Growth Asia Summit 2026: Blackmores, Fast&Up to highlight active nutrition
Active nutrition will take the spotlight at this year’s Growth Asia Summit 2026, with Blackmores and Fast&Up taking the stage to share expert insights
Industry growth
FHA 2026
ASEAN poised as next halal growth market amid Middle East turmoil
South East Asia has all the parts in place to emerge as the key halal growth market for food amid the Middle East conflict — but will the region be able to grasp this opportunity?
ジャパン フォーカス：グリコが語るスナックのトレンド、甘酒ゼリースティック、お茶のイノベーション
今月のJapan Focus:では、スナック分野におけるグリコの成長戦略、消費者に合わせた甘酒の現代的なアレンジ、お茶のイノベーションなどについて深く掘り下げています。
FBIF 2026
Ginseng democratisation: Advancing the Food as Medicine movement
With the concept of Food As Medicine growing rapidly in Asia, ginseng specialist firm Herbal Player is making the most of its nanotech to make affordable, market-first products
Taylors Wines bets on lighter reds and Asian cuisine for Syrah launch
As demand grows for lighter, food-friendly reds, Taylors Wines is entering the category with a Syrah targeted for Asian cuisine
Japan Focus: Glico on snack trends, amazake jelly sticks, tea innovation and more
In this edition of Japan Focus, we dive into Glico’s strategy for growth in the snack category, modernising amazake for consumers, tea innovations, and more
From protein to prebiotics: 11 launches tapping into longevity nutrition
Brands are reformulating everyday foods with more protein, fibre and functional ingredients as consumers look to support strength, digestion and long-term wellbeing through daily eating habits
Up the food chain
Embracing ‘genba’: Glico on balancing global trends with localisation
Yukio Kimura, COO of Glico Asia Pacific, says understanding “genba” – the field where operations and consumer interactions take place – is key to keeping brands relevant in diverse markets
Carlsberg Malaysia reaffirms premiumisation as key growth lever amid uncertainty
Carlsberg Malaysia will double down on its premiumisation priorities, leveraging premium products and innovation to drive growth despite challenging market conditions
FHA 2026
Fries that fly? Curly fry inventor Lamb Weston taps novelty for new retail ranges
Curly fry inventor Lamb Weston is building on its legacy heritage with novelty-led, convenient retail fries innovation to draw today’s shoppers
Food Ingredients China 2026
Healthy China 2030 spurs wellness-driven food additive innovation
Food companies pivot to plant-based additives and health-forward messaging to meet consumer demand and align with the Healthy China 2030 Blueprint
Vietnam halts food safety overhaul — but reform remains on agenda
Vietnam officials have paused the country’s food safety restructuring, stressing that the reform agenda is temporarily delayed rather than abandoned
FBIF 2026
Kraft Heinz insights: Is the concept of consumer brand loyalty dead?
In an era where consumers are bombarded with new products at every turn and purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by technology, is brand loyalty no longer a thing? There is hope yet, says Kraft Heinz
FHA 2026
Taiwan courts overseas halal food markets with culture, health benefits
Taiwan’s halal brands are leveraging health messaging and cultural appeal to attract overseas consumers from Asia Pacific and the Middle East
Tee Yih Jia targets plant-based growth with Asian-Western fusion
Tee Yih Jia is betting on Asian-Western fusion to grow its ALTN plant-based range, diverging from Western-style formats amid slowdown in the plant-based category
K Food exports set to take major hit after losing Middle East growth
South Korea’s K Food export growth momentum face a sharp slowdown as the Middle East — its key growth engine — weakens from the US-Iran conflict
China Focus: TaoKaeNoi x Chen Zheyuan collab, processed foods debate, gut health trends in China, and more
This edition features TaoKaeNoi’s new brand ambassador Chen Zheyuan, a rethink of processed food additives, rising demand for natural gut health products in China and more
FIC 2026
Flashy and sweet: Brands tap health trends in artificial sweetener push
Leveraging weight loss, gut and dental health trends, Chinese firms are increasingly creative in reframing artificial sweeteners as a health aligned choice
Food Ingredients China 2026
Gut health, clean label foods surge in China market
Chinese consumers are driving demand for natural, gut-friendly and plant-based ingredients, mirroring global trends and boosting innovation in functional products
TaoKaeNoi taps Chinese celebrity star power to boost seaweed snack growth
Thailand’s TaoKaeNoi has appointed Chinese celeb Chen Zheyuan as its global ambassador, tapping rising demand for Asian snacks and building a healthy positioning
Nestlé backs filtered brews as next major coffee trend
Nestlé predicts filtered coffee will see a surge that reflects rising consumer demand for cleaner flavours and innovative brews, especially in APAC
FIC 2026
‘There are no bad additives, only bad humans’: Experts urge fairer view of processed foods
Top Chinese food science leaders have urged consumers and industry to make fairer judgements of processed foods and additives, calling the sector badly misunderstood
Alt protein strategies: ‘Identity priming’ and hybrid meat
The concepts of shared identity messaging and hybrid meat show potential to increase alt protein uptake
Packaging Happenings: Bite-sized butters, Japan nutrition labels and more
Bite-sized butters, Japan nutrition labels and more feature in this edition of Packaging Happenings
Bite-sized dairy: Award-winning Belgian candy butter eyes global stage
Belgian butter firm Plaquette has big ambitions for its bite-sized ‘candy’ butters
Animal-plant mince key to revive APAC alt-protein push: NECTAR study
Blended chicken-plant mince has outperformed real meat in APAC taste tests, though gaps remain across the category in flavour, appearance and compositional balance
Japan Focus: Sodium labelling shift, Asahi cyberattack, silkworm protein, and more
This edition covers Japan’s sodium labelling shift, Asahi’s profit dip post-cyberattack, silkworm protein for health, and more
6 key food innovation trends driven by feel good indulgence
Consumer demand for indulgence — and feeling good about it — is increasingly driving food innovation strategies. Here are six key drivers powering this change.
