Food and beverage manufacturers in the Middle East have been urged to stop toeing the line in terms of making any off-pack claims for their products, given increasing awareness and warnings raised by governments in the region.
Good Good – known for its no added sugar keto bars and baking mixes – has closed a $20 million Series B round led by Iceland private equity firm SÍA IV and other investors.
Consumers are increasingly demanding more information about ingredients and traceability in the booming East-West fusion food category, that spans everything from pandan nuts to kaya ice cream.
Singapore’s upcoming implementation of its sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) labelling system Nutri-Grade is driving local beverage firms to reformulate and create low-sugar product options to avoid potential repercussions, including upcycled drinks firm...
Chinese consumers have determined the traffic light labelling system as well as distinct warning labels highlighting ‘negative’ nutrients such as sugar, salt and saturated fat to be the most effective forms of front-of-pack labelling (FOPL), according...
Indian plant-based chocolate firm CARRA has launched its first dairy-free white chocolate bar, aiming to ‘plug the gaps’ in its portfolio to appeal to a wider consumer base.
Drinking low- and no-calorie sweetened beverages (LNCSBs), as a substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) leads to small improvements in body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors, according to a new study.
The Australian beverage sector has hit out at veiled warnings of price increases and tax hikes for soft drinks detailed in the country’s latest obesity strategy, claiming that such policy measures are ineffective.
While consumers are clamouring for healthier beverages across APAC, spanning sugar reduction and the added functionality, the regulatory landscape still poses a significant challenge for brands.
Delegate ticket sales open today for our three-day, face-to-face Growth Asia Summit in Singapore this October, where we'll be dedicating days to Healthy Ageing, Probiotics, Prebiotics and the Microbiome, and Protein innovation.
Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore-based sugar alternative firm Swiftlet is widening its portfolio with the development of new ready-to-eat (RTE) and lower-cost options of its sugar replacement product, whilst also planning for entry into the European...
Maintaining price parity and maximising taste are two key priorities when formulating healthy and plant-based products, according to exclusive insights revealed by Nestle’s Malaysia and Singapore CEO Juan Aranols.
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.
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.
From new hemp regulations in India, to Singapore’s sugary beverage control policy, and plant-based labelling in multiple countries, we bring you five must-know policies and regulations that look set to have a significant impact on the Asia Pacific food...
Fifty-year-old Australian firm Continental Taralli is modernising its marketing and product development approach to stay up-to-date with current food trends such as gluten-free and healthy snacking, as it seeks to solidify its appeal amongst younger consumers.
Taiwan is seeking to approve new regulations that will enforce tougher nutritional labelling regulations for all packaged foods in the country once implemented, in a bid to prevent ‘hidden’ or ‘implied’ messages from manufacturers regarding calorific...
Sixty per cent of packaged non-alcoholic beverages (NABs) sold on the Singapore market contain high amounts of sugar and would be assigned under Grade C or D in the soon-to-be-implemented Nutri-Grade system.
New Zealand-based Zeffer Cider is looking to increase appeal with a broad audience by rolling out various innovations including unique flavours as well as seltzers and non-alcoholic options.
South Korea has announced new, tighter standards for food firms looking to label their products as being reduced or lower in sodium or sugar, starting with the nation’s most-consumed food product, ramen.
The global ingredients specialist has opened a $2m Technical Application Centre in Dubai, designed to help local producers in the bakery, dairy, beverage, sauce and dressing categories to develop formulations that address growing consumers demand in the...
Fruit product heavyweight Dole has revealed that it is focusing heavily on the use of new technologies and collaborations to overcome sugar reduction challenges for its packaged products portfolio, in hopes of reaching its 2025 zero processed sugar sustainability...
Philippines cocoa and chocolate firm Cacao Culture is riding the rising consumer demand for healthier products to draw younger consumers to the traditional local drink tablea, also dubbed the ‘healthiest form of hot chocolate available’.
Beverage giant Coca-Cola has observed a rise in demand for beverages with zero-sugar and reduced-sugar formulations in the South East Asian region, which became even more pronounced after the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The increase of online ‘junk food’ marketing to children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic poses a long term-health risk and has become a major public health concern, claim experts.
