Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

The Solae Company solidifies position in China

The Solae Company has strengthened its soy protein reach in Asia with the unveiling of a new manufacturing facility in China.

Australia welcomes wine label reforms

New labelling requirements for exporting wines could save Australian producers as much as €14m, according to a government agency.

Anheuser-Busch court US tastes with Chinese beer

Beer Giant Anheuser Busch (A-B) has announced the availability of a new premium Asian lager throughout the US as it looks to capture increasing demand for exported beer in the country.

Korean companies pair up to deliver CZ

Two Korean companies, Eugene Science and RexGene Biotech, have entered into a contract to develop, produce and market a new supplement containing Eugene Science's proprietary cholesterol-lowering ingredient CZ in their own country following the success the technology has had abroad.

Weekly comment

Deja Moo: Are we ready for cloned cattle?

Here we go again. Yet another technology in its infancy is likely to be introduced into the food supply, while industry remains cautious and consumers divided.

Hershey joint venture targets Chinese sweet tooth

US Confectioner Hershey is to form a joint venture with Korean counterpart Lotte Confectionery, as it looks to enter the dynamic Chinese chocolate market to offset declining domestic sales.

Hand sanitizer targets Asian governments in fight against bird flu

Stressing the importance of sanitary work practices, US company Skinvisible is launching a targeted marketing campaign for its antimicrobial hand sanitizer lotion as part of the battle to help prevent the spread of bird flu in Asia.

Reports highlight Chinese MSG interest

Honk Kong based funds management firm, Value Partners, could be set to invest in the growing Chinese monosodium glutamate (MSG) and fermentation market, according to local news reports.

Strong commodities market aids Fonterra

Fonterra, New Zealand's largest dairy co-operative, predicted world commodity prices would continue rebounding strongly over the next few months as supply and demand tightened.

Danone announces Thailand cooperation

Danone, the world's leading dairy producer, has announced plans to work alongside a local counterpart Dutch Mill Co. to distribute and manufacture a range of fresh dairy products within Thailand.

Packager sells US operations to focus on Europe, Asia

Sweden-based Svenska Cellulosa AB (SCA) has sold its North American packing operations so as to focus on expanding its European and Asian operations.

Asia Pacific to lead flexible packaging by 2010, says report

Dynamic growth in food processing will make the Asia-Pacific region the global leader for flexible packaging by 2010, suggests a new report.

Diageo targets Asia-Pacific challenges with new regional hub

Drinks giant Diageo has announced the creation of a combined regional hub for its Asian Pacific operations as it looks to increase its focus on distributing its brands in the region.

Friesland expands Indonesian spray drying operations

Friesland Foods is expanding its spray-drying operations within Indonesia, as it looks to capture growing demand for powdered ingredient ranges in the region.

Watchdog blasts kids' snacks

Consumer watchdog Choice has launched a damning report into the link between high-sugar, high-fat snacks and childhood obesity - naming and shaming well-known brands from large companies such as Nestlé and Kelloggs in the process.

Weekly Comment

Death to the industry conspiracy theories!

Here we go again. Industry-sponsored studies into the nutritional benefits of food and drink products are biased. Don't believe anything that has an industry sponsor.

Yeast encapsulation to mask bad taste of polyphenols?

Using simple brewers yeast to encapsulate polyphenols could mask the unpleasant flavour and boost stability of water-soluble antioxidants, says new research.

Trans-fat alternatives - are they really healthier?

Interesterified fats, seen by some as alternatives to unhealthy trans fats, may also raise blood sugar levels and decrease insulin levels, as well as adversely affecting so-called 'good' cholesterol levels, says a new US-Malaysian study.

Nestlé, Phosphagenics plan human trials

Phosphagenics has release further details on its collaboration with Nestle Nutrition for the use of Phospha-E in foods metabolic syndrome, following the food giant's decision to exercise its option this week.

China powers SAB beer growth

China, South America and Europe combined to offset disappointing performances in North America and South Africa during brewer SABMiller's third quarter.

