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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.

  • Mister Donut China to close down Stores

    Mister Donut China to close down Stores

    Mister Donut China will soon be no more, Japan’s largest donut chain calling time there after losses mount.

    All 10 remaining Mister Donut stores in Shanghai will close their doors on April 1, victims, the company says, of rising labour costs and other overheads.

    Mister Donut China launched in 2000, its parent the Japanese cleaning services company Duskin foreseeing huge potential for sweet treats in the fast-growing economy. While it expanded quickly at first, rising competition and costs saw the company begin to trim its store network in recent years.

    After Mister Donut China announced it was closing via its Chinese website, a Duskin spokesperson told the Nikkei that while the company was leaving for now, it may pursue other opportunities in Chinese food retailing in the future.

    “China’s desserts market holds the promise of further growth. This is without a doubt an attractive region.”

    In Asia, Mister Donut will continue to operate in Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

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  • Pret-a-Manger owner JAB Holding in difficult position

    Pret-a-Manger owner JAB Holding in difficult position

    JAB Holding, the German owner of Krispy Kreme and Pret-a-Manger, has pledged to pay US$11.3 million to charity after the family-owned company’s ties to the Nazi party were revealed. The German newspaper uncovered a significant historical connection between the wealthy Reimann family and the Nazis. The Reimann forebears were ardent anti-semites and strong supporters of Hitler, and used both Russian and French slaves in their factories.

    JAB Holding recently divested the Jimmy Choo and Bally businesses to shift its focus from apparel to food. It also owns Green Mountain Coffee, Panera bread, Mighty Leaf Tea, Caribou Coffee, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, Einstein Bros Bagels and a 38-per-cent stake in cosmetics giant Coty, among other investments.

    According to the German newspaper report, back in the Hitler era, its factory workers were treated brutally, with female slaves forced to attend barracks checks naked – suffering beatings and sexual abuse as punishment for refusal.

    In a 1937 letter to SS leader Heinrich Himmler, Albert Reimann Jr – the father of the four Reimann family members who now own the businesses – wrote that his company was more than 100 years old, and that the owners at the time were unconditional followers of the race theory.

    “It is all correct,” family spokesman Peter Harf, who is one of two managing partners of JAB Holdings told. “Reimann Senior and Reimann Junior were guilty. The two men have passed away, but they actually belonged in prison.”

    The family has commissioned historian, Paul Erker of Munich University, to study its ties to the Nazi regime. Already four years in the making, more information will be released to the public when it is complete.

    The report was commissioned by the family because it wanted to better understand the extent of their past connection to the Nazi regime. They are currently the second richest family in Germany.

  • McDonald’s buys tech firm

    McDonald’s buys tech firm

    McDonald’s is set to purchase US/Israeli personalisation vendor Dynamic Yield in an attempt to boost drive-thru sales.

    The deal, reportedly worth more than US$300 million, will help the fast food vendor personalise outdoor digital drive-thru menu displays. The tech will analyse a range of variables in order to determine the most persuasive additional items to suggest to customers placing orders.

    “With this acquisition, we’re expanding both our ability to increase the role technology and data will play in our future and the speed with which we’ll be able to implement our vision of creating more personalised experiences for our customers,” said McDonald’s president and CEO Steve Easterbrook.

    Dynamic Yield has served multiple online retailers, including LVMH-owned cosmetics retailer Sephora and furniture giant Ikea. It has more than 300 clients worldwide.

    The technology will be rolled out in drive thrus at US restaurants this year before expanding to other leading international markets.

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  • Vietnamese Coffee farmers can reduce carbon emissions by diversifyingproduction

    Vietnamese Coffee farmers can reduce carbon emissions by diversifyingproduction

    Coffee farmers in Vietnam, the second biggest producer of coffee in the world, can reduce their carbon (CO2) footprint by growing different plant species alongside coffee. These are the findings of a new report titled Source or sink? The carbon footprint of Vietnam robusta coffee from the Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA) program by IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative, compiled by Agri-Logic, and based on the work of coffee traders JDE Coffee, Lavazza, Olam and Acom.

    Together with improved fertilizer and water use, this diversification could significantly reduce the impact of coffee production on climate change. Farmers can also broaden the range of income sources available to them, increasing their climate resilience.

    The findings come amidst reports that severe droughts in Vietnam could considerably reduce this year’s coffee output.

    Daan Wensing, Director of Global Landscapes at IDH, said:

    “Climate change is a threat that requires urgently rethinking the farming systems in which coffee is produced. This research brings hope that communities and coffee farmers can become more climate-resilient, and our coffee more sustainable. Together with more efficient fertilizer and water use, diversification can be at the forefront of efforts to make coffee production carbon positive.”

    Coffee production has a huge economic benefit for the Central Highlands region of Vietnam, where 95% of its coffee is produced. At the same time, it is a source of carbon emissions through significant use of fertilizer, water and energy.

    The report found that monocrop coffee farms are net sources of carbon, releasing 0.37 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year per metric ton of coffee produced.

