asiafoodbeverages – Asia Food Beverages https://asiafoodbeverages.com Wed, 27 Mar 2024 22:37:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FB-Logo-scaled.jpg asiafoodbeverages – Asia Food Beverages https://asiafoodbeverages.com 32 32 Rising demand for Dairy Products in Indonesia fueled by 4 major factors https://asiafoodbeverages.com/rising-demand-for-dairy-products-in-indonesia-fueled-by-4-major-factors/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 22:37:12 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16194

According to latest report entitled Indonesia Dairy Food Industry by Ken Research, the Indonesian dairy industry is projected to experience robust growth with a CAGR of 5.4% from 2022 to 2027, and is expected to reach US$12.7 billion by 2027.

Ken Research attributed the growth to rising health awareness, a growing population with higher disposable incomes, and a sweet tooth for innovation. The following are the 4 major factors for growth:

* Health Takes Center Stage: Consumers are increasingly prioritizing their well-being, driving demand for fortified milk, yogurt with live cultures, and even dairy alternatives catering to specific dietary needs.

* Expanding Wallets: Rising disposable income allows consumers to explore diverse dairy options, indulge in premium choices, and embrace new flavor trends.

* Urbanization Cravings: Busy lifestyles in urban areas crave * convenient and readily available dairy products, fueling the rise of single-serve options, ready-to-drink milk, and innovative snacking solutions.

* Lactose Intolerance Not a Barrier: Growing awareness of lactose intolerance and veganism is leading to a surge in plant- based and lactose-free options, widening the consumer base.

The report emphasised that the Indonesian dairy market is not just growing but is also evolving. Exciting future trends to watch include rapid growth of functional dairy products i.e. milk infused with probiotics, vitamins, and minerals, or yogurts with added protein. These products cater to the rising number of health-conscious consumers seeking added benefits in their dairy choices.

In the future, there will also be increasing demand for personalisation and customisation not only in Indonesia but globally. Products can be tailor made to individual nutritional needs or taste preferences, all thanks to the rapid development of AI and other technologies.

Finally, demand for ‘sustainable’ products will grow as environmentally- conscious consumers drive the demand for eco-friendly packaging and sourcing in dairy products. Dairy manufacturers will respond with initiatives like using recycled materials or support sustainable farming practices. With higher disposable incomes in Indonesia, demand for these products which will be sold at a premium will eventually grow as well especially in the major urban cities like Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya.

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Döhler offers natural solutions to ‘Peach Fuzz’, Pantone® Colour of the Year 2024 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/dohler-offers-natural-solutions-to-peach-fuzz-pantone-colour-of-the-year-2024/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:52:58 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16190

This year, Döhler is showcasing an extensive portfolio of natural colour solutions which includes the vibrant eye-catching shade of ‘Peach Fuzz’, the Pantone® Colour of the Year.

For over a quarter-century, Pantone’s Colour of the Year has influenced a wide array of industries including food and beverages, architecture, cosmetics and fashion. Each year’s impactful colour is chosen through an analysis of socio-economic and political trends, cultural shifts and evolving consumer preferences. Peach Fuzz 13-1023, with its velvety peach tone represents kindness, joy and well-being, and reflects an attitude towards life that is longing for calmness and a balanced way of living.

Research by Döhler Insights also indicated a growing association of orange and yellow foods with vitamin intake and health, a trend aligning with the rising interest in self-care and well-being. Peach Fuzz, therefore, is not just a colour; it represents a lifestyle choice that prioritises health and joy.

By leveraging Döhler’s natural, additive-free colour portfolio, manufacturers can incorporate the essence of Peach Fuzz into their products. This range, offering various warm tones — from oranges to yellows and reds — allows for aligning with current consumer trends while increasing product value with natural ingredients.

Döhler’s diverse palette of exclusively natural colours, derived from fruit and vegetable raw materials through sustainable processes, reflects the latest market trends and consumer demands. From the softness of pinks to the intensity of browns and the vibrancy of yellows, Döhler empowers manufacturers to explore creative tones and develop winning products that resonate with consumers’ preferences.

