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.

  • Changing the Way Singapore Buys Wine

    Changing the Way Singapore Buys Wine

    With few people having wine cellars, the minimum order size required by many wine merchants in Singapore makes buying a case of each both time consuming and inconvenient. Wine. Delivery solved this issue.

    How can you replicate the pleasures of purchasing wine in a physical shop in the online space? Where can you go to get the personalized service and recommendations available from your favorite wine merchant while still having access to a vast array of diverse options?

    How can a specialized wine importer have access to a larger audience online without needing to develop expensive tech? These were the questions that Alex Caballero sought to answer in creating a specialized marketplace, where quality, user experience, and a love of wine are celebrated.

    The premise was simple: Create top-notch tech, get quality importers on board, ensure impeccable service, and improve the experience of wine and spirit drinkers everywhere. Amongst Alex Caballero’s first steps was acquiring the URL www.wine.delivery. Beautiful in its simplicity, the ultimate wine shop had just become digital.

    From the very beginning, Wine.Delivery was a tech company that sold wine and not the other way around. The goal was to build a platform that would provide seamless customer experience and make it easy for specialized merchants to sell their wine to the general public. The website launch was quickly followed by an app, making it even easier to order whenever and wherever.

    Building a marketplace from scratch was very much a learning experience. In-house developers allowed the company to quickly develop new solutions and adapt to the changing needs of both the end-user and the importers in real-time, with feedback from both sides being quickly put into practice.

    New functionalities allowed the consumer to explore different wine regions or grapes, much like in their local wine store. Recommendations were added to guide the novice wine drinker and sections were developed to steer the last-minute buyer towards wines available the next day, including weekends.

    Wine.Delivery Singapore soft-launched in 2016 with early-adopter importers keen to experiment. All saw the potential of the platform and the opportunity linked to the change in Singaporeans’ online purchasing behavior.

    Today the marketplace counts over 40 importers and showcases more than 1,500 labels from all over the world, with bottles ranging from the cheap and cheerful to exclusive collector’s pieces. Fully armed with the lessons gleaned in Singapore, the company is excited to expand its horizons.

    Today’s consumer is looking for a large variety of wines; a typical order could see a few bottles of Italian wine for a dinner party, a bottle of Champagne for a gift, some South African wine to reminisce over a past holiday, a Bordeaux for a romantic dinner and some Chilean wine for Saturday’s BBQ.

    With few people having wine cellars, the minimum order size required by many wine merchants in Singapore makes buying a case of each both time consuming and inconvenient. Wine.Delivery solved this issue, making it possible to find everything in one place, with free delivery on all orders, even for a single bottle.

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  • Country Garden builds world-first robotic restaurant

    Country Garden builds world-first robotic restaurant

    Chinese property-development company Country Garden has launched the world’s first robotic restaurant, in Guangdong.

    Built by Country Garden’s subsidiary Qianxi Group, the restaurant occupies a 2000sqm area, featuring sections including Chinese food, hot pot and fast food. Diners are served by more than 20 in-house robots designed for different tasks including cooking and serving food.

    “The Qianxi robot restaurant has innovatively achieved both software-hardware integration and man-machine cooperation,” said Zhao Chunsheng, mechanical engineering specialist, and academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    “It helps to better run a smooth operation through the practical application of robots. Qianxi has the most advanced technology with a vast product lineup. It fills the market gap and will have a significant impact on benchmarking in adding value to industry development as well,” he said.

    According to the company, the Qianxi robotic restaurant can serve some 600 customers with 200 menu items thanks to fast serving time. The launch of the robotic restaurant is in line with efforts to reduce physical contact between people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Meanwhile, Qianxi Group says it aims to build centralized kitchens in Hong Kong and Macau.

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  • Dairy Farm launches new Market Place store in Hong Kong

    Dairy Farm launches new Market Place store in Hong Kong

    Dairy Farm launched its new Market Place fresh food and grocery store at Hong Kong’s Langham Place shopping centre today.

