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.

  • Carrefour acquires lunch delivery service Dejbox

    Carrefour acquires lunch delivery service Dejbox

    Supermarket giant Carrefour Group has acquired lunch delivery service, Dejbox, expanding its online grocery service to ready-to-eat meals and the B2E market.

    “This acquisition, which reflects Carrefour’s desire to become the leader in grocery e-commerce, is a strategic one,” Amelie Oudea-Castera, executive director customers, services and digital transformation at Carrefour, said. “It will give us the opportunity to expand our customer base to include employees of medium-sized, small and micro businesses and also invest in the fast-growing food delivery segment with an offering rooted in quality and affordability.”

    Dejbox was found by Adrien Verhack and Vincent Dupied in 2015 to provide food in an online canteen for employees. It offers lunch including fresh, cooked and seasonal dishes for €5.90 to €8.90 and it delivers the food to their workplace at no charge.

    Dejbox is an online and mobile app with menu offerings to cater to French employees working in the urban hinterland and doesn’t have much access to onsite dining service. It is operating in Lille, Lyon, Paris, Bordeaux, Nantes and Grenoble – delivering over 400,000 meals each month.

    Carrefour said the acquisition will allow Dejbox to expand its French operations faster into international markets and grow quickly into B2B services.

    “We made the strategic decision to join with Carrefour because we firmly believe it’s the best possible partner for helping us achieve our ambitious growth plans for Dejbox and for offering as many people as possible an online, affordable, sustainable and tasty alternative to a sandwich or a home-cooked meal,” Verhack and Dupied said.

  • Cold Stone Creamery Singapore to shut down by month’s end

    Cold Stone Creamery Singapore to shut down by month’s end

    Ice-cream chain Cold Stone Creamery will close all three of its stores in Singapore at the end of this month.

    Cold Stone Creamery Singapore operates three stores, located at Hill V2, VivoCity and Waterway Point. The brand has operated in the city for the last 10 years.

    The local operator of the brand is Refinery Concepts, the restaurant and lifestyle-food arm of Far East Organization, which operates 14 businesses in the city, including Dean & Deluca. Oriole Coffee & Bar, Cin Cin and Fat Cow.

    To mark the closure, Cold Stone Creamery Singapore will offer discounts and free branded merchandise to customers to “thank them” for support during the decade.

    The US-founded brand continues to operate in other Asian markets, including Thailand, Japan, South Korea and China.

  • Luckin Coffee stronger than Starbucks in China

    Luckin Coffee stronger than Starbucks in China

    Luckin Coffee has now become the largest coffee chain in China, surpassing Starbucks in terms of number of locations.

    The firm has launched 4500 outlets within the Chinese territory, around 200 more than its Seattle-headquartered competitor. The brand soared past Starbucks late last year and has rapidly multiplied its footprint in the market backed by strong investment from supporters such as BlackRock.

    The firm focuses primarily on the coffee delivery and pickup business, and so stores are typically smaller in size than Starbucks locations and some are without seating. Starbucks itself has responded to the challenge by entering into a partnership with Alibaba to offer a more robust delivery solution.

    Many of Luckin’s new locations are in areas not currently served by Starbucks.

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  • Cheese-tea chain Machi Machi to launch in Singapore

    Cheese-tea chain Machi Machi to launch in Singapore

    Machi Machi, the Taiwanese cheese-tea chain which went viral after featuring in a music video of Mandopop king Jay Chou, is set to debut in Singapore.

    Named after Chou’s wife’s pet dog, Machi Machi Singapore will open at 25 Arab Street this month.

    According to the franchise owner, the Singapore outlet will have “no seats”, but is hoped to be launched before Jay Chou’s upcoming Carnival World Tour concert in the city on January 10 and 11.

    The Singapore store will offer its signature drink “God of Cheese Tea” together with other 18 items, including panna cotta, tea with fresh fruit, and the classic milk tea with pearls.

    Machi Machi now has stores in 10 countries including Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, France, Australia, Canada, Sweden and the UK.