Nestle Indonesia has responded to the recent controversy that 60% of its global portfolio is made up of ‘unhealthy’ foods, stressing that reformulation and fortification are key priorities as it seeks to balance ‘nutrition and enjoyment’.
Convenience, nutrition and meeting localised needs have been identified by experts as the three top drivers that food firms looking to innovate in the healthy snacking space in Asia need to take note of in a post-COVID-19 world.
Food, beverage and nutrition solutions to aid digestive and metabolic health are becoming increasingly popular as Asia’s population rapidly ages, but future NPD needs to make these “effective solutions the easy solutions,” according to experts at the...
China’s first plant-based coconut yoghurt brand Yeyo has highlighted the importance of novelty, premiumisation and brand building in capturing the holy grail of middle-class consumers in the country after successfully launching its first flagship store...
The Asia Pacific juice industry is striving to be more than just an alternative to carbonated soft drinks by responding to increasing demands for functional, value-added and better-for-you products in the region.
Afternoon snacking has emerged as a rising trend in the Asia Pacific region driven by pandemic-induced habits, which is in turn acting as a boon for healthier snack options with consumers are increasingly wary of COVID-linked obesity or ‘Covibesity’.
Ingredient suppliers have identified four key trends that are driving beverage innovation in Asia-Pacific, namely non-dairy, low sugar, functional and sustainability.
A Malaysian firm that built a niche for itself within the country’s billion-dollar sweetened condensed milk market as the first product of its kind to use stevia instead of sugar has now set its sights on a major expansion drive.
DSM’s new venture Hologram Sciences plans to run a blood sugar management trial in Singapore to study how personalised approaches can help address pre-diabetes concerns, we can exclusively reveal.
Australia’s Famous Soda Co is embarking on plans to expand its better-for-you product portfolio beyond beverages to confectionery, as well as setting its sights on expansion into the ASEAN market.
The Australian beverages industry has expressed hopes that the government will reconsider its current stance on Health Star Ratings (HSR) for no added sugar juices after the sector emerged as the sole soft drinks growth category in the last quarter of...
Malaysian matcha specialist firm CEIT Spreads is honing its marketing and product development efforts on capturing consumers in search of the authentic real deal in matcha products, with a strong focus on providing the ‘real tea aroma’ in their spreads.
Food and beverage manufacturers in Asia have been urged to utilize two or more GI-reduction strategies when conducting product reformulation to maximise effectiveness and feasibility, according to Singapore food experts.
India-based Habbit Health and Nutrition has launched a range of what it claims to be ‘the healthiest ice creams on the planet’ dubbed Wise Creams, containing zero sugar, low fat content and no more than 50 calories per serving.
Singapore’s beverage sector is seeking increased industry engagement and a more holistic approach to sugar reduction, after the government opened public consultations for its proposed ‘Nutri-Grade’ sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) labelling scheme.
Turkish organic and natural foods firm Polenkoy, which focuses on healthier food products such as spreads, honey and oils, has its eye on solidifying business expansion in the Asia Pacific region by mirroring its success in offline channels in the digital...
Malaysian bak kwa company Oloiya (Chinese:我来也) is banking on flavour innovation to capture the younger market, as it bids to disrupt the century-old industry.
Yoghurt giant Chobani believes that versatility is the name of the game for the industry whether it comes to flavours, formats or ingredients, and has adapted its portfolio to offer products suitable for consumption occasions far beyond just breakfast.
Kerry is preparing to ramp-up promotion of its plant-based innovation service to brands in APAC and the Middle East, while also doubling down on emerging taste trends and better-for-you product innovation.
Singapore F&B heavyweight Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) is making plans to reformulate as many products as it can within its beverage portfolio to both keep up with consumer trends, as well as fall in line with upcoming government standards.
Researchers have consolidated the glycaemic index (GI) of 940 common Asian and Middle Eastern food items such as nasi lemak, chapati, dim sum, dates and habba hamra in a review article published in the Nutrition and Diabetes journal.
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast, we speak to the CEO of Singapore-based sugar innovation firm Nutrition Innovation Matthew Godfrey about the challenges he faced when moving from an MNC to a start-up, and why he believes sugar...
Bakery heavyweight Julie’s has forecasted a positive outlook for the biscuits market in South East Asia, amidst its complete brand makeover efforts and plans to dive deeper into various existing markets.
