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.

  • 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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  • Filipino kiosk chain Fruitas opened more than stores after IPO

    Filipino kiosk chain Fruitas opened more than stores after IPO

    Manila-based food-and-beverage kiosk operator Fruitas has grown its store network to 1036.

    The company, with a portfolio of banners, including Buko ni Fruitas, Juice Avenue, Black Pearl, and Johnn Lemon, has added 106 new stores this year to the 930 it ended last year with.

    Fruitas recently raised 896.55 million Philippine pesos (US$17.6 million) through an IPO, which it says will be used to further expand its network, upgrade existing outlets, develop new concepts, acquire new brands and repay debts.

    “We are happy with the results of the offering of Fruitas. The broker tranche was more than 2.5 times oversubscribed, while the local small investor tranche was a record amount for a Philippine IPO,” says Daniel Camacho, EVP of First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC), the lead underwriter for the Fruitas listing.

    “The exceptional performance and positive response from the market prove that the public believes in Fruitas’ strong fundamentals and aggressive expansion plans in the country,” added Camacho.

    The company’s expansion plan includes opening 150 to 250 new stores per year through to 2022, as well as two new food parks by 2021.

    Founded in 2002 by Lester Yu, Fruitas now has 24 brands, making it a top player in fruit shakes, lemonade, buco and meat kiosk categories.

    Last year it acquired the Sabroso Lechon business.

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  • IoT-enabled smart barista coffee machines set for SEA roll out

    IoT-enabled smart barista coffee machines set for SEA roll out

    Noble Vici Group is planning to deploy smart IoT-enabled self-service barista coffee machines throughout Southeast Asia.

    The V-More Xpress machines perform real-time analytic data collection through the firm’s IoT platform and connect customers to the machines online.

    The firm has been developing its own ecosystem from e-commerce to IoT infrastructure for the past two years while tapping on internal resources and capital to expedite the installation of smart IoT-enabled barista machines across Southeast Asia within the next 18 months.

    “We aim to be the fastest player to deploy these self-service machines in Asia,” said NVGI CEO Sir Eldee Tang. “NVGI is targeting uplisting to the mainboard in the US near the end of 2020. We intend to further strengthen the mix of the management team in preparation for the future prospect ahead.”

    In conjunction with the latest round of funding initiatives, NVGI has begun the rollout of its smart barista coffee machines, partnering with Barista Uno, which sells roasted coffee sourced from Java. V-More Xpress will be able to monitor the consumption of each machine to ensure operating uptime.

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  • APAC driving Fortnum & Mason growth

    APAC driving Fortnum & Mason growth

    Upmarket British department store firm Fortnum & Mason has enjoyed double-digit growth this financial year largely driven by its operations in Asia.

    The company’s 2018/19 financial statements show strong international growth of 16 percent, while growth in Hong Kong and Japan stands at 28 percent.

    The store recently launched a new flagship branch in Hong Kong (encompassing a shop and restaurant) as its first standalone location in Asia, intending to reduce its reliance on the UK and capitalize on international demand for British goods.

    ‘‘Fortnum & Mason has delivered another year of strong sales growth, with revenue rising to £138 million as its proposition proves to be the right cup of tea for shoppers,” said GlobalData Retail analyst Emily Salter. “Though total revenue was bolstered by the opening of its new Royal Exchange restaurant in November 2018, it is clear that its premium and unique products enhanced by its strong British identity resonate well with domestic shoppers and tourists, even in the tough UK trading environment.”

    The company is coming under increased pressure from premium department-store competitors, with Selfridges and Harrods investing significantly in their stores. Harrods has restored its food halls, and Selfridges has renovated numerous areas of its flagship London location to boost footfall, as well as improving the experiential elements of its store, adding restaurants and a cinema.

    The brand’s Hong Kong launch coincides with a period of heavy political turmoil for the territory, prompting some criticism of Fortnum & Mason’s sense of timing.

    “It’s not our place to get overly political,” said Fortnum & Mason CEO Ewan Venters. “We are an English brand that goes out into the world to sell tea, biscuits and jam. We are continuing to trade as we would normally but we are being respectful of what is going on in the country – there was no launch party for example as it just wouldn’t have felt right.” Venters added.

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  • Pork prices push November inflation to 9-year high

    Pork prices push November inflation to 9-year high

    Rising prices of pork and processed meat raised the November consumer price index (CPI) a record 0.96 percent over the previous month.

    Dwindling supply of pork following the African swine flu outbreak in Vietnam saw prices of pork and other processed meat products to soar in November, leading to the biggest CPI increase in 9 years, according to the latest report by the General Statistics Office (GSO).

    However, over the last 11 months, the CPI had only risen by 2.57 year-on-year, the lowest increase in the last three years. The CPI in November, compared to December-end 2018, had increased by 3.78 percent.

    Speaking to VnExpress, merchants in Ho Chi Minh City said that prices of pork substitutes such as beef and seafood rose as customers made the switch, coupled with heightened demand as the New Year approaches.

    Vietnam has had to cull 5.9 million pigs infected with African swine fever since the beginning of the year, equivalent to 337,000 tons of pork, according to Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    This has resulted in pork prices rising by 19 percent since last November and could rise by a further 10-15 percent by the end of this year with an expected shortage of 200,000 tons, according to the GSO.

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  • Frozen-themed cafes pop up in Japan

    Frozen-themed cafes pop up in Japan

    Frozen-themed cafes are popping up in Japan, marking the release of the Disney animated film Frozen 2.

    A Frozen-themed cafe has opened as a time-limited pop-up at Oh My Cafe at Tokyu Plaza in Harajuku. The themed pop-up will remain open until January 13. A second Frozen pop-up cafe is planned to open at Gelato Pique Cafe in Tamagawa Takashimaya today, running through to January 26.

    The cafes offer dishes themed and stylized according to characters from the movie, particularly loved in the Japanese market since the screening of the original film in 2014. They also sell merchandise related to the Frozen franchise.

    Additional Frozen-themed cafes are set to launch in Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Hokkaido, and Kyoto.

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  • Filipino ice-cream Carmen’s Best opening in Singapore

    Filipino ice-cream Carmen’s Best opening in Singapore

    Premium Filipino ice-cream chain Carmen’s Best has opened its first overseas store in Singapore.

    The store, which held its soft opening on Monday at Capitol Singapore, offers fresh milk-based ice creams in flavors such as milk chocolate, butter pecan, and Sicilian-sourced pistachio. The brand is launching a Singapore-exclusive cheese flavored ice cream that contains chunks of cheese.

    Owner and founder Paco Magsaysay have stated a goal to become a “Filipino-made, world-class ice-cream brand.”

    The brand began as a dairy farm serving a growing number of stores and partners before launching its ice-cream products.

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