Danone has reported ‘solid growth’ in its infant formula brand Aptamil in China for the first six months of 2023, while functional drink brand Mizone has recovered from underperformance after product revamps.
Healthier snacking brand Hey! Chips is looking to overcome the dominance of ultra-processed snacks in the market by innovating with whole ingredients to make scalable clean label products.
Nestle Malaysia says extensive format and flavour innovations in its product development have helped d drive healthy Q2FY2023 business growth, giving the firm renewed confidence in its ability to secure a profitable rest of the year.
Australian supplements brand Henry Blooms has launched its vitamin spray range in the US, citing that high consumer knowledge and acceptance enabled ease of entry into the market.
Ukraine’s Nemiroff Vodka is banking on its premium vodka offerings made via a combination of multiple filtration stages and high-quality wheat to expand its progress into major targets in the Asia Pacific region.
New Zealand mead brand Lone Bee is hoping to strengthen its exports to South East Asia by entering a major supermarket, and is on the lookout for regional partners for potential new flavour collaborations.
Lebanese chocolatier Patchi has entered the Singaporean market via local partner FJ Benjamin, and the brand has revealed strict supply chain and storage management as crucial to maintaining the premium quality of its chocolates.
Thai fish sauce firm Squid Brand says innovation within the category is its priority to keep up with evolving trends, rather than diversifying into other product segments.
Middle Eastern snacks firm Hunter Foods believes its Dubai-centric operations gives it a prime advantage in growing its premium snacks business due to the rich demographic mix and propensity for luxury in the city, eyeing to grow revenue threefold in...
Singapore-based OnlyEg has rapidly grown its presence in various markets across the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions with a focus on the taste and texture of its ‘no sacrifice’ plant-based eggs, available in a multitude of ready-to-eat (RTE) formats.
Experts have highlighted the need to balance functionality and taste to move healthy beverages into the mainstream in APAC, with some consensus that personalised nutrition, gut health, and mental wellness are set to become emerging growth areas.
Thai homegrown bakery specialist Fershay has grown its packaged product portfolio to encompass a variety of sweet flavours with an emphasis on its signature soft fluffy texture.
Malaysian brand Amazin’ Graze’s says the addition of probiotics into its protein powder line-up has provided a more ‘complete nutritional profile’ as consumers look for a wider range of health benefits.
Indonesian specialty coffee brand JJ Royal Coffee is looking to balance the authenticity of Indonesian coffee with localization trends to make its specialty products more accessible, as it eyes expansion in China, Japan, and South Korea.
Halal sauce brand Mahsuri believes it will soon have the ‘first ever automated soy sauce making system,’ in Malaysia, as it plans to accelerate R&D to tap on consumer trends around convenience, health, and plant-based alternatives.
Delhi-headquartered brewery Bira 91 has detailed how consumer demands for ‘healthier and more experimental’ products are guiding its innovation strategy, while also revealing its plans for a ‘premium’ Indian beer.
Korean cultivated meat player Seawith says that collaboration needs to be balanced with competition to deliver a ‘great product’ for the market, as it outlines its partnership strategy on both B2B and B2C fronts.
Gin specialist Crafter’s has created a unique edible ‘gin spray’ to circumvent the challenges arising from consumer reluctance to participate in product sampling after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premium chocolatier brand Guylian has moved to streamline its portfolio to ‘improve focus’, while simultaneously expanding its dark chocolate offerings.
Liqueur heavyweight Jagermeister is looking to broaden its market appeal to consumers beyond the college age group that it is conventionally associated with two new products.
Fonterra says the microbiome is increasingly taking the centre stage when it comes to human health, with its new nutrition science venture arm identifying China and US as key investment targets for personalised solutions.
Singapore organic juice brand WOLF + WALD says ‘affordable premiumisation’ is key to driving sales as it innovates with flavours ‘almost unheard of’ in the region.