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RE:Harvest considers exporting its upcycling technology to this region https://asiafoodbeverages.com/reharvest-considers-exporting-its-upcycling-technology/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:46:37 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16185

Korean based RE:Harvest is considering of exporting its upcycling technology as it is one of the pioneers globally to scale-up food upcycling at a commercial level, according to Alex Min, Founder and CEO of RE:Harvest.

There is a growing interest towards sustainable food products and ‘upcycling’ is one of the options available for food makers to support the planet.

According to Min, “Should the interest for upcycling increase in this region, we are ready to export our equipment and earn additional revenue from maintenance and operation along with the loyalty.”

RE:Harvest currently has 3 business models:

(1)  B2B – We collect mass amount of by-products at a scale and produce alternative flour or fiber/protein supplements at our factory. Produced products are then sold to food makers such as CJ. These powder products are called “RE:nergy Flour” and have single source by-products or sometimes we mix couple by-products to create more custom-tailored products for customers. For example, RE:nergy Ginseng Flour, RE:nergy Ginseng and Beer By-Products.

(2)  B2C – By using RE:nergy flour, and make convenient meal replacement products such as granola bars, cereals and snacks to consumers.

(3)  Bakery Cafe – cafe and vegan bakery using RE:nergy flour as a means to create greater consumer awareness and a test bed for upcycled food products.

As Asia food upcycling is at a very early stage, it is important to showcase potentials of the food upcycling industry as a business. Min said, “At RE:Harvest we do our very best to create a very good working example by creating value chain across the food upcycling industry and develop each relevant technologies. For instance, starting from collection, we have developed logistics that can guarantee the quality of the by-products during the transportation. In terms of mass-production, we have specialized drying and micro-organism control equipment that are both highly effective (Quality) and efficient (Cost).”

RE:Harvest believes in continuous investment into developing next generation technologies to further increase the efficiency of upcycling. As it is still at an early stage, value engineering must be done along with the continuous development of new technologies to expand the horizons of the food upcycling industry and enhance the bottom-line of the company.

RE:Harvest boasts of having the best technology for upcycling and while Korea does not have a large agriculture sector, which only contributes less than 2% to its GDP, exporting this technology overseas will further support the goal of saving the planet and reduce food waste, while offering sustainable food sources. Already, RE:Harvest has formed strong partnership with Indonesia’s major brewer, PT Multi

Bintang, the producer of Bintang beer, on upcycling projects and create market outreach by conducting various pop-ups and seminars as well as providing networks to reach relevant markets via B2B and B2C channels.

Min is confident that ‘food upcycling’ will be the norm of the future. He mentioned, “Just like electric vehicles are no longer viewed as ‘noble and new’ concept, I think food upcycling will become the new normal of the future. Food upcycling has an innovative role in overcoming the issue of food waste and saving the planet.”

For food manufacturers, ‘food upcycling’ is still new but based on internal consumer research, millennials are ready to accept the concept and buy the ‘story’ instead of the product itself.

Despite the challenges in building consumer awareness of upcycling, Min is optimistic of the future. He concluded, “If carbon trading accelerates, upcycled products will grow bigger since these products reduce carbon greatly. For instance, 1kg of our RE:nergy flour saves 11kg of carbon as well as 3.7 tons of water.” He further added, “In terms of high nutritional values, upcycled products can also compete with the existing food products which have fiber and protein claims. For example, RE:nergy flour on average has 30% less calories, 2x more protein and 21 times more fiber than regular white flour.”

RE:Harvest was one of the winners of the 2021 Future Food Asia Thai Wah’s Circular Bio- Economy Prize. Future Food Asia 2024 (FFA) will make its annual comeback from 15-16 May in Singapore. For more information on FFA event, click to https://futurefoodasia.com/ffa-2024/

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Growing need for Flavor Masking in F&B products https://asiafoodbeverages.com/growing-need-for-flavor-masking-in-fb-products/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:38:33 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16180

With the recent growth of food-tech and the introduction of novelty products from plant-based chicken to cultivated beef to insect foods, as well as the growing use of functional ingredients like vitamins, probiotics and proteins in food products, there is thus a growing need for flavor masking in these food products to appeal to consumer tastes and preferences. Often these products are sold at a premium due to the high cost of producing them, as such to commercialise them will be a challenge if there were no effort made to mask the off-note or unpleasant taste of these products.