  • Taiwan’s Mr Brown coffee shutters stores

    Taiwan’s Mr Brown coffee shutters stores

    Taiwanese cafe chain Mr Brown coffee has shuttered eight outlets in Taipei due to falling customer demand, among other factors.

    The closures include a sizeable store in central Tamsui that will cease trading later this month. Employees at the affected outlets have been reassigned, with others leaving the firm.There have been no reported mass layoffs of staff.

    A representative from Mr Brown coffee, which is a subsidiary of King Car Group, confirmed that falling sales as well as rental costs in some cases influenced the decision to close the stores. Another two outlets may also be closed in the near future. Rising competition in the sector may have played a part in the shift in consumer demand.

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  • Hong Kong’s Pirata Group to open new concept The Pizza Project

    Hong Kong’s Pirata Group to open new concept The Pizza Project

    Pirata Group has launched a new concept in Central, called The Pizza Project.

    Located on Peel Street, The Pizza Project will mirror the simple one-page menu format of its popular Pici chain, but with a focus on only pizzas. The Pizza Project will be helmed by chefs Andrea Viglione and Davide Borin and Pici operations manager Nacho Lopez.

    “We believe in engaging and connecting with people in meaningful ways to enrich experiences and make them available to everyone,” says Pici team. “We envision bringing excellent pizza at a fair price, so that everyone can enjoy pizza the same way we did back home,”

  • 7-Eleven Malaysia buys into ride-hailing service

    7-Eleven Malaysia buys into ride-hailing service

    7-Eleven Malaysia Holding has acquired a 46.45-per-cent equity stake in local delivery firm Myinteractivelab (MSB) for US$1.8 million.

    According to a SEM’s spokesperson, the company entered into an agreement to accquire 490,030 shares of MSB with founder Nabil Fiesal Bamadhaj, who is the owner of Dego Rides, which launched on January 1.

    “The subscription represents an opportunity for the SEM Group to acquire a substantial equity stake in MSB, which will be undertaking the e-hailing bike services and to provide convenient delivery services for its 7-Eleven outlets,” SEM said in a stock-exchange filing.

    MSB, which operates Dego App, Dego Partners, and Dego Orders, is currently in the process of securing the licence and approval to run electronic hailing motorcycle-taxi services.

    The government had recently announced it would embark on a proof of concept trial for e-hailing bike services in the Klang Valley for the first six months this year.

    “The government’s initiative in undertaking the program is a positive step and augurs well with the proposed subscription as Dego Ride is the only company in Malaysia, besides Singapore’s GrabBike and Indonesia’s Gojek, which has indicated its interest in the program,” said SEM’s spokesperson.

    With 1500 riders and more than 60,000 users in three months before it was banned by the government in 2017, Dego Ride aims to increase its rider number to more than 4000.

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  • ‘Grab-and-go’ coffee chain Kopi Kenangan reaches 200 stores

    ‘Grab-and-go’ coffee chain Kopi Kenangan reaches 200 stores

    Southeast Asian “grab-and-go” coffee chain Kopi Kenangan will expand its June Series A funding round with additional investments.

    The funding is being sourced from Roc Nation company Arrive; Serena Ventures; world-renowned basketball player Caris LeVert; and Sweetgreen CEO & co-founder Jonathan Neman, amongst others. Sequoia India, which led the US$20 million Series A round in June last year, also participated in this expansion.

    “We are inspired by Kopi Kenangan’s tenacity, vision, and ability to execute,” said Arrive co-founder and president Neil Sirni. “In just two years, they have expanded to 18 cities, 200 stores, and over 1800 employees. We’re excited to be an investor in and partner to Kopi Kenangan as they introduce Indonesian-style coffee to the world.”

    Kopi Kenangan sells at a price point between the high-priced coffee served at international coffee chains – which are beyond the price range for most Indonesians – and the instant coffee sold at many street stalls.

    Just a year ago, Kopi Kenangan only had 16 stores while serving a few thousand cups a day. Today, Kopi Kenangan it serves more than 3 million cups of beverage each month. On average, the company is opening more than one store per day.

