Asian tastes

Malaysia’s herbal leadership the result of government support

Interview: Prof Suhaila Mohamed, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Malaysia’s herbal leadership the result of government support

By RJ Whitehead

Government financing and promotion of herbal ingredients research has helped Malaysia to become one of the world leaders in the field, according to one of the country’s pre-eminent researchers.

Environment means it's a tough task to boost private label popularity

China focus

Environment means it's a tough task to boost private label popularity

By RJ Whitehead

A Rabobank report this week estimated that India and China will by 2030 see the growth of private label food goods reach similar levels to which European retailers currently enjoy. However, one China specialist has urged caution in accepting such long-term...

India quicker than China to adopt private labels

India quicker than China to adopt private labels

By RJ Whitehead

India’s modern food retailers are adopting private labels at a faster pace than their counterparts in China - and in Europe before them - according to a new report from Rabobank, which says Indian retail reforms will likely boost the uptake of affordable...

Obesity needs tackling, but only through considered measures

Soapbox

Obesity needs tackling, but only through considered measures

By Katherine Rich, chief executive of the NZ Food & Grocery Council

The level of obesity among New Zealanders, and children in particular, is a major concern, with 28% of adults and one in 10 children aged between two and 14 classed as obese. What’s more, the figures are even higher when broken down by ethnicity. 

Junk food industry should prepare for plain and graphic label debate

Opinion

Junk food industry should prepare for plain and graphic label debate

By RJ Whitehead

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the adoption of plain and highly graphic packaging last year by the Australian tobacco industry has led to a marked reduction in smoking, albeit in a very short time. And when you see some of the frightening images on...

VKL to get $40m investment to focus fully on Indian QSR supply

Finance

VKL to get $40m investment to focus fully on Indian QSR supply

By RJ Whitehead

Private equity investor India Value Fund Advisors has revealed it will invest US$40m to finance the next phase of growth of a domestic food ingredients company – the latest in a line of QSR suppliers to catch the eye of buyout firms.

‘Milk protein products offer safe haven for embattled Chinese’

Interview

‘Milk protein products offer safe haven for embattled Chinese’

By RJ Whitehead

Last month, Arla Foods Ingredients launched its new Nutrilac Natural Improvers range together in both Europe and China. The idea was to provide natural and functional proteins derived from milk to enhance the bakery process while still being able to list...

Hui halal hub bringing back Silk Road trade between China and Gulf

Snapshot: China

Hui halal hub bringing back Silk Road trade between China and Gulf

By RJ Whitehead

Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China is home to 10% of the country’s 20m Muslims. While by no means does it have a majority Muslim population, the strong Islamic tradition by the ethnic Hui people of this Silk Road region dates back to its...

Don't try to tell a Thai which kind of mango he should like

Case study: Synergy's new Bangkok hub

Don't try to tell a Thai which kind of mango he should like

By RJ Whitehead

Last month, Synergy, the Irish-owned flavours and ingredients company, opened a new manufacturing facility in Thailand, making it the latest in a long line of Western companies tapping the country as a major outpost.

Food producers: Stop thinking India is a monolith

Ankush at large

Food producers: Stop thinking India is a monolith

By Ankush Chibber

To continue on from my last piece, which questioned whether Indian food companies are targeting the right sort of kitchens—domestic, rather than commercial—it is now important to touch on the current trend among foreign food makers, who are wrongly viewing...

UN endorses Australian's call for the world to eat more insects

Asian tastes

UN endorses Australian's call for the world to eat more insects

By RJ Whitehead

A book released this week by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s forestry department attempts to persuade Westerners that they should see insects as a potential key food source for the future. This will no doubt please Australian “science communicator”...

Nestlé Japan 100 years on: wasabi KitKats and nutrition on wheels

Company update

Nestlé Japan 100 years on: wasabi KitKats and nutrition on wheels

By RJ Whitehead

A great deal has changed in Japanese society since Nestlé opened the doors to its Far East division for the first time 100 years ago. And as the company moves into its second century, Japan now faces a raft of issue brought about by a chronically ageing...

An unconventional approach to capture the flavour of China

Case study: Firmenich

An unconventional approach to capture the flavour of China

By RJ Whitehead

According to Pierre-Alain Ceralli, Firmenich’s vice-president for flavours in China, the country now represents 20% of the total flavour industry’s potential. Furthermore, as China transforms its economy from export-led GDP to a domestic-led economic...

Interview: How flavours of Asia differ between markets

Asian tastes

Interview: How flavours of Asia differ between markets

By RJ Whitehead

FoodNavigator-Asia reported this week that New Zealand’s Taura Natural Ingredients is getting ready to launch a new range of concentrated fruit pieces for bakery and food service operators in Asia.

Fonterra unveils NZ$100m UHT processing investment

Fonterra unveils NZ$100m UHT processing investment

By Mark Astley

Fonterra will invest more than NZ$100m ($82.4m, €62.8m) in a new ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk and cream processing plant in New Zealand in an attempt to meet growing Asian demand for heat-treated dairy products.

Guests dine on landmark research at new gourmet restaurant

Kinki tuna

Guests dine on landmark research at new gourmet restaurant

By RJ Whitehead

Western Japan's Kinki University will soon open a restaurant in downtown Osaka specialising in blue-fin tuna and other types of fish that have been artificially raised from eggs at its aquaculture facilities.

China wakes up, smells Nestlé’s ‘unique’ coffee flavor

NESTLE POISED FOR CONTINUED CHINESE COFFEE DOMINANCE: ANALYST

China wakes up, smells Nestlé’s ‘unique’ coffee flavor

By Ben BOUCKLEY

Nestlé’s ‘smart investment’ in Chinese whole bean coffee is likely to consolidate its market-leading position within the category there, as it stands poised to release a local product, according to a top beverage analyst.

CP Foods seeking fortune in Vietnam

Company profile

CP Foods seeking fortune in Vietnam

By RJ Whitehead

Thai food major Charoen Pokphand Foods will continue to view Vietnam as one of its biggest investment destinations, and this year the company plans to focus on growing its food processing business in the country.

Jacob de Lichtenberg, head of Aktiefokus China

INDUSTRY VOICES: HEAD OF AKTIEFOKUS CHINA, JACOB DE LICHTENBERG

Tsingtao scales up beer operations in China’s bustling Henan province

By Jacob de Lichtenberg

In this guest article, Jacob de Lichtenberg, head of Aktiefokus China, gives BeverageDaily.com readers the lowdown on Tsingtao Brewery’s plans to build a brewery in Henan province, where beer production is booming.

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