Retail News CRM

Category: Food

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Food and Food & Beverage news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • PTT Philippines to open more Cafe Amazon outlets

    PTT Philippines to open more Cafe Amazon outlets

    Thai gas-stations operator PTT plans to open up to 20 new Cafe Amazon outlets across the Philippines next year, as part of the company’s non-oil expansion plans.

    PTT Philippines President and CEO Thitiroj Rergsumran said the company is allotting 80 million pesos (US$1.6 million) to expand the Cafe Amazon network, which currently stands at about 15.

    Rergsumran said the expansion is driven by the country’s vibrant economy and the strong reception it receives from customers.

    “We expect to duplicate our target next year, so you could expect us to be more visible in various areas in the Philippines especially in the provinces,” he said.

    PTT also plans to open 40 new gas stations next year, in addition to its existing 170.

    A subsidiary of Thailand-based PTT Oil and Retail Business, PTT Philippines has been operating for 20 years. It introduced Cafe Amazon into the country in 2016.

    In Thailand, there are more than 2500 Cafe Amazon outlets trading, along with more than 200 abroad, including in Cambodia, Laos, Japan, Myanmar, Oman, Singapore, China and the Philippines.

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  • Bacardi launches Aberfeldy pop-up store at Taoyuan International Airport

    Bacardi launches Aberfeldy pop-up store at Taoyuan International Airport

    Bacardi Global Travel Retail has launched a glittering Aberfeldy pop-up store in partnership with Ever Rich Duty-Free at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport.

    The pop-up store will run until the end of February, during what is the region’s peak holiday travel time.

    The Aberfeldy store features two global-travel-retail-exclusive single malts, the Aberfeldy 16yo and Aberfeldy 21yo, both finished in ex-madeira wine casks.

    “Taiwan is a truly dynamic market for Aberfeldy,” said Gaurav Joshi, regional director Asia Pacific, Bacardi Global Travel Retail. “Building on the exceptional success of last year’s airport campaign, we have now gone a step further to draw the shopper deeper into the Aberfeldy story, its craft and heritage and our constant commitment to age statements in the sublime quality of the Aberfeldy range.

    “We are also giving them their own chapter in the story with an individual and resonant link to this multi-award-winning single-malt brand by making the purchase a distinctly personal experience,” he said.

    The Aberfeldy pop-up store also features digital presentations, pyramid display units and a golden waterfall feature to represent the Pitilie Burn.

    Customers who purchase the two exclusive single malts can personalize their bottle by having it dipped in golden wax and sealed with their initials.

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  • Burger King Taiwan gives away 10,000 burgers to McDonald’s, KFC customers

    Burger King Taiwan gives away 10,000 burgers to McDonald’s, KFC customers

    Burger King Taiwan is holding a marketing campaign offering 10,000 free burgers to customers of rivals McDonald’s and KFC.

    Consumers are being invited to swap a same-day receipt for a set meal at either franchise to receive a free Burger King burger.

    Burger King Taiwan, which has traded for 29 years, has lagged behind rival brands in market-share terms and has attempted a comeback over the past several years by shuttering 20 stores and replacing its management team. The brand was taken over by Asian private equity fund Nexus Point in late 2017.

    The brand has since expanded and expanded its reach via local food delivery platforms Foodpanda, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo among others.

    The campaign will run through to December 10.

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  • American diner chain Chili’s makes Vietnam debut

    American diner chain Chili’s makes Vietnam debut

    American diner chain Chili’s Grill & Bar has opened its first Vietnam store in Saigon, looking to tap the country’s growing middle-class market.

    The restaurant, located in SV VivoCity mall in District 7, was launched in Vietnam as a part of the Golden Gate Restaurant Group, an operator of over 20 restaurant chains in the country.

    David Weston, a representative of Chili’s, said that Vietnam was an important part of its business in Asia, where over 60 Chili’s outlets have been opened in eight countries.

    Ha Thuc Tu, CEO of Golden Gate Red Hots, a unit of Golden Gate Restaurant Group, said that the chain targets middle-income customers, especially office workers and families.

    These customers have high standard demands in food and entertainment and prefer a multi-functional location that suits the needs of all family members, he added.

    Chili’s, operated by Texas-based hospitality company Brinker International, was founded in 1975, and specializes in Texas and Mexican food, with steaks, ribs and burgers among its signature dish.

    It has over 1,670 restaurants and serves over one million customers a day in 29 countries and territories.

    Market research firm Euromonitor said an increasing number of international chains are entering Vietnam, seeing it as a lucrative market.

    Popular American brands such as McDonald’s, KFC and Starbucks have already established their presence in the country.

    Vietnam had around 540,000 food and beverage businesses as of last year, 80 percent of the street vendors, according to Dcorp R- Keeper, a global company that provides technological solutions to food and beverage businesses.