    Described as “a brand new gourmet experience for foodies and gastronomes” the store features fresh foods at its core with made-to-order meals and fresh-baked breads

    “This new design has been created to bring to life an exceptional food experience for all passionate foodies,” a spokesperson told Inside Retail Asia.

    The emphasis of the store’s design is on conveying the “freshness of the farm to the table”, a “contemporary twist on the modern farmhouse”.

    Classic black and white branding combined with splashes of vibrant color, bold food photography and a soundtrack of “cool, smooth modern beats,” complement the designers’ focus on smooth flow through the store and easy navigation.

    Decorative barrels suspended from the ceiling create the atmosphere for the Cellar section, which stocks, among other things, local Hong Kong craft beer Gweilo and a selection of 1000 wines.

    While the store is unique to Hong Kong, the design features elements similar to Dairy Farm Group’s Cold Storage Fresh and Mercato stores in Singapore and Penang, Malaysia.

  • Taco Bell launches D.I.Y Taco Kit for the first time in Thailand

    Taco Bell launches D.I.Y Taco Kit for the first time in Thailand

    In response to the trend of New Normal, Taco Bell launches “D.I.Y. Taco Kit”, inspiring customers to become Mexican Chef and create Taco Bell’s signature Taco Supreme, in their own style, anytime, anywhere with the similar spicy taste as served at Taco Bell restaurant. Taco Bell’s D.I.Y. Taco Kit is available from 22 June to 31 August, 2020 at Baht 389/box. Customers can easily place their D.I.Y. Taco Kit order from foodpanda delivery service or buy at Taco Bell stores to take back home.  To win special prizes, customers have to capture their Taco Supreme and share delicious moments on Facebook: @TacoBellTH.

    Mr. Chalermchai Mahagitsiri, President and CEO of TTA and Director of Siam Taco Co., Ltd., stated that, “We have experienced on unprecedented shift in our way of life and are pushed to embrace the “new normal” practice due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  We also pay more attention to cleanliness and social distancing to keep ourselves, our colleagues and our family members safe.  This crisis triggers a dramatic adaptation in food businesses as consumers become less confident about eating outside the home. The food delivery service is gaining considerable popularity among customers, supporting by the work-from-home policy. Consequently, Taco Bell has achieved a significant increase in their online order sales.

    “In order to serve the demand for online ordering and contactless delivery, Taco Bell revolutionizes the Taco industry by initiating D.I.Y. Taco Kit special for customers in Thailand. We believe that our customers will enjoy making their own delicious-style tacos anywhere, anytime.”

    D.I.Y. Taco Kit for Taco Lovers. No waste time waiting in line at Taco Bell stores. Just unbox it, all of which come with choices of 4 crunchy hard or soft taco shells, favorite seasoned ground beef or chicken, shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomato, hot sauce, sour cream, cheddar cheese. To make it even more delicious, one can add pico de gallo salsa and Guacamole, which do not normally put in signature Taco Supreme. All ingredients are wrapped and packed in a sealed packaging to ensure food safety.  Customers can also add more ingredients for more flavors and a lot of fun, then share their good memories on TacoBellth Facebook to win some prizes. For more update activities, news and promotions please visit Facebook: facebook.com/TacoBellTH, IG: @TacoBellTH, Twitter:  @TacoBellTH, and Line: @TacoBellTH.

    Currently, Taco Bell operates 6 branches in Thailand: The Mercury Ville @Chidlom, Siam Paragon, Central Pinklao, Samyan Mitrtown, Central Westgate, and Sukhumvit Soi 11. Every store strictly adheres to safety measures in accordance with the government policy and nationwide policy from Centre for the Administration of the Situation due to the Outbreak of the Communicable Disease Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

     

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  • DC Super Heroes Cafe Quits in Singapore

    DC Super Heroes Cafe Quits in Singapore

    Comic book-themed DC Super Heroes Cafe is to close down in Singapore after five years.

    The company posted a message on Facebook this week telling fans its store at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands will not reopen after the Covid-19 retail trading restrictions are lifted this Friday, deciding to end its tenancy during the city’s circuit-breaker period.