A recent report by The Insights Partners has valued the global Flavor Masking industry at US$134.32 million in 2022 with a CAGR of 5.9% from 2022 to 2030. By the year 2030, this industry is projected to reach US$212 million.

Flavor Masking in this report comprised of ingredients or additives used to mask undesirable flavors in various food and beverage products from bakery to snacks, dairy desserts, meat and dairy alternatives, seafood products and RTE meals amongst others. The meat substitute category is projected to record the fastest CAGR growth within the flavor masking industry as it is mostly produced using soy, pea and beans, and producers often seek to mask the unpleasant ‘beany’ taste. Manufacturers also often use additives to mask off-notes of sugar substitutes like stevia or to remove metallic taste in certain food and beverage products.

Insights Partners highlighted various techniques in flavor masking from microencapsulation, nanotechnology, polymer coating, organoleptic methods, hot melt extrusion and spray drying. Manufacturers are increasingly using nanotechnology to make flavor masking ingredients as the technology aids in enhancing solubility and stability of flavors as well as providing controlled release properties. There is also increasing demand for organic or natural additives as more consumers prefer clean-label food products.

The report also categorized flavor masking ingredients by type and these include Sweet, Salt, Fat, Bitter, and Others. The Bitter segment has the highest market share in 2022 accounting for 42.7% followed by Sweet and Salt (see Chart 1.0)

Sweet or Salt masking agents/ingredients are employed to modulate a sweet or salty flavor in products which lack these flavors or to reduce excessive saltiness or sweetness in certain products. For the Salt category, they are often utilised in wide range of food items from sauces to snacks and processed meat. Manufacturers are able to create products with reduced sodium content without sacrificing the salty taste by using the masking agents. For the Sweet category, they are used mainly in low-calorie desserts, sugar-free beverages and confectionery products.

Fat flavor masking agents are critical in the food industry as they assist manufacturers to give fatty flavor to certain food products which contain no or low-fat. This allows industry players to create healthier, tastier low-fat alternatives without compromising taste.

Bitter flavor masking agents are essential to mitigate or mask bitter tastes in various products. These agents are essential to retain the required bitter flavor of coffee, dark chocolates, and certain vegetables. They help ensure a palatable and enjoyable taste experience by reducing the extra bitterness and preventing it from overwhelming the overall flavor profile of the product.

Finally, the Others category include various ingredients that mask undesirable flavors like extreme sourness, beany, chalky, metallic or soapy notes in certain food products.

In terms of market share by product application, the beverage segment is the largest market for flavor masking ingredients contributing 27% share followed by dairy and frozen desserts (20.65%) and bakery/confectionery segment (15.14%) in 2022. (See Chart 2.0)

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More F&B Innovations to address rising concern over mood/mental stress https://asiafoodbeverages.com/more-fb-innovations-to-address-rising-concern-over-mood-mental-stress/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:32:42 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16177

Gone were the days when food products were judged entirely by its taste, as consumers have become more health conscious and spent more time reading product labels to see if they were aligned with their health goals.

Having said that, it has become even more challenging for food manufacturers to create new products as they need to ensure these products have all the elements that consumers are looking for from the taste, health, price and packaging perspectives.

In recent years, there is however one new consumer perspective which is growing in popularity – the ability of certain food and beverage products to provide relief to stress or to enhance mood or mental well-being. More concerning is the data from World Health Organisation that more than half of all suicides that occur globally among the young to middle aged adults come from the Asian region. As such, apart from the important role of psychologists and social institutions in addressing these mental health issues, one can also find a partial solution via food and beverages. A Euromonitor survey conducted in early 2023 showed that 18% of Asian consumers claimed to follow a special diet to treat stress and anxiety issues.