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  • New dining experiences at Hong Kong International Airport

    New dining experiences at Hong Kong International Airport

    Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has become a “foodie destination” after welcoming seven new restaurants and outlets together with a revamped East Hall Food Court.

    Seven new culinary concepts include the debut of the Californian-inspired restaurant, Wolfgang Puck Kitchen, where customers can enjoy Wolfgang Puck’s pizzas cooked at an open kitchen, along with American-style foods such as Chicken Pot Pie or Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf.

    British chef Gordon Ramsay has opened his very first airport-based restaurant in Asia at HKIA. Gordon Ramsay Plane Food To Go offers British-style cuisine, created exclusively for HKIA.

    The Michelin-starred restaurant Jardin de Jade opens at HKIA, featuring authentic regional Chinese and Shanghainese dishes along with an airport apron view.

    Following the successful launch in Hong Kong’s Central, Cantonese restaurant Duddell’s opens its doors at the airport, offering a casual and approachable dining concept.

    The fifth restaurant to open is Sushi Saito’s sister brand, Sushi and Sake Bar Taka, featuring fresh sushi sourced from the Yamayuki group.

    Another Japanese restaurant arrived HKIA called Bari-Uma, the largest ramen chain in Hiroshima, while SinsaEat Korean Kitchen brings further diversity to HKIA’s revamped new food court experience with authentically spicy Korean delights.

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  • Panda Express will open its first Philippines restaurant next week

    Panda Express will open its first Philippines restaurant next week

    US-based Asian dining concept Panda Express will open its first Philippines restaurant on December 12.

    Located at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, the first Panda Express will offer the same menu as those in the US, including its signature dish orange chicken in sweet spicy sauce.

    Panda Express Philippines is a 50-50 joint venture between Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) and Panda Restaurant Group.

    “Based on the consumer enthusiasm for the upcoming opening, we’re encouraged that the local market will love this food concept, a boost to JFC’s roster of restaurant chains,” said JFC founder Tony Tan Caktiong.

    Panda Express joins the portfolio of brands JFC operates including Chinese dim-sum restaurant Tim Ho Wan, American fast-casual hamburger chain Smashburger and coffee chain Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

    Founded in 1983, Panda Express is a privately owned restaurant company with more than 2000 outlets in the US and a presence in 10 international markets including Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico and now the Philippines.

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  • Cafe chain Gloria Jean’s heading to India

    Cafe chain Gloria Jean’s heading to India

    Australian retail coffeehouse Gloria Jean’s is set to launch in India with its first outlet in Bengaluru.

    The franchise is being taken to India by recently-appointed CEO of Jay Jay Capital & Investments Rohit Malhotra. Jay Jay is planning multiple investments in launching brands new to India in the cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels and resorts, fashion, retail and entertainment sectors.

    Jay Jay subsidiary GJC Hospitality is the master franchise holder for Gloria Jean’s Coffees in India.

    The company has not said how many stores it is planning, but the first will act as a test of the concept enabling the company to finetune its offer for the local market.

    Malhotra says the company will be focusing on quality.

    “At Gloria Jean’s, we take our coffee very seriously, so not only does it taste great, but we also make sure we buy from suppliers that look after both their workers and the environment,” said Malhotra.

    “Our coffee beans are sourced from all over the world and from many different farms of all types and sizes – large plantations, co-operative groups and tiny family farms. This means that there is no one size fits all approach to buying responsibly, but we are focused on promoting sustainable farming and a better outcome for all”.

    Originating in the US but now Australian owned, Gloria Jean’s Coffees has about 760 coffee houses in more than 55 countries.

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  • Olive Young partners with Dairy Farm to expand into SE Asia

    Olive Young partners with Dairy Farm to expand into SE Asia

    South Korean health and beauty brand CJ Olive Young is seeking to expand in Southeast Asia.

    The retailer is working with pan-Asian retailer Dairy Farm Group, which will distribute Olive Young products through its branded health and beauty stores in Indonesia and other markets in the region.

    The brand’s Southeast Asian launch will be in Singapore, where around 110 of its products will be sold at about 50 Dairy Farm stores.

    Olive Young is also known in its home market as an importer of US organic cosmetics brand Juice Beauty. While it has a high profile in South Korea, the brand has done little to expand abroad to date.

    The company opened its first store in 1999 and previously had a joint venture with Dairy Farm running from 2002 to 2008.

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  • This airline is opening a restaurant that only serves plane food

    This airline is opening a restaurant that only serves plane food

    Out of the many repulsive things about air travel, airline food probably ranks high. But not for AirAsia.