Weekly Comment

There aren't plenty more fish in the sea

As a youngster I was brought up on a healthy diet of tuna fish sandwiches and Disney - making my new year's resolution for 2007 the toughest yet. That's right, I'm giving up tuna and who knows, even cod.

Synear buys land to expand frozen food facilities

Chinese frozen foodcompany Synear Food said today that it had signed three separate agreements to acquire land andfacilities for about RMB150 million.

San Miguel taps Thai health trend

San Miguel plans tolaunch a new water brand and a range of functional beverages in Thailand as part of its strategy togain a leading position in this market, reveals a report.

Chinese beverage makers drop the sugar

Sugar-free, or low-sugar beverages, are expected to be the fastest growingproducts in China's drinks sector this year.

Australian pear, apple crops to suffer from drought

Drought and late frosts are expected to see Australia's production of apples and pears at itslowest in a decade, suggests a new report.

Starbucks China cutting out trans fats

The US coffee chain Starbucks says it is working on cutting trans fats from itsmenus in China, according to reports.

Indonesia consults on aspartame, sweetener use in food

The Indonesian government is currently reviewing its laws on artificial sweeteners and will consider banning them from food if expert evidence suggests they present health risks, according to a report.

Further Chinese investment in corn sweeteners

Chinese corn starch producer China Sun Bio-Chem Technology Group plans to spend CNY185 million (€18.2m) on a new corn sweetener factory, it announced last week.

Cott signs deal for use of production facilities in China

Cott Beverage, the world's number three beverage producer, has signed a contract with China's Jianlibao Group giving it access to the Chinese firm's production facilities and new business opportunities in the fast-growing market.

Foreign investors buy stake in Chinese milk drink maker

Three private equity groups have spent US$73 million on a stake in Chinese firm Taizini, a producer of probiotic milk drinks.

Seafood research centre to boost sector's value in Australia

A new seafood research centre will be set up in Australia to boost the value of the country's sixth most important food sector.

Indonesian food and beverage exports gaining value

Indonesia's food and beverage exports will grow by between 10 and 15 per cent this year, surpassing the US$2 billion in earnings previously forecast for 2006, according to the Indonesian Food and Beverage Producers Associations (GAPMI).

Australian dairy sector faces major drop in export income

Australia's dairy industry will see export earnings drop by more than 24 per cent to under A$2 billion (€1.2bn) in 2006-07 as a result of the sharp reduction in output because of the drought, government research predicts.

SABMiller China venture expands presence in west

SABMiller's China joint venture, China Resources Snow Breweries, has agreed to buy the remaining shares in a business based in China's south-western Sichuan province, strengthening its foothold in an undeveloped region of the country.

Western foods driving demand for cheese in Korea

South Koreans are consuming greater quantities of cheese as foods like pizza, cheeseburgers and sandwiches become more popular among the younger generation.

EBI Food Safety sets up China office

Dutch company EBI Food Safety has opened a representative office in Beijing to meet demand in Asia for its natural anti-bacterial products.

Globalisation boosting Australian food industry

Globalisation is creating a challenging environment for Australia's food industry but has also opened up new markets with strong potential, finds a new report.

New snack products tap on-the-go trend in China

Popcorn is one of the fastest growing products in China's emerging snack food market, according to new data from Euromonitor.

San Miguel sells stake in bottler to Coca-Cola

San Miguel, south-east Asia's biggest food and drinks producer, said on Friday that it has sold its 65 per cent stake in its soft drinks and bottler unit to Coca-Cola for US$590 million.

Coca-Cola Amatil gets go-ahead for expansion in Sydney

Australia's biggest soft drinks maker Coca-Cola Amatil will spend up to A$140 million expanding production capacity and warehousing at its facility outside Sydney.

Farm Pride sells healthy snacks business

Australian egg processor Farm Pride Foods has sold its Golden Days snackfood business to Manassen Foods Australia for approximately A$3.2 million.