Long-established sauces brand Lee Kum Kee says it is keeping up with the times through flavour localisation, and staying attuned to global trends by introducing heathier options and convenience sauces.
Singapore upcycled beer brand CRUST Group has seen a CAGR of over 70% since its first year of business, which has catalysed its overseas expansion plans and diversification into categories beyond beverages.
Nestle China’s is looking to capitalise on consumer confidence in its longstanding brand as well as its capabilities to overcome the challenges faced by its dairy business.
Alcohol heavyweight Diageo believes that the rising demand for premiumisation in APAC, and in particular economic growth in China, is placing the category in a strong position.
Dubai-based ice cream brand House of Pops has detailed how its product development is being influenced by consumer trends in the Middle East’s snacking space, including plant-based and clean eating, functional foods, and personalisation.
Cultivated meat company Cell AgriTech says it is benefitting from Malaysia’s advantage as a cost-competitive manufacturing hub as it outlines plans to roll out its first cultivated meat product by 2025.
Amway China has revealed plans to reduce the use of artificial colouring, preservatives, and sweeteners in its dietary supplement range as part of its sustainability efforts.
Thailand’s Brownie House believes that the local snacking sector is still strongly dominated by indulgence and premiumisation, making an overly-strong focus on healthier options difficult.
Candy specialist Ricola is benefitting from the growing popularity of sugar-free candies in APAC after ‘quietly’ undergoing a significant reformulation process and despite not shouting about it from the rooftops.
Danone has launched a dairy and plant milk powder blend designed for infants and toddlers in Australia and New Zealand – the first of its kind that the firm has introduced in Asia Pacific.
Prosecco specialist firm Bottega is looking to give the champagne sector in Asia Pacific and beyond a run for its money, banking on both its premium bottles and newly-launched RTD ranges to provide both affordability and high quality.
New Zealand oat milk pioneers Otis Oat Milk believes that its first production plant in the country will boost growth and provide ‘huge’ cost reductions.
Better-for-you beverage trends and ingredients are starting to see a convergence between markets in the Asia Pacific and United States as comsumer awareness grows, according to energy tea brand YATE.
Singapore’s Shandi Global has developed a range of plant-based products that it says are equally, if not more, nutritious than regular chicken meat, which will soon be brought to market both locally and overseas.
Delhi-based digital retailer Wellversed says evolving from a distributor model to now also creating its own products has been key to gaining a more holistic understanding of the Indian consumer, as it outlines plans to expand its brand portfolio.
PepsiCo has launched the first edition of its Greenhouse Accelerator programme in the Asia Pacific region, seeking inventive solutions focused on sustainable packaging and climate change reduction.
Australia-based brand The Mad Foodies is aiming to satiate growing demand for ready meals that are not only convenient and tasty, but also infused with science-backed nutritional benefits.
Ice cream brand Heritage Kulfi is preparing to take its portfolio of South-Asian flavors to the Midwest and Northeast with the help of KeHe’s elevate program, as brand founder Mansoor Ahmed told FoodNavigator-USA.
Singapore start-up Jungle Kitchen is targeting growing interest in sustainable eating and indigenous ingredients, with ambitions to bring its vegan ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products beyond Asia.
Seaweed snack giant Taokaenoi has launched several new format innovations of its products to capitalise on rising consumer demand for convenience and flavour intensification in its various target markets.
Thai plant-based firm Mantra is positioning itself as a viable alternative for seafood allergy sufferers, while also hoping to change consumer perception of “high-sodium” alt-protein products with its MSG-free offerings.
Chocolate specialist Ritter Sport believes that a focus on prominent packaging and experiential textures is important to overcome the challenge of lower chocolate consumption rates in the Asia Pacific region.
Philippines-based plant-based firm WTH Foods is in the process of expanding into both the European and South East Asian markets with its new low-sodium, clean label plant-based seafood products.
Malaysia-based Miaow Miaow says taste still tops health claims in the snacking category as it prioritises marketing campaigns for greater brand awareness in its key regional export markets.