To tackle depression and mood swing, food and beverage manufacturers look at the age- old idea that food brings ‘happy moments’ with the right taste and ingredients. In the current decade, manufacturers have the ability to add certain functional ingredients that can trigger positivity or relieve stress.

This idea about food relieving stress is entirely new and a niche category, however according to Euromonitor International, the growth in this segment in terms of NPDs is double-digit ranging from 27% to 29% CAGR over the period 2019 to 2022.

The following Chart 1.0 identified the food and beverage products in Asia Pacific with various mental/stress claims from the period 2019 to 2022. Apparently, products with stress relief claim ranks 1st in terms of number of SKUs followed by enhanced mental performance and sleep aid.

Meanwhile, with rising health awareness, food and beverage manufacturers need also to be mindful of the ingredients they use in these products. In the past, sugar was often considered to trigger positive mood however manufacturers now need to review their formulations to consider less-sweet flavor profiles but leveraging on functional ingredients to cater to these health needs. One good example is Guylian, a Belgian chocolate manufacturer, which announced in July 2023 that it was cutting some SKUs in Asia and to focus on dark chocolate variants, as dark cacao is known to promote feel-good emotions.

In the beverage space, tea has often been perceived as a beverage which aids relaxation and sleep, due to its ingredients such as camomile, ashwaganda and ginger. Euromonitor tracking data showed claims of relaxation and aiding sleep were the 2nd and 3rd most popular claims for tea brands after antioxidant claims.

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Tip-Top introduces chicken tocino to its marinated ‘Easy and Tasty’ product line https://asiafoodbeverages.com/tip-top-introduces-chicken-tocino-to-its-marinated-easy-and-tasty-product-line/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:28:15 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16174

Tip-Top Chicken, known for premium quality poultry that is safe, sustainable, and tasty, has recently launched Easy and Tasty Chicken Tocino. This new addition to Tip-Top’s roster of products is set to elevate all-day dining for Filipinos with 100% chicken meat, no added preservatives, and no artificial coloring.

Capturing Filipino taste buds since 2021 with its flavorful offerings, Tip-Top offers quality choice cuts of drumstick, wings, breast, thigh, and whole chicken products. ‘Easy and Tasty’ is the marinated product line of the choice cuts meant to make preparing meals easier and more convenient for those on-the-go or are new to the kitchen.

Tip-Top is a consumer brand by C-Joy Poultry Meats Production, Inc., a joint venture between Cargill Philippines and Jollibee Foods Corp. Building on Cargill Philippines’ 75-year legacy of excellence, Tip-Top offers consumers yet another alternative to traditional tocino, free from artificial colors and salitre. With its signature sweet-savory flavor and tender texture, the Easy and Tasty Chicken Tocino promises to redefine the breakfast staple and spark culinary creativity among consumers.

Mija Darlene Cu-Cachapero, President and CEO of C-Joy said, “At C-Joy, we are committed to continuously innovating to meet the changing demands of our customers. Tip-Top’s Chicken Tocino delivers both convenience and flavor in every pack, carefully crafted with uncompromising quality.”

Made with 100% chicken meat, Tip-Top products are produced and packed on the same day, ensuring freshness and quality with every purchase. Whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Tip-Top allows consumers to create delicious meals in just 15 minutes, reflecting C-Joy’s dedication to providing families with easy-to-prepare, safe, and quality products without compromising on nutrition or taste.

Tip-Top Easy and Tasty Chicken Tocino is now available at all South Supermarket and Robinsons Supermarket chains.

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Cocoa Straits 1778 unveils Malaysia’s first premium 24K Gold Foil Chocolates https://asiafoodbeverages.com/cocoa-straits-1778-unveils-malaysias-first-premium-24k-gold-foil-chocolates/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:22:01 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16170

Cocoa Straits 1778 has unveiled Malaysia’s inaugural collection of bonbon and truffle chocolates embellished with 24K gold foil, serving as the brand’s signature creations and showcasing its dedication to the artistry and global excellence of chocolate craftsmanship.

