CG Foods eyes Middle East, Europe for instant noodle entry
Nepal’s CG Foods is pitching Wai Wai instant noodles as versatile snack and meal alternatives, eyeing entry into Middle East and European markets
Prepared foods
Fi Asia 2025
Clean label demand fuelling fruit and vegetable opportunities
The clean label movement is driving fresh ways to use fruits and vegetables in food manufacturing and product innovation
Fi Asia 2025
China ginseng major launches trendy products to attract Gen Z consumers
China’s Herbal Player has captured traditional ginseng benefits in modern formats such as sodas, aiming to tap on Gen Z interest for convenient functionality
BLACKPINK Jisoo-recommended tomato chips expands flavours, packaging
Fashion Food tomato chips, made viral by BLACKPINK’s Jisoo in 2023, have launched bold new flavours and packaging to grow their social media snack success
‘Food labels go beyond marketing’: India signals tighter rules ahead
FSSAI signalled tighter scrutiny of food labelling and advertising to meet global standards after a multi-ministerial consultation
Bean-Free coffee brand Prefer adds ice cream, chocolate ranges
Singapore’s bean-free coffee pioneer Prefer expands into ice cream and chocolate, offering new plant-based treats powered by food tech innovation
Middle East rises in global halal food manufacturing race
As demand for halal food grows, the Middle East is emerging as a strong competitor to South East Asia in global halal manufacturing
Planet, people, nutrition: Samyang’s three-pronged sustainability drive
Samyang Foods is ramping up its eco-friendly product development and nutrition-focused offerings as part of a broader sustainability strategy
Dark stores and deep risks: What APAC can learn from India’s Q-commerce
India’s Zepto license suspension exposes hygiene and safety risks as APAC markets embrace rapid delivery and dark store models
Chinese food brands localising products to crack South East Asia
Chinese food brands are making inroads into South East Asia by localising innovation to compete with entrenched global players
Winning with localisation in Asia: 3 key strategies for growth
Amid Asia’s dominant megatrend of localisation, presence, customisation, and communication are the 3 key strategies brands must adopt to thrive
Ajinomoto’s protein ice cream blends nutrition and indulgence
Ajinomoto has partnered Solein to create protein-enriched ice cream targeting consumers that value nutrition, health and sustainability in their indulgences
Food safety breaches surge in South Korea as summer hits
South Korea has seen a spike in food safety violations with the arrival of summer, highlighting concerns over contamination risks and inspection failures
Vietnamese clean-label brand plans 2025 export push to EU, US, Asia
Vietnam’s DH Foods is eyeing 2025 global growth with clean-label sauces and soups, leveraging its additive-free expertise to go mainstream overseas
Consumers crave convenience, comfort — but also affordability and health
Online delivery consumers are driven by convenience and emotion towards ‘unhealthy’ foods, but also support making healthier options more affordable
MILO at 75: Exclusive behind-the-scenes look at iconic Nestlé brand
Explore how Nestlé’s MILO is made with rare behind-the-scenes access and exclusive insights into its production, branding, and legacy in Asia
当下热点：新加坡 Nutri-Grade、即饮茶 3.0 以及更多社交媒体热门新闻
本期“当下热点”包含新加坡 Nutri-Grade、即饮茶 3.0 以及更多社交媒体热门新闻
トレンドトラッカー 利便性、アルトプロテイン、AI
利便性、アルトプロテイン、AI、その他のトレンドをまとめています。
Taiwan state distillery taps food market with alcohol-based instant noodles
Taiwan’s state distillery has diversified into the food industry with alcohol-based instant noodles, blending beverage expertise with ready-to-eat innovation
Alt Protein Watch: Calming matcha latte, UPFs, high protein chocolate and more
Calming matcha latte, UPFs, high protein chocolate and more feature in this edition of Alt Protein Watch
Social media cuts food waste but fuels impulsive buying - study
New research reveals that social media can help reduce food waste but also increases impulsive consumer food purchasing behaviour
Penghu Uncle eyes Singapore as next big export market for premium sauces
Penghu Uncle has set its sights on Singapore as for its premium seafood-based sauces and snacks, hoping to use it as a springboard into ASEAN
Why ultra-processing should not be an argument against alt proteins
Ultra-processing is often cited as a key factor hindering alternative protein acceptance in Asia – but perhaps better communication is all that is need to solve this quandary
‘Convenience is the buzzword’: Tee Yih Jia expands ready-to-eat range for Asia and beyond
Singapore’s Tee Yih Jia is rolling out new ready-to-eat products and customised food solutions to drive growth in retail and B2B markets.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS
RTC pastes: Culture and convenience combo crucial to entice young Asian consumers
Ready-to-cook (RTC) pastes can tap the rising at-home cooking boom in Asia by including a combo of heritage and convenience in their innovations.
UAE and South Korea pegged as ‘dark horses’ in regional food AI leadership
National AI prioritisation by the UAE and South Korea could see both nations leading regional AI usage for the food sector in the near future.
House Foods urges food brands to focus on going mainstream – or risk getting ‘washed out’
Global instant curry leader House Foods says food innovation needs to eschew passing fads if firms want to build a lasting legacy.