    Kopi Kenangan plans to add more than 1000 new stores over the next two years and expand across Southeast Asia.

    “We want to build a legendary brand, and we’re excited to work with our new investors and advisors who have built global consumer franchises spanning sports, entertainment, F&B, and technology,” said CEO and co-founder Edward Tirtanata.

    “We have come a long way since our humble beginnings two years back and want to continue learning and improving our service and products to meet the expectations of our customers in Indonesia and other markets.”

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  • Vinamilk acquires majority stake in competitor

    Vinamilk acquires majority stake in competitor

    Vietnam’s biggest dairy company Vinamilk has acquired a majority stake in Moc Chau Milk, entrenching its market dominance.

    Vinamilk, formally Vietnam Dairy Products Jsc, has increased its ownership in GTNfoods from 43.17 percent to 75 percent, the dairy giant said in a recent statement. GTNfoods own a 51 percent stake in Moc Chau Milk, the biggest dairy producer in the north.

    The majority of shares were bought on December 18, when the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange recorded almost VND1.8 trillion ($77.54 million) worth of GTN shares being acquired at the price of VND22,800 (98 cents) per share, 5.5 percent higher than market value.

    Vinamilk made the acquisition two days after shareholders of GTNfoods approved the sale. In March, the board of GTNfoods rejected Vinamilk’s proposal to increase ownership.

    Analysts say that the deal will expand the ecosystem of Vinamilk amidst slower growth. Moc Chau Milk accounts for 9 percent of the market, which would take Vinamilk nine years to gain at its current expansion rate, according to stock brokerage Saigon Securities Inc (SSI).

    Vinamilk accounts for over half of the dairy market. In the third quarter, it posted revenues of VND14.29 trillion ($615.58 million), up 4 percent year-on-year, against a target of 7 percent.

    Vietnam’s dairy output rose 6.9 percent to 936,000 tons last year, and is set to rise to one million tons next year and two million tons by 2030, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    The firm exports dairy products to 46 markets with 70 percent going to the Middle East.

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  • First franchised KFCs open in Chinese gas stations

    First franchised KFCs open in Chinese gas stations

    Yum has announced the opening of its first franchised restaurants in Chinese gas stations, in collaboration with China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

    The first franchised KFC restaurant has been launched in a CNPC gas station in Yunnan Province while the first one in a Sinopec gas station is set to open its doors, Liaoning Province, next week.

    “The first franchised gas station restaurants represent an important milestone in our long-term strategic partnership with both companies,” said Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China. “Together with Sinopec and CNPC, we are committed to building a successful business model and creating innovation-driven growth together.”

    The partnership with Sinopec and CNPC will enable Yum China to expand its retail network into a previously underserved segment of the market as both companies collectively operate more than 50,000 Chinese gas stations.

    With the partnership, Yum China aims to open more than 100 stores in the next three years and create more opportunities to collaborate in other fields.

  • First franchised KFCs open in Chinese gas stations

    First franchised KFCs open in Chinese gas stations

    Yum has announced the opening of its first franchised restaurants in Chinese gas stations, in collaboration with China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

    The first franchised KFC restaurant has been launched in a CNPC gas station in Yunnan Province while the first one in a Sinopec gas station is set to open its doors Liaoning Province next week.

    “The first franchised gas station restaurants represent an important milestone in our long-term strategic partnership with both companies,” said Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China. “Together with Sinopec and CNPC, we are committed to building a successful business model and creating innovation-driven growth together.”

    The partnership with Sinopec and CNPC will enable Yum China to expand its retail network into a previously underserved segment of the market as both companies collectively operate more than 50,000 Chinese gas stations.

    With the partnership, Yum China aims to open more than 100 stores in the next three years and create more opportunities to collaborate in other fields.

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  • Robots replace staff in South Korean chain Genesis BBQ

    Robots replace staff in South Korean chain Genesis BBQ

    Genesis BBQ, a major South Korean fried-chicken chain, opened a new ‘smart store’ in Seoul’s Songpa District this month.