Cocoa Straits 1778 founder Jeffrey Kee said these chocolates were crafted with a luxurious and eye-catching design to fully showcase the collection’s elegance and uniqueness. He said, “It is not only a tasty treat but also a precious work of art, designed to provide an unparalleled sensory and visual experience.”

The chocolates were launched during a ceremony at Genting Highlands where Cocoa Straits 1778 products are exclusively available in selected stores. Among those present was Malaysian Cocoa Board director, Datuk Dr. Ramle Kasin.

The name Cocoa Straits 1778 originates from Malaysia’s extraordinary historical relationship with cocoa dated as far back as 1778. Malaysia’s cocoa cultivation has spanned over 2 centuries.

Cocoa Straits 1778 plans to open franchise outlets in Kuala Lumpur and further diversify its product line by introducing innovative chocolate flavours and unique packaging designs. Consumers locally and worldwide will get to indulge in its chocolates while at the same explore the richness of Malaysia’s cocoa culture.

The company aims to be a leader in the global market for single- origin pure chocolates and a premier luxury chocolate brand by offering customers high-quality, ethically sourced, and expertly crafted chocolates.

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CJ Foods launches Halal Korean Mandu and Hoppang in Malaysia https://asiafoodbeverages.com/cj-foods-launches-halal-korean-mandu-and-hoppang-in-malaysia/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:17:38 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16167 CJ Foods, a business unit of Korea-based CheilJedang, has recently launched the first halal bibigo Mandu products for the Malaysian market. The company hopes to introduce the taste of its signature bibigo Mandu, which holds the No.1 market share in Korea, the US and Vietnam.

The new products are 3 flavors of CJ’s first-ever JAKIM-certified halal Mandu – chicken, Korean spicy chicken, and beef bulgogi, and 2 flavors of Hoppang – japchae and Korean spicy chicken.

Mandu is Korean-wrapped food stuffed with various ingredients such as meat and vegetables. It is different from Chinese dumplings or Japanese gyoza in that it has thin and crispy flour skin with juicy stuffing. Hoppang is a popular Korean snack with vegetable or meat stuffing inside steamed bread. The snack is gaining global popularity as it is frequently featured in Korean dramas.

CJ’s new products are catered to the taste of Malaysian consumers by stuffing them with chicken mixed with strong spicy and sweet flavors. They will start retailing at CU convenience stores in Kuala Lumpur which specialise in Korean products, but will later expand to mainstream retailers within this year.

Wayne Wang, Head of CJ Foods Malaysia said, “We are thrilled to launch the first halal Mandu and share the taste of Korean cuisine with Malaysian consumers. We will continue to introduce a variety of our quality bibiho Korean food products to this market.” bibigo products are sold across around 70 countries globally, and the brand’s signature item ‘Mandu’ is sold in around 50,000 stores across 6 continents

Meanwhile, CJ CheilJedang, the parent company of CJ Foods, has been operating a plant in Kerteh, Malaysia since 2015 to manufacture advanced feed-grade amino acids such as L-methionine. The plant employs about 500 people, and amino acids produced here are exported to the global market including Europe and China.

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Australian functional drink maker unveils new products in new packaging to tackle Asian market https://asiafoodbeverages.com/australian-functional-drink-maker-unveils-new-products-in-new-packaging-to-tackle-asian-market/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:12:50 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16163

Australia-based Source Wellness® is the manufacturer of natural refreshing drinks made from a unique blend of sustainably sourced, exotic botanical ingredients that are not only tasty but also offer various health benefits.

As part of its ambitious goal to penetrate the larger Asian market, the company has recently launched a new range of products in attractive 330ml can packaging, a huge migration from its initial traditional shot-sized 60ml glass bottle which can be easily misunderstood as medicine.

The drinks available in 5 variants are now offered at an affordable retail price of S$4.95 (US$3.70), or available for bulk purchase at S$64 (US$47.80) for 16 in a box. They are available as Ice Tea with Manuka Honey and Collagen variants; or as Soda in DigestEz, Chillax and MagBoost variants, each name to signify its benefits from ‘digestion support’, to ‘general relaxation’ and ‘magnesium boost’ respectively.