    While the company’s other cafe, at Takashimaya in Orchard Road, will reopen on Friday it will soon transition to another brand, not yet revealed, “in the very near future”.

    “It’s been a super-fun, wonderful and memorable five years!,” the cafe said on Facebook. “However, all good things must come to an end.

    “We would like to thank you dear heroes and past customers for your incredible support. We will close this cafe page in due time.”

    The news was greeted with more than 110 comments, largely expressing sadness over the closure and reminiscing about family events held there.

    The DC Super Heroes Cafe at SM Megamall in Manila, the Philippines, has also been affected by lockdowns relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. That store has been selling merchandise online while closed but will soon reopen in the mall once government trading restrictions are lifted.

    The cafe concept was inspired by films, TV series, animated movies and comic books featuring characters licensed to DC Comics. The cafe concept was created by Almerak Corp, in partnership with Warner Bros Consumer Products.

    The Philippines cafe opened in June 2018.

  • Carrefour China set to open 100 more restaurants

    Carrefour China set to open 100 more restaurants

    Supermarket operator Carrefour China plans to open 100 restaurants at its existing stores.

    The first outlet of Carrefour restaurant chain Mr Fu has opened at its Gubei branch in Shanghai, followed by a second in Chongqing.

    “With more than 2000 products in a self-run goods pool, Mr Fu will introduce at least 30 new products each month,” said Li Yijiang, head of catering business division at Suning Carrefour China.

    The renovation work will be launched at selected Carrefour branches and will not be outsourced to a third party.

    “We will have more independence to promote food and drinks according to different festive occasions and promotional activities, and we also offer customized decoration styles at consumers’ requests,” Li told the Shanghai Daily.

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  • Online move limits damage to Cafe de Coral Group’s sales

    Online move limits damage to Cafe de Coral Group’s sales

    Listed Hong Kong restaurant and catering operator Cafe de Coral Group managed to minimize the impact on sales during Covid-19 social-distancing restrictions by expanding its online and delivery operations.

    The company operates the Cafe de Coral fast food and Super Super Congee & Noodles QSR chains, along with the casual-dining restaurant’s Shanghai Lao Lao, Mixian Sense (pictured above),The Spaghetti House and Oliver’s Super Sandwiches.

    Sales for the year to March 31 decreased by a modest 6.2 percent to US$1.03 billion, with the Hong Kong casual-dining business taking the biggest hit, down 14 per cent. Overall Hong Kong sales fell by 6.4 percent and Mainland China sales by 6.2 percent.

    Profit attributable to shareholders for the year plunged 87.1 percent $9.5 million.

    Chairman Sunny Lo Hoi Kwong says the coronavirus outbreak will force a re-shuffle of the way businesses to operate as they adapt to the new market landscape.

    “Once the pandemic is under control, I believe Hong Kong – and the world as a whole – will need to adapt to a new business paradigm.”

    Cafe de Coral Group addressed some of the decline in dine-in sales by measures such as introducing self-service ordering kiosks in stores and increasing its emphasis on online ordering and home-delivery services.

    “At the same time, we are making internal adjustments to our operations by fine-tuning dishes and updating menus to optimize meals for delivery. Anticipating a shift from in-restaurant dining to a broader mix of in-store and delivery options, our focus on technology, efficiency and cost-effectiveness will only intensify going forward,” he said. The company also partnered with home-delivery apps.

    Cafe de Coral Group has also been reviewing lease agreements with landlords to reduce overheads. “With the group’s strong, 50-year reputation and our position as one of Hong Kong’s leading listed catering groups, landlords have been quite willing to work with us,” he said.

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  • Hong Kong Land unveils premium food hall concept BaseHall in Central

    Hong Kong Land unveils premium food hall concept BaseHall in Central

    Hongkong Land has unveiled a new premium food hall concept BaseHall at Jardine House, in Hong Kong’s Central district.

    The foodcourt houses eight eateries and two bars, featuring concepts carefully chosen for their style and food offer including Moyo Sik from the contemporary Korean spot Moyo and Co Thanh, who offers authentic Vietnamese dishes.