Gen Z habits shift energy drinks towards flavour and drinkability
Gen Zs are leaning into lighter, natural flavours to support lifestyle habits, from prolonged screen time to gaming and studying
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Beyond disruption: What Big Food actually needs from startups
What separates startups that move forward from the ones that stall?
Growth Asia Summit 2026: Duke-NUS Medical School, Morinaga, Yeo’s to present kids’ nutrition
Growth Asia Summit 2026 takes place from July 8 to 10 in Singapore, and childhood nutrition is one of the main themes to be covered on the first day of the summit.
Tetra Pak urges rapid food innovation to ease supply chain strain
With food supply chains under strain and consumer demands intensifying worldwide, Tetra Pak calls for faster innovation to keep companies competitive
Alc-free growth: Free AF ramps up US plans with Whole Foods, Kroger launch
New Zealand alcohol-free cocktail brand has set its sights on driving rapid retail expansion in the US, tapping its proprietary botanical tech to offer innovative drinks to the market
Gulfood 2026
Açai leader SAMBAZON eyes Japan, Middle East to drive next growth phase
World’s largest açaí brand SAMBAZON is building on rapid growth in Japan and the Middle East to establish açaí as a lifestyle in the region
Vanity-led demand: Vitagen taps female audience with beauty-focused drinks
The probiotic cultured milk brand refocuses on gut health and collagen, riding on the beauty food revolution that has swept across food and wellness categories in Asia
Mood beverages: The ingredients spurring the category forward
Botanicals are the star of the show
Silkworm protein firm taps health and familiarity for regional growth
Japan’s Morus Inc is betting on demand for functional products and cultural familiarity with silkworms to drive expansion in Asia
Localised and functional: Asia energy drinks tap health demand
Energy drinks in Asia are evolving beyond caffeine as consumers seek added health benefits, opening opportunities for functional, better-for-you innovation
CP Foods: Turning global reach into resilient, localised food supplies
Thai food giant CP Foods is accelerating its localised food production strategy across global markets, by using its widespread network to support stronger supply and food security
RTDs and protein yogurts boost Fonterra as billion‑dollar payout nears
The New Zealand co-op’s next growth phase is backed by protein and cheese demand: but tensions in the Middle East could shake performance later this year
PepsiCo is in the middle of its biggest snack reset in years
From SKU cuts and factory closures to functional launches and acquisitions, PepsiCo is moving fast to streamline and prove its snack empire still matters
FIC 2026
Next-gen beancurd: Reinventing traditional protein for functional convenience
One of China’s most traditional proteins has been reimagined in a functional, convenient format, driving modern food industry growth
Who really controls the world’s food? The superpowers shaping supply
From wheat and soy to rice and sugar, global food power is increasingly concentrated and understanding who really holds the leverage has never mattered more for manufacturers
China Focus: Chinese brand appeal, tighter transport rules, mental health trends, and more
This edition explores the rising appeal of Chinese food brands, tighter transport rules for edible oils, alcohol and syrups, mental health trends, and more
Food and mental health in China: 2026 trends that brands should watch
China’s growing focus on mental wellness is shaping food trends, driving demand for fresh foods, dairy and lower-sugar options that balance health and indulgence
China appeal: Chinese food brands eye global growth via Singapore
Chinese food brands are using Singapore as a launchpad for overseas growth, partnering retailers such as Scarlett Supermarket to test international demand
Why upcycled ingredients struggle to scale in Asia Pacific
Despite growing interest, high costs, complex supply chains and uneven demand continue to limit large-scale adoption of upcycled ingredients across Asia Pacific
China tightens transport controls on edible oils, alcohol and syrups
Food and beverage firms with China dealings face tougher transport compliance rules for alcohol, edible oils and syrups starting this year
APAC e-commerce: Misleading claims, risks and opportunities
APAC’s booming e-commerce scene offers growth, but brands need to grapple with misleading claims and navigate grey areas in e-commerce
Science Shorts: Rice for weight control, functional dairy tech and more
Rice for weight control, functional dairy tech and more feature in this edition of Science Shorts