Industry Trends

March 2021

See what has been happening in Asia’s food and beverage industries over the last weeks. What are experts and industry magazines talking about?

What has been happening?

The difference between vegan and plant-based, Non-dairy milk, A competitive edge for ice cream, and more. See what journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Latest Industry Articles

What is the difference between vegan and plant-based?
New Food Magazine

Louise Palmer-Masterton looks at the meaning behind vegan and plant-based and discusses whether there’s actually any difference between the two – and why it matters.

A dietitian explains which non-dairy milk is best for you
Business Insider

More people are buying non-dairy milk like soy, almond, and oat — the market grew 62% between 2012 and 2018. That’s great for the roughly five billion people who are lactose intolerant. But with so many varieties now crowding the dairy aisle, it’s hard to know which one to choose. A registered dietitian told us which milks are better for you based on protein, calories, fat, and vitamins.

Flavor is king while dairy-free and reduced sugar offer competitive edge for ice cream, says Innova Market Insights
Food IngredientsFIrst

Flavor is the single most important choice factor and purchase driver for ice cream consumers, according to Innova Market Insights. However, the market researcher flags that there are other significant trends in ice cream NPD that are building a further competitive edge, including non-dairy, low sugar and ethically sourced ingredients. 

GoodSport seeks to disrupt sports beverages category by ‘unlocking the power of milk’
BeverageDaily

It’s milk, but not as we know it, Jim’ To be precise, GoodSport is dairy milk, but with the protein and fat removed via ultra-filtration, leaving a clear sugary fluid loaded with electrolytes and vitamins.

Tetra Pak and Rockwell Automation partner on data driven tech for cheese and powder solutions
Food IngredientsFIrst

Tetra Pak and Rockwell Automation have formed a strategic partnership delivering data and technology to reduce variability and improve quality consistency in cheese and powder solutions. The venture will also ensure finished products are produced sustainably and cost-effectively within demand-driven manufacturing environments.

CNPF promotes plant-based ‘meat’ products
Manila Bulletin

Century Pacific Food, Inc. (CNPF) continues to promote unMEAT, its range of 100 percent plant-based meat products, in the hopes of tapping into the food’s growing global market. The firm said in a statement that its new plant-based range is in response to the expandingconsumer preference for a healthier diet, partly triggered by the pandemic when people aimed to eat healthy toboost their immune system.

‘World’s first’ plant-based steak marbled with sunflower oil: ‘It’s not just for aesthetics. It behaves as marbling does in animal meat’
FoodNavigator-Asia

Slovenian start-up Juicy Marbles claims its plant-based filet mignon marbled with sunflower oil is an industry first.

Amano introduces savory animal-free enzyme for plant protein products
Food IngredientsFIrst

Amano Enzyme has released its latest animal-free enzyme solution, designed to use in a wide variety of plant protein products to produce a savory, umami flavor, similar to monosodium glutamate (MSG), and kokumi “a sensation of richness and complexity.” Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst, Keita Okuda, technical services team lead at Amano Enzyme, explains the key drivers, consumer trends and market dynamics behind Umamizyme Pulse’s launch.

Poo-powered biofuel – Arla’s innovative sustainability efforts
New Food Magazine

Arla’s Graham Wilkinson explains how the dairy cooperative has progressed towards its ambitious sustainability targets during the most challenging of periods.

Heart health in Indonesia: Researchers call for development of plant sterol fortified and functional products

FoodNavigator-Asia

Researchers are proposing to fortify food categories such as bread, biscuits, noodles, fat spreads, sauces and palm oil with plant sterols, as a measure to reduce risk factors associated with heart diseases among the Indonesian population.

Natural food preservation: Corbion to boost lactic acid capacity

Food IngredientsFIrst

Corbion is launching an initiative to increase its capacity for producing lactic acid and lactic-acid derivatives ahead of its previously announced expansion in Thailand scheduled for 2023. The global drive is expected to produce a combined additional output roughly equivalent to a new production site without actually having to build one. It also involves capital expenditures at four existing Corbion facilities to maximize efficiencies and leverage synergies.

Sophie’s Bionutrients recognized for sustainable future from microalgae

Food IngredientsFIrst

Singapore-based Sophie’s Bionutrients, a sustainable urban food production technology company, has been recognized for its advancements in sustainable proteins from microalgae. The company has entered the global 2020 FoodTech 500 rankings, listing top agri-foodtech start-ups and scale-ups that “act as a force of good for creating a brighter future of food.

Year of the ox: Australasian Food imports Argentinian blockchain beef into China on the back of growing consumption

FoodNavigator-Asia

Australasian (Guangzhou) Food Co is beginning to import blockchain-backed beef into China from Argentina ‘ and is now on a mission to help at-home consumption grow.

Thy not? Next Gen plucks for Singapore as it launches global plant-based chicken brand

FoodNavigator-Asia

Plant-based food tech start up Next Gen is making its global debut by launching its consumer brand TiNDLE in Singapore this March.

Soaring superfood: Rapid growth predicted for CBD and hemp food products in APAC markets

FoodNavigator-Asia

APAC’s cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp sector is expected to progress rapidly over the coming years, especially in India, China and Australia where they are approved for food use, although many other nations are still wary of granting the regulatory go-ahead.

Philippines pork cartels: Profiteer crackdowns and loosening lockdowns among food security priorities

FoodNavigator-Asia

The Philippines government is currently studying plans to loosen its national COVID-19 lockdown as well as officially hunting down and punishing food product profiteers in an effort to tackle rising rates of food insecurity and poverty in the country.

Well spent: Healthy noodle firm KosmodeHealth seeking spent barley partnerships with major F&B brands

FoodNavigator-Asia

A Singapore food tech firm that upcycles barley into healthier noodles wants to partner with major brewers and beverage brands to put their by-products to better use.

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