    Asia’s largest low-cost carrier is betting people love its food so much that it opened its first restaurant on Monday, offering the same menu it sells on flights. It’s not a gimmick, either: AirAsia, based in Malaysia, said it plans to open more than 100 restaurants globally within the next five years.
    The quick-service restaurant’s first location is in a mall in Kuala Lumpur. It’s called Santan, meaning coconut milk in Malay, which is the same branding AirAsia uses on its in-flight menus.
    AirAsia’s Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak is served at the restaurant. Entrees cost around $3 USD and include local delicacies such as chicken rice and the airline’s signature Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak dish, a rice dish with chili sauce. Locally sourced coffee, teas and desserts are also on the menu.
    “We have seen a significant appetite for our in-flight menu offerings beyond our flights across the region and this is our answer to that demand,” the brand’s general manager Catherine Goh said in a press release.
    AirAsia hopes its Asian-specific food will attract people over its western competitors. It’s also part of the company’s broader plan to become a lifestyle brand, according to a recent interview CEO Tony Fernandes gave.
    The interior has kiosks where customers can order. Malaysia and neighboring southeastern Asian countries are increasingly attracting American restaurants. Domino’s Pizza plans to have 300 locations in Malaysia by next year, KFC has 700 restaurants and growing and McDonald’s recently announced a $300 million investment in the region to grow to more than 400 restaurants.
    AirAsia is also the first airline to bring its in-house food offerings to the ground. Typically, airlines attract high-end chefs from restaurants to craft in-flight menus. For example, JetBlue partnered with New York-based Saxon and Parole for its meals, and British Airways offers items for sale on some of its flights from regional retailer Marks and Spencer.
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  • Shake Shack to double down in Singapore, Philippines

    Shake Shack to double down in Singapore, Philippines

    Fast-food chain Shake Shack has announced new outlets in Singapore and Manila after enjoying early success with its debut stores in the two Southeast Asian cities.

    In Singapore, the US fast-food chain is bringing what it describes as its “design-driven restaurant” concept to Singapore’s CBD next year after its successful debut at Jewel Changi shopping center.

    Located in a historic building at 89 Neil Road, the restaurant will work closely with local artists and suppliers and will promote its mission to ‘Stand For Something Good’. Without, a hoarding will bear the artwork of Singaporean artist Sam Lo who blends Shake Shack’s icons with traditional Peranakan cultural patterns.

    Meanwhile, in Manila, the company will open a new outlet at SM Megamall next week seven months after its debut in the Philippines.

    Besides its menu items such as ShackBurger, Shack-cago Dog, crinkle-cut fries, beer, wine, and frozen custard ice cream, the Philippine outlets offer exclusive items including Ube shake and Calamansi Limeade.

    Launched in 2004 in a food truck, Shake Shack has expanded to more than 250 locations in the US and more than 85 international locations including London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Philippines, Mexico, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo, Moscow, and Seoul.

    The next year will see Shake Shack expand further both domestically and internationally. Global revenues grew by nearly 32 percent in the third quarter, the company reported.

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  • AirAsia restaurant concept brings its inflight menu down to earth

    AirAsia restaurant concept brings its inflight menu down to earth

    A new AirAsia restaurant opened in a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall is serving inflight meals on the ground.

    The Malaysian-headquartered budget carrier has opened its first restaurant Santan and T&CO in Kuala Lumpur, marking its footprint in the retail food business. More outlets are already being planned along with an offshore foray.

    Located at the Mid Valley Megamall, the AirAsia restaurant offers dishes from its existing inflight menu, including Pak Nasser’s nasi lemak, Nyonya curry laksa and signature Malaysian rice dish with chili condiment.

    Santan and T&CO feature a smart menu to recommend popular dishes based on time, past ordering patterns as well as demographic taste. Customers also can order directly from the restaurant’s website and mobile app.

    “We have seen a significant appetite for our in-flight menu offerings beyond our flights across the region and this is our answer to that demand,” says Catherine Goh, general manager of Santan and T&CO restaurant.

    Believing in the potential success of the new concept, Group CEO of AirAsia Tony Fernandes is already planning to franchise the brand internationally.

    The company plans to open five outlets this year and 100 outlets over the next five years with expansions in global markets.

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  • Glenfiddich Unveils Limited-Edition DesignPack to Celebrate the Lunar New Year

    Glenfiddich Unveils Limited-Edition DesignPack to Celebrate the Lunar New Year

    Glenfiddich, the World’s Most Awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky[1], announces a limited-edition pack for Glenfiddich’s 18 Year Old single malt created by Shenzhen-based artist Rlon Wang. Created in celebration of the Lunar New Year and gifting season, the distinctive design will be available in selected airports from December 2019 while supplies last.