Mushroom mania: China’s Yalexian taps rising demand for natural and umami to boost exports
China mushroom specialist Yalexian is banking on rising demand for natural and umami to expand the sales of its products to new markets such as Europe and New Zealand.
Indonesian start-up taps health and upcycling trends to modernise traditional pastries
Indonesian start-up Dapur Mempura is utilising food trends such as health and wellness as well as upcycled ingredients to modernise traditional local pastries.
Alt protein not enough: Products must also offer functional benefits
South Korea’s Koralo believes that alternative protein products need to offer superfood benefits to entice a new audience.
Kewpie looks to expand focus ‘beyond the salad bowl’ in Asia
Japan’s Kewpie believes that there is a role for its mayonnaise-based sauces in consumption occasions outside salads in Asia, targeting areas such as RTE meals and bakery.
GULFOOD
SAMBAZON prioritises product taste testing over advertising to win over new consumers
US-based açaí brand SAMBAZON is prioritising taste testing promotional activities over advertising in the Middle East, with the former has shown strong customer conversion rates.
Gluten-free in the spotlight under new Singapore pre-packaged food rules
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has introduced new pre-packaged food regulations, with a focus on gluten and improving the clarity of ingredient labelling.
Kewpie looks to apply elderly-friendly food development expertise from Japan to China market
Japan’s Kewpie hopes to apply the expertise it has developed in producing elderly friendly foods in Japan to the China market in light of the latter’s rapidly increasing elderly population size.
Complex factors driving global public attitudes towards salt reduction: Multi-country study
Customised, culturally sensitive strategies are needed to reduce sodium intake globally due to significant variations in public attitudes toward salt reduction across seven diverse countries, according to a recent multi-country study.
Five major trends set to shape APAC food and beverage industry growth in 2025
We take a closer look at five of the top trends that look set to have a major impact on the growth of the Asia Pacific food and beverage industry in 2025, from affordability and accessibility taking centre stage, alternative protein rejigs,...
Plant-based diet, mental health interventions may help improve older adult sleep
There may be a positive correlation between nutrient-rich plant-based diets and improved sleep health among older adults, according to a study by researchers in China.
Frequent fast food linked to higher depression, anxiety risk in young adults: HK study
Frequent consumption of certain fast food items may increase the risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms in young adults, say researchers in Hong Kong.
FNA TRAILBLAZERS EP 54
HaruPlate to tap gaming and cultural triggers to get young children eating healthy
Singapore-based children’s food firm HaruPlate is looking to tap on mediums of gameplaying as well as cultural influences to get kids in the APAC region to first eat at all, then eat healthier.
Low-fat, high-carb diets, food insecurity linked to obesity – Korea study
A new study has found a close association between low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, food insecurity, and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) among the South Korean population.
Indonesia WTO submission warns food firms against high sugar, salt or fat content
The Indonesian government’s latest notification to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has included a stern warning to both domestic and foreign food firms against introducing products with high sugar, salt or fat content.
Probiotics, botanicals dominating packaged foods
Recent research findings by Euromonitor International highlight the prominence of probiotic and botanical ingredients in packaged foods in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, which also underscores innovation opportunities for wider application and variation.
Fusion focus: Italian food with a Japanese twist key for frozen food firm's SEA expansion
Japanese-based Italian food brand Amici is aiming to fuse the traditions of both cuisines as it seeks to exports frozen products to South East Asia.
Thai Wah expands into retail space with focus on noodles and ready-to-cook kits
Thai Wah plans to launch its instant noodles and baking premixes in the retail space, tapping its decades-long experience in supplying starch and noodles to manufacturers.
Safe food, safe kids: South Korea eyes legislation-led improvements in rural Children’s Diet Safety Index
South Korea is looking to improve the Children’s Diet Safety Index in its rural areas, after seeing poorer results compared to urban cities and the national average.
Contradiction challenges: Indonesian food innovation must cater to dual demands for health and heavy flavours
Food manufacturers in Indonesia face a particularly salient challenge in meeting consumer demands for healthier options, while being accustomed to strong and heavy flavours.
Vietnam’s Vinh Hoan appeals to children and elderly averse to fish with surimi-wrapped dumplings
Vietnamese firm Vinh Hoan aims to appeal to children and the elderly who dislike eating fish with its surimi-wrapped dumplings, which are part of its product portfolio targeting the needs of time-strapped consumers.
Japanese researchers develop nutrient profiling model to spur healthier food options
A group of Japanese researchers have developed a nutrient profiling model (NPM) adapted to the local food culture and health policies, in the hope of establishing an official system to promote healthier product formulation and better food choices.
Seafood firm Yeam Seng steps up expansion of ready-to-cook portfolio targeting busy consumers and exports
Malaysia-based seafood company Yeam Seng Frozen Goods & Fishery is channelling more resources into expanding its ready-to-cook portfolio to capture busy consumers and facilitate entry into overseas markets.
Sticks and snacks: Swees launches 'world-first' vegan rice-based cheese sticks to further reach within snacking sector
Plant-based cheese brand Swees has launched what it claims to be the world’s first vegan rice-based cheese stick product with support from the Thai government, believing this will help it to gain a stronger standing in the snacking category.