    The two bars, Pub 1842 from Young Master and BaseHall Bar, serve a wide range of drinks, including local craft beer and Asian-inspired cocktails.

    “BaseHall is core to our strategy for attracting younger customers while still catering to our existing loyal customer base,” said Raymond Chow, executive director of Hong Kong Land.

    “BaseHall is breaking new ground in the F&B landscape which creates huge potential growth opportunities, both in terms of the vendor line-up, and the meticulously designed space that allows for multi-purpose use.”

    Besides using sustainable materials, BaseHall has also partnered with a food-assistance programme to distribute leftover food to worthwhile causes across the city.

    “This will no doubt be the new hotspot for the Central office population and the wider Hong Kong community to socialise and enjoy great food,” Chow said.

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  • Paris Baguette opening outlets in Canada

    Paris Baguette opening outlets in Canada

    South Korean food-and-beverage company SPC Group says it will launch its bakery-cafe chain Paris Baguette into Canada next year.

    The Canadian operation of Paris Baguette will be set up by the first half of the year, with stores to be launched in the country’s major cities including Toronto and Vancouver, the group said in a statement.

    Paris Baguette’s goal is to establish at least 100 bakery branches in Canada by 2030.

    SPC Group has so far expanded into China, the US, Vietnam, Singapore, France and Cambodia.

    The company runs about 400 Paris Baguette stores globally, with stores in heavily populated areas such as Manhattan, San Francisco, Paris, Ho Chi Minh City and Boston.

  • McDonald’s sales rise in South Korea

    McDonald’s sales rise in South Korea

    Fast-food chain McDonald’s sales grew 9 percent in South Korea during the first four months of this year, in spite of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The firm’s MD Antoni Martinez made the announcement on McDonald’s Koreas’ Youtube channel, his first public address since his appointment in February.

    “With the Covid-19 pandemic posing serious challenges for the business, contactless platforms such as drive-thru and McDelivery in which McDonald’s made preemptive investments, have received a warm response from the public,” said Martinez.

    He said McDonald’s sales were boosted by the introduction of the Best Burger initiative and the establishment of convenient platforms.

    The Best Burger initiative refers to a change in McDonald’s entire burger preparation process, which was implemented in the territory in March. Korea is the fourth country to introduce the initiative, following New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

    McDonald’s Korea served around 400,000 customers every day last year at around 400 stores nationwide.

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  • Lotte takes over concessions at Singapore’s Changi airport

    Lotte takes over concessions at Singapore’s Changi airport

    South Korean duty-free retailer Lotte has formally taken over the liquor and tobacco concessions at Singapore’s Changi Airport from DFS Group.

    Construction of the new stores are likely to begin once the island’s current “circuit-breaker” restrictions are relaxed in the wake of the continuing coronavirus outbreak. Before this period the firm will trade via the online platform iShopChangi.com.

    Lotte won the concessions last year in a tender process following the withdrawal of LVMH-owned DFS Group after 40 years at the airport. DFS said continuing to sell alcohol and tobacco at Changi Airport was not commercially viable, but it will continue to operate fashion stores there.

    The new Lotte outlets will be operator’s largest duty-free business in Asia Pacific, offering more than 3000 choices of wines and spirits, including exclusive limited-edition whiskeys and cognacs.

    A high-tech tasting bar and immersive experience zones are likely to be features of the new stores.

    “Apart from a complete revamp of store designs, passengers can also look forward to an omnichannel experience as we integrate a seamless brick-and-mortar shopping experience with e-commerce,” said Changi Airport Group executive VP Lim Peck Hoon.

    Lotte has been awarded the concession for roughly 8000sqm of retail space at the airport for six years, ending June 8, 2026.

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  • Movenpick launches three Hong Kong pop-up stores

    Movenpick launches three Hong Kong pop-up stores

    Swiss ice cream brand Movenpick has launched three pop-up stores in Hong Kong – although, as the photos show, they have a very permanent look.

    The pop-up stores feature 16 ice cream flavors, including the brand’s nine exclusive flavors, served in natural plant-based containers. The Movenpick menu will be updated with more festive dessert creations, according to the company.