    There are no employees to take orders at the store. Instead, there are tablet PCs on each table that are used to order food.

    The food made in the kitchen is then served by food bots, self-driving robots that deliver the food to the customers.

    A map of the store is programmed into the food bots, which deliver food to each table based on pre-mapped destinations included in the program.

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  • Coca-Cola North America pilots subscription service to test new products

    Coca-Cola North America pilots subscription service to test new products

    Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola has launched a new subscription service in North America to test out over 20 new drinks.

    The Coca-Cola Insiders Club invites subscribers to sign up for a monthly shipment of three category-spanning beverages to be released in early 2020. A thousand memberships sold out in three hours following the announcement.

    “We’re absolutely thrilled to see how quickly the spots went, which shows just how passionate consumers are about our brands and innovations. It proves there is an opportunity to scale the concept and allow more people to participate,” said Alex Powell, a digital experiences manager, Coca-Cola North America.

    The soft drinks giant said the move was prompted by the phenomenal growth in the e-commerce subscription market which has doubled annually over the last five years.

    Subscribers can choose from two payment options for the six-month membership, US$10 per month or US$50 prepaid (one month free).

    “As a total beverage company, we’re constantly looking for ways to innovate not only in our products – but also in the consumer-centric experiences we offer,” said McCrea O’Haire, digital experiences manager, Coca-Cola North America.

    “People want choice, convenience and customization. The Insiders Club will allow us to showcase the diversity of the drinks we offer and get some of our newest innovations into the hands of fans who want to be among the first to enjoy them.”

    The launch of the limited-edition Coke Cinnamon in the region prompted a big response from consumers and provided valuable insights to the beverage giant.

    Coca-Cola North America said it will monitor sales, feedback and social media buzz and may consider expanding beyond the six-month trial period.

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  • Handmade KitKat goes on sale in Manila

    Handmade KitKat goes on sale in Manila

    Nestle-owned global chocolate brand KitKat is running a pop-up concept at SM Megamall in Manila until December 25.

    Called KitKat Chocolatory, the concept store allows customers to customize their own KitKat creations by choosing from a range of ingredients including almonds, macadamias and pretzels. It also offers limited edition local flavors such as mango graham, ube, saba and quezo.

    “Filipinos can enjoy their own KitKat break and enjoy exclusive KitKat. This is definitely something that every chocolate lover should not miss,” said Nestle Confectionery CEO Gerard Poa.

    KitKat Chocolatory concept also exists in countries including Japan, Thailand and some parts in Europe.

    First launched in 1935 in the UK, chocolate-covered wafer bar KitKat is present in more than 80 countries today.

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  • KFC urban concept unveiled in The Bronx

    KFC urban concept unveiled in The Bronx

    KFC has unveiled its newest urban inline restaurant design in the Bronx, NYC. Influenced by Colonel Sanders-inspired hospitality and the hustle and bustle of the Bronx, KFC’s new concept design illustrates “the borough’s fast-paced, eclecticism”.

    Designed by FRCH Nelson, KFC in the Bronx features a brick wall with KFC’s signature red and white stripes and tagline “It’s finger-licking’ good”. Different pictures of Colonel Sanders hung on the other white focal wall.

    “The Bronx neighborhood has a rich history and has seen a great deal of urban renewal in recent years,” said Lauren Moorehead, associate design manager of KFC. “It is important for us to reach our customers where they are and through our work with FRCH Nelson we’ve been able to create our first urban inline design that makes our brand more accessible for residents of the Bronx community and nearby Fordham University.”

    The design features a modern style that “captures the Colonel’s vintage flavor while marking a stark departure from the chain’s early decor, modeled on Sanders’ first restaurant”.

    Design director at FRCH Nelson, Marty McCauley, said working with a brand historically known for its southern hospitality, the agency created a design that maintained the great experience, but also looked to fold in a distinctly edgier attitude to deliver on the feistiness of what guests see from KFC in commercials and on social media.”

    KFC operates more than 23,000 restaurants in 140 countries and regions around the world under fast-food operator Yum! Brands.

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