The way consumers in the Asia Pacific region choose, purchase, prepare and share food experiences is being reshaped this year, according to market research published by public relations agency Weber Shandwick.
Japan has a reputation for food innovation, and a new initiative by Nestlé will transform one of its iconic chocolate bars into currency for train travel while at the same time promoting a crisis-hit part of the country.
Granola has boomed in Japan because of its health promise and versatility and Western cereal firms could cash in further by playing up the trendy aspect, says a Datamonitor Consumer analyst.
Speciality hydrocolloid manufacturer CP Kelco has opened a hub for South Asia alongside a dairy beverage centre of excellence in Singapore, with hopes to strengthen the company’s global innovation footprint.
Evolva Holding will collaborate with Universiti Malaysia Pahang to establish a scientific centre of excellence for natural products from Malaysia in Pahang state’s Flavour and Fragrance Cluster.
Asia’s role in the global spirits market has surprised analysts over in recent months, with moves to curb extravagance in China, Suntory’s acquisition of Beam in January and Emperador’s winning bid to acquire White & Mackay each causing a stir.
Altering the price of a food product can have an immediate impact on taste perception, as well as feelings of overeating and guilt, according to new research.
Southeast Asia’s regulatory system is out of sync with industry practices, with some regulators sometimes uncertain of what constitutes a natural ingredient.
Most beverage brands are probably content to work on their distribution on plain old planet Earth but a Japanese sports drinks brand is set to become the first commercial delivery to the moon.
New Zealand Whisky Collection, a small Kiwi distiller, is engaged in a trademark battle with giant Scottish distiller William Grant & Sons over the use of the same compound term, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
More Australians buy alcohol online than groceries, though still less than one in 50 consumers click products into their virtual supermarket trolleys each month, according to the latest data by Roy Morgan.
Swiss business developer and Indonesian government signs Cargill Cocoa Promise, just as the firm announces initial cocoa processing tests at its first Asian plant in East Java.
The UK population is still consuming too much saturated fat, added sugars and salt and not enough fruit, vegetables, oily fish and fibre, says a new report.
The sensationalist media coverage around so called ‘stealth halal’ is only fuelled by the lack of certification harmonisation, Food Navigator’s Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn argues.
Young Australians are consuming more soft drinks, burgers and chips than ever before, according to a report released today from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Growing interest in the potential for insects as a source of healthy and sustainable protein was demonstrated again at Vitafoods Europe, where 4ento CEO Ana Day told us that insect consumption needs to become 'sexy'.
French food major Groupe Danone is now turning to Indian women, rather than relying on its tested global strategies, to crack the competitive Indian market.
Adelaide University has embarked on a new, three-year research project to identify the key concerns among consumers about how livestock is treated and how much they are willing to pay for ethically produced meat.
Digging into innovation & NPD with Datamonitor consumer
Black ingredients are considered healthier in China and black breakfast cereals are making a debut splash in the market; a trend Western companies should take note of, says a Datamonitor researcher.
Australian dairy Norco Cooperative has secured a deal with Chinese authorities that allows it to fast-track quarantine clearance for its fresh milk exports - slashing the time it takes to reach consumers in China to just seven days.
Spanish brewer Mahou San Miguel announced yesterday that it has established its first international subsidiary in India through the acquisition of 100% of Arian Breweries & Distilleries.
A University of Auckland research team has found that people who eat both fruit and vegetables will have the best protection against common pancreatic diseases.
The huge amounts of food and agricultural produce that end up as waste could be used to feed insects and produce high-quality animal protein that is better for environment, according to Professor Arnold van Huis.
Vietnamese government initiatives designed to boost the average height of citizens by encouraging milk consumption have contributed significantly to the growth of the country's drinking milk products category in recent years, according to Euromonitor.
Some New Zealand infant formula manufacturers and brand-owners could be temporarily blocked from exporting to China if they are unable to meet the requirements of a new register by May 1.
Exclusive interview: Pat Crowley, director and founder of Chapul
As one of the forerunners of the commercialization of edible insects in the US, Chapul, makes its first big push into the national market with its cricket protein bars, founder Pat Crowley caught up with FoodNavigator-USA on the enviable efficiency of...
Häagen-Dazs is calling on Japanese consumers to eat their vegetables after announcing the launch in May of two new, veggie-influenced ice cream flavours.
How do food processors know how much salt is needed to give peanuts the best flavour and how much goes to waste? An Australian research team hopes to provide the answer after developing a new 3D modelling technique to show how flavour particles react...
Consumers have spent years paying over the odds for organic foods based on the erroneous belief - promulgated by stakeholders with a vested interest - that they are healthier and safer than their conventional counterparts, claims a controversial new report.
Consumers who eat white or brown rice every day tend to have better overall diet quality and nutrient intake, according to a study of five-year data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Scotland’s whisky industry is celebrating a “major breakthrough” in Australia, where this the spirit was registered as a certification trademark. The move comes after a long battle by Scotch Whisky Association to counter fakes, for which Australia has...
A New Zealand family of four could save as much as NZ$49 (US$41.80) per week by avoiding the supermarket when buying their fruit and vegetables, a new study suggests.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, which is one of Australia’s biggest health unions, has thrown its weight behind a front-of-pack labelling system for food sold in Australia.
New Zealand’s reputation in China as a provider of safe and quality dairy products has taken a heavy blow in recent times, a new consumer confidence survey suggests.
Along with the camel and the world’s highest tower, the humble date is one of the most enduring icons of the UAE, and soon it will be recognised for its importance to international agriculture.
Even though Singapore’s obesity rate is steadily rising, a recent poll there has shown the majority of its residents do not read or understand the information printed on food packaging.