    “We are so excited to bring Hong Kong a true 5-star ice cream experience with our new Movenpick ice cream pop-up stores,” said Montha Khongkrurphan, Hong Kong ice cream & chilled business director of Nestle Hong Kong.

    “The opening of the pop-up stores is also the perfect opportunity to debut our environmentally friendly takeaway packaging.”

    The Hong Kong Movenpick pop-up stores are located at ParknShop supermarkets in Pacific Place (top image), Cheung Kong Centre (second image) and Quarry Bay (above).

  • Paris Baguette eyes expansion in the US, Singapore

    Paris Baguette eyes expansion in the US, Singapore

    South Korean F&B group SPC is expanding outside of its home territory as its home-based brands reach saturation point.

    Plans to establish an upscale restaurant in New York-based on its Paris Baguette bakery brand, however, have been significantly impacted by the continuing US coronavirus outbreak, according to a report in the Korea Times.

    “We were planning so as part of our global business expansion starting with our locations in Singapore. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, everything was put on hold,” said an official spokesperson for SPC. “We were going to start with Maison de PB and make our next move after watching its performance in NYC.”

    The group has already successfully established Paris Baguette locations in the US, although poor brand visibility is still said to be an issue for the franchise. According to one industry source, the Maison de PB venue was intended to elevate the reputation of the brand.

    “There’s a limit for its success with the confectionery business in the US and Europe,” the source told the Korea Herald. “It is very hard to break the stereotype that an Asian bakery can offer better products than French bakeries. Becoming successful with Maison de PB in NYC is also important but we can see it as part of the group’s efforts to build its brand image there.”

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  • BreadTalk delisted after privatisation plan finalized

    BreadTalk delisted after privatisation plan finalized

    Singaporean bakery and restaurant operator BreadTalk is to be delisted from the Singapore stock exchange tomorrow (June 5) following its mandatory acquisition by BTG Holding.

    The firm applied to delist from the exchange following the suspension of trading on April 21. The new owning entity is owned by BreadTalk’s founder George Quek and his wife, along with Thai food & hospitality firm Minor International.

    The group’s stakeholders offered to acquire all the ordinary shares in the firm and delist the company in February. At the time, Minor and Quek said they planned to undertake a review of the business following its delisting with a view to streamlining business activities, refocusing on and strengthening core business activities and exploring the potential disposal of non-core property assets.

    BreadTalk filed losses of US$4.1 million last year and was struggling financially long before the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, which worsened matters.

    The firm’s business “remains challenging across key markets, including Singapore, China and Hong Kong,” according to official filings submitted by the firm.

  • Malaysian startup installs ‘Coffee ATMs’ for frontline medical workers

    Malaysian startup installs ‘Coffee ATMs’ for frontline medical workers

    One-year-old Malaysian startup Coffee Star has provided self-service dispensing machines – dubbed ‘Coffee ATMs’ – to medical frontliners serving free beverages during the coronavirus pandemic.

    The machines were delivered to the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (currently serving as a quarantine and treatment center for 600 patients) and Sungai Buloh Hospital, providing fresh coffee to frontliners for free, serving more than 10,000 cups of fresh coffee since April.

    The unmanned Coffee ATMs are completely automated machines allowing users to select drinks via a touchscreen panel.

    “Our frontliners who are courageously and selflessly serving the nation in the coronavirus crisis represent the best of who we are,” said MAEPS CEO Zaidi Shahrim. “We are honored to support this initiative by partnering, Coffee Star, to provide the heroes in our communities fresh coffees to recharge.”

    “We have tremendous admiration for all of the frontliners fighting in this unprecedented time,” said Coffee Star Malaysia “coffee enthusiastic officer” Raja Ahmad Fauzan bin Raja Hassan. “When we heard that they needed an energy booster to help them through their long days, we were eager to help.

    “We experience the impact of coronavirus directly throughout our business locations in airports, shopping malls and office towers. So, we are redeploying our machines from those locations and utilised for a greater good to serve fresh, free coffee to the frontliners. The machine serves fresh coffee on-demand at the right moment they need it.”

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