    Paying homage to the royal stag icon which appears on every bottle of Glenfiddich, the design reimagines an epic journey made over a century ago. Wang’s richly detailed illustration depicts the creature’s 12-pointed antlers, denoting its ‘royal’ classification, while the flowing ribbon and medal around its neck symbolises Glenfiddich’s status as the world’s most-awarded single malt.

    The grandeur of the stag’s appearance recalls a famous oil painting, The Monarch of the Glen, also paying tribute to the epic voyage made by Charles Gordon, son-in-law of Glenfiddich founder William Grant, in 1909. Gordon famously left Speyside with little more than a few cases of whisky and a dream to bring Glenfiddich, ‘the Valley of the Deer’, to the world. He returned a year later, having won the hearts of whisky lovers across Asia with the exquisite whiskies of the William Grant & Sons family.

    On the pack, the river surrounding the royal stag can be traced back to the Glenfiddich distillery, identified by its granite buildings and resplendent copper still. Closer examination reveals an intrepid figure rowing a cargo of whisky casks downstream. The wild Scottish landscape blends with hallmarks of ancient and modern Asia in a mythical evocation of the long-standing connection between two cultures.

    William Grant & Sons Managing Director, Global Travel Retail, Ed Cottrell, commented:  “We are thrilled to collaborate with artist Rlon Wang to offer travellers a limited-edition design during this important festive period. We know that luxury spirits consumers are looking for culturally relevant gifts from brands with heritage and authentic stories, which makes Glenfiddich 18 Year Old the perfect gift this Lunar New Year.”

    As a former student of traditional Chinese painting with a distinctly contemporary style, Wang was the perfect artist to tell this story. His colourful, multi-layered illustration takes inspiration from personal memories of family gatherings at Lunar New Year, as well as the symbolic meaning of deer in Chinese folk tales, where the animal often represents long life and good fortune. The exceptional nature of this pack befits a single malt like no other.

    The Glenfiddich 18 Year Old is an industry-acclaimed, delicately crafted and full-bodied single malt, produced in small batches. Renowned everywhere as a symbol of affection and respect, this is a malt that channels the spirit of the stag to honour generations past, while looking towards a future full of promise.

    The Glenfiddich 18 Year Old limited-edition design pack will be available in selected airports from December 2019, including Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taipei.

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  • The world’s first Coke cafe in a cinema opens in Malaysia

    The world’s first Coke cafe in a cinema opens in Malaysia

    The first Coke cafe in a cinema complex has opened at the new Toppen Shopping Centre in Tebrau, southern Malaysia.

    It forms part of the local TGV Cinemas flagship complex on the rooftop of the centre.

    Inspired by 1950s-style American diners, the Coke cafe, dubbed Coke Zone, has an interior divided into several areas, and uses Coca Cola’s famous red as its primary theme colour.

    After entering the store, accessible from the mall area and the cinema complex, movie-goers will see a bar with “Coca Cola” sign above it where they can order fresh Coke and snacks like popcorn or confectionery. For the opening, in November, a Christmas-themed area has been created adjacent to the bar with an artificial fireplace and a Christmas tree displayed along with Coca Cola’s artwork, creating an Instagrammable spot.

    Large sofas in the central area of Coke Zone provide a space for customers to relax and wait for their movie session. The store also features free high-speed WiFi and charging stations for mobile devices.

  • Malaysia’s Go Noodle House opens first Singapore restaurant

    Malaysia’s Go Noodle House opens first Singapore restaurant

    Malaysian restaurant brand Go Noodle House has launched in Singapore – and is now preparing to enter five other Asia-Pacific markets.

    The new Somerset outlet is the brand’s second overseas location and is a step forward in its plans to expand throughout the region to New Zealand, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It already operates a restaurant in Melbourne.

    Co-founder Lee Hon Wai based the business on a yellow rice wine noodle soup broth traditionally prepared by fellow co-founder Alvin Tan Kok Meng’s mother.

    The franchise has since seen extensive queues at all its locations in Malaysia, where it sells 18,000 bowls daily since opening in Kuala Lumpur in 2014.

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  • Singapore’s Supergreek fast-casual concept opens

    Singapore’s Supergreek fast-casual concept opens

    Singapore’s first Greek fast-casual concept, Supergreek, has opened at Raffles City.

    Supergreek’s menu features a wide selection of healthy Greek dishes, including the popular Geek street food Souvlaki and homemade authentic Geek yogurt.

    “At Supergreek, we follow traditional Greek cuisine which is predominantly plant-based, and focused on lean meats, seafood and heart-healthy olive oil that is also fresh,” says Cheng Hsin Yao, owner and founder of Supergreek.

    He says he wants Supergreek to demonstrate that the cuisine has healthy, nutritious qualities.

    Located in the basement of Raffles City, Supergeek features a predominantly white-and-blue interior, inspired by Greece’s national flag.

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