According to Arman Soltani, CEO of Source Wellness®, “Our delicious functional drinks come with vibrant iced teas, bubbly sodas, and low-calorie goodness, all packed with superfoods and natural ingredients.”

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One identical ingredient used in every drink variant is Saffron which Soltani claims to offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. For the Ice Tea variant with collagen, the company has infused an Australian native, Kakadu Plum that can offer the added vitamin C punch. For the 3 Soda variants, they are in passionfruit (Chillax), lemonade (MagBoost) and Mango (DigestEz) flavors. Soltani added, “Our sodas are bubbly bursts of wellness with calming herbs, essential minerals, and digestive heroes.”

Source Wellness® drinks are all with low calories and no added sugar. The target markets for its products are consumers into health and wellness. Soltani said, “Our Ready-To-Drink (RTD) functional wellness drinks are designed for those who seek beverages that deliver both taste and functionality. Our target consumers appreciate the inherent benefits of natural ingredients and value their impact on overall well-being. They include health conscious individuals, young professionals to improve brain focus, fitness enthusiasts for energy and post-workout recovery, students, social conscious consumers, explorers and adventure seekers, busy parents, or even seniors.”

The drinks can be consumed anytime throughout the day whether at work, post-exercise, or during a relaxing moment.

Soltani concluded, “Unlike many other functional drinks available in the market, we stand out by offering a remarkable fusion of herbs and botanicals. The list is large with ingredients like Maca (Black, Yellow, Red), Saffron, Ashwagandha, Korean Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, Green Coffee, and Green Tea. The list goes on with Chamomile, Passionflower, Lemon Balm, Gooseberry, Ginger, Turmeric, Curcumin, Marine Collagen, Silica, Snow Fungus, Aloe Vera, Magnesium, Kakadu Plum and Manuka Honey to name a few. They are crafted to support various aspects of health such as energy enhancement, focus and concentration improvement, stress reduction, immunity boosting, digestion and gut health improvement, collagen boost, recovery immunity and overall well-being support.”

Source Wellness® believes in the principle of ‘food as medicine’ and its drinks, in the new attractive can packaging, offer a convenient, tasty way to incorporate wellness into daily routines.

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Lesaffre celebrates grand opening of new yeast plant in Indonesia https://asiafoodbeverages.com/lesaffre-celebrates-grand-opening-of-new-yeast-plant-in-indonesia/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:01:43 +0000 https://asiafoodbeverages.com/?p=16158 On 28 February, Lesaffre celebrated the grand opening of its new yeast plant, built on a 9.8 hectare land in Malang, East Java, as part of its goal to be closer to its customers in the Asia Pacific region.

The new plant is dedicated towards the production of compressed and dry yeast, and will supply baking yeast to its Indonesian and ASEAN customers.

A new entity, PT Lesaffre Sari Nusa will operate the plant and is formed via partnership between Lesaffre and its long-term partner, PT Citra Bonang.

Lesaffre has been commercially active in Indonesia for over 40 years. PT Saf Indonusa, Lesaffre’s first Indonesian subsidiary was incorporated in 2000 and operated its baking ingredients blending plant in Surabaya, Jakarta head office and 4 Baking CenterTM and sales offices in Jakarta, Medan, Semarang, Surabaya. The new plant complements the already active blending plant for baking ingredients in the Surabaya region.

In line with Lesaffre’s pro-active support of the environment, the new plant integrates a complete post-production workshop to valorise the residual part of the substrates: once production of yeast has been completed, the fermentation wort is further processed into a range of co-products used as fertilizers and for animal feed.

Timothé Dupont, General Manager of Lesaffre Breadmaking Asia Pacific Region said, “By combining state-of the art technologies and Lesaffre industrial know-how of excellence on this new site, we are able to provide best quality yeast to our markets in Indonesia and throughout the Asia Pacific region where demand is growing. This new factory allows Lesaffre to better than ever accompany its clients in their growth, with an enhanced proximity.”

For more information, click on: Biospringer by Lesaffre

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