a new set of ‘fair transaction’ guidelines for the food manufacturing and retail sectors as it seeks to promote proper trading practices and prevent monopolies in the supply chain.
The alcohol sector in the Asia Pacific region was amongst the most heavily-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the closure of many hospitality outlets, but insiders say the outlook is positive thanks to retail modernisation, product innovation and sustainability...
Singaporean food tech firm KosmodeHealth has successfully demonstrated the low-GI - or rather, 'zero-GI' - benefits of its W0W Noodles with evidence from a new research study.
Beer giant AB InBev has set its sights on conquering the energy drink market in India with its world-first Budweiser Beats product, setting an ambitious target of capturing 10% of total market share within two years despite it being a completely new sector.
Nearly two in three pregnant women in Vietnam have consumed special milk formulas as they believe that doing so would benefit their unborn children, according to a new study, which questioned ‘aggressive marketing tactics’.
Singapore basmati brand Sameza is looking to place its premium low-GI basmati rice into more supermarkets in the country, as well as enter North America where they believe there is a lack of innovation in the category.
Nestle Malaysia has revealed how instant noodles have successfully sustained continued popularity throughout the pandemic and beyond due to in-home consumption trends, and long-time favourite brand MAGGI’s ability to innovate within the spicy flavours...
A total of 22 imported krill oil products – mostly from the United States – have failed the latest round of inspection by the South Korean authorities for mixing different oils in the products.
Experts from cultured seafood pioneers Avant and BlueNalu have revealed why Asia will become the epicentre of the rapidly rising sector, with the CEOs of both companies sharing their exclusive insights in our brand new FNA InnovATE video series.
A baijiu brand formed via a collaboration between Chines and US enterprises is growing its presence in the West as it seeks to educate drinkers on the world’s most widely consumed alcohol category through its use in cocktails.
China Shenshan Orchard Holdings (China Shenshan) has established a specialised R&D centre focusing wholly on kiwifruit innovation and the modernisation of the sector, in accordance with the local government’s 2035 vision for agri-food development.
India’s hemp industry is predicting a wave of product innovation, from protein bars to flavoured powders and snacks, in the wake of recent regulatory advances that will see hemp seed, oil and flour products classed as food for the first time.
Japanese retailers aim to increase the number of ready-to-eat (RTE) and private label products on the shelves after identifying them as key categories to maximise profits.
The canned food sector in the APAC region is undergoing an evolution towards healthier, more innovative product options, with companies such as Ayam Brand attempting to overcome many longstanding negative perceptions plaguing the industry.
India’s first certified clean label brand True Elements has incorporated a traceability component for all its products down to the ingredient level to provide an added measure of assurance to consumers looking for cleaner, healthier products.
Ingredients and flavours specialist IFF has stressed the importance of localising flavour profiles - even for the same food item - depending on the geographical market of focus within APAC.
The world’s first plant-based alternative wagyu brand Waygu has detailed how it plans to expand across South East Asia, after close to a year of research to ensure compatibility with local taste buds.
Indonesia is looking to introduce new trade controls on imported processed foods including a revised application process subject to government approval as well as stricter mandatory shelf-life requirements.
Branding experts spearheading successful Nestle and Yeo’s marketing campaigns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance for food and beverage brands to fulfil consumers’ emotional needs via digital strategies in order to ensure continued...
Japan’s Food with Functional Claims (FFC) system has recorded its highest number of notifications at 691 products in the first half of the current fiscal year from April 2021 to September 2021, compared to 496 products in the corresponding period last...
China’s on-demand grocery e-commerce firm Dingdong has unveiled plans to significantly increase the number of private label brands it offers across fresh groceries and food products.
The palm oil sector needs to prioritise growth in South East Asian countries alongside its efforts to diversify export destinations, with one industry expert predicting that regional demand will boom in the near future.
Healthier noodle brand Mr Lee’s Noodles has big plans for the Asian market, but has had to redefine its packaging to take climate and humidity concerns into consideration, as well as explore a new pricing strategy to meet the needs of markets in the region.
Dole is aiming to launch high-value products from food waste in the second half of next year across its recently-formed speciality ingredients business, in addition to expanding its upcycling efforts to more markets in the region.
One of the largest edible oil firms in North India BL Agro has turned its attention to growing its packaged food products portfolio from the current 70-plus SKUs to 400 within the next five years, revealing South India as a crucial target market for this...
The Chinese government has stepped up its anti-waste agenda with firms across the supply chain being required to prevent food waste and conserve food through its so-called ‘Food Conservation Action Plan’.
Japan flavouring giant Ajinomoto believes that major growth opportunities lie ahead for the firm within the plant-based meat alternatives and ready-to-eat product sectors, where it believes MSG and other glutamate solutions can provide the required flavours...
The Middle East’s growing coffee culture has caught the eye of Minh Tien Group, a Vietnam-based producer and exporter of coffee beans looking to expand in the Gulf region.
South Korea is going digital in its efforts to crackdown on imported kimchi and related products masquerading as being locally produced, after identifying a large leap in the imports of ingredients traditionally used to in the sector.
Food ingredients giant Cargill has stressed the rising importance of sustainability claims, especially around palm oil, as it detailed how its latest investment in Malaysia can help manufacturers meet the latest consumer demands.
Locally-produced wines, beers and spirits are currently on the up-and-up in India’s alcohol industry, with millennial consumers in particular preferring these over international brands – but drinks not in the premium or low price categories continue to...
China recently launched its new online overseas food manufacturer registration platform, which is mandatory for all firms looking to export into the country from January, as official seek to improve monitoring and surveillance to ensure food safety.