    Conversely, diversified coffee farms are carbon sinks, removing 0.16 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year per metric ton of coffee produced. Growing pepper, durian, avocado and other crops alongside coffee creates more biomass, sequestering more CO2 than is generated through production.

    Of the small number of monocrop farms that did sequester CO2, more efficient use of fertilizer (the leading driver of carbon emissions in coffee farming) was found to be the reason.

    The research spanned two years and analysed the carbon footprint of robusta coffee production on 300 farms in the Central Highlands provinces of Lam Dong and Dak Lak.

    Through the Initiative Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA) in Vietnam, IDH works with local and national governments, private companies and smallholder farmers to support coffee producers in the Central Highlands in reducing their carbon footprint, maximize water and fertilizer use and to adapt to climate change. Daan Wensing concluded:

    “Diversification is a growing concept in Vietnam. As more farmers adopt this and other agroforestry methods, the number of farms that serve as carbon sinks will grow, becoming crucial drivers of both climate mitigation and resilience.”

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  • Hong Kong dessert shop Hui Lau Shan Launched in Philippines

    Hong Kong dessert shop Hui Lau Shan Launched in Philippines

    Hong Kong dessert shop Hui Lau Shan has opened in the Philippines.

    It is the first time for the franchise to open in the very region from which its special variety of mango is sourced. Its soft launch on March 17 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong city was well-attended by local fans of the brand’s mango-based food products.

    Hui Lau Shan Megamall PH store

    Hui Lau Shan originated as a Chinese herbal tea vendor in the 1960s before blending carabao mangoes in with its other ingredients in the 90s to create a unique dessert.

    The fresh fruit drinks were well-received and the brand now has more than 260 locations globally.

    The firm’s local partner is Fat Daddy’s Group, well-known for its Smokehouse restaurants.

    “The sweet taste of our own fruit has helped propel the brand’s growth in and outside Asia,” said Fat Daddy’s president Freshnaida Versoza. “It’s about time that we bring it here to the Philippines. It’s also our way of supporting the country’s agribusiness since Hui Lau Shan is estimated to consume one ton of premium carabao mangoes per week for 10 to 15 stores.”

    More Hui Lau Shan branches are planned for other malls in the territory, including SM North Edsa, SM Fairview and SM Mall of Asia.

  • French coffee chain Malongo Looking at Southeast Asia

    French coffee chain Malongo Looking at Southeast Asia

    French coffee shop chain Malongo is expanding into Southeast Asia.

    After the successful opening of two outlets in the Philippines last year, the organic-coffee company is eyeing more stores in the region, targeting Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.

    Malongo is seeking investors interested in growing the brand’s presence in their local market via a licensing model. The new stores will be based on the outlets opened in the Philippines.

    Located at One Bonifacio in BGC, the first Philippine store features a French-heritage led design, serves coffee sourced from multiple countries, and promises a commitment to eco-consciousness.

    Roasters since 1934, Malongo is a family-run firm. More than half of Malongo’s coffees and all of its teas hold organic AB certification, including a guarantee that no fertilisers or pesticides are used in farming.

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  • Patisserie Janice Wong opens in Changi, Singapore

    Patisserie Janice Wong opens in Changi, Singapore

    Singaporean pastry chef Janice Wong has opened her first airport store, at Changi Terminal 3.

    Janice Wong concession at T3 1

    Janice Wong concession at T3 5

    The concession allows international travellers to purchase a selection of Janice Wong’s signature products alongside special-edition chocolate bars, available in three artisanal flavours, ruby chocolate, sea salt and palm sugar.

    Janice Wong concession at T3 3

    Janice Wong concession at T3 2

    Other products include Janice Wong’s chocolate crayon box set, chocolate paint jar set, signature tea, chocolate boxes, bon bons, single-origin chocolate bars, cookies and lollipops.

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  • Wendy’s Malaysia Closing Down

    Wendy’s Malaysia Closing Down

    A series of Wendy’s restaurant closures have prompted rumours that the brand is shutting down in Malaysia for good.

    While no formal announcement has been made of the brand’s apparent withdrawal from the territory, social media posts documenting vacated Wendy’s Malaysia premises have been circulating since venues began disappearing last year.

    Online users have speculated that Wendy’s Malaysia franchisor Berjaya Burger has decided not to renew its agreement with the international fast food chain. The Wendy’s Malaysia Instagram account has also been shut down, and the firm’s last Facebook post was in early January this year.

    A 2016 article announcing the planned expansion of Wendy’s in Malaysia has been held up as a relic of better times for the global brand.

    At last count, just one branch in Kuala Lumpur – at Berjaya Times Square – and two in Penang were still operating.

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  • Domino’s Pizza Bangladesh opens first Restaurant

    Domino’s Pizza Bangladesh opens first Restaurant

    Domino’s Pizza Bangladesh has opened its first store, in the capital city, Dhaka.

    The store features a new ‘pizza theatre’ design with in-house seating offering a front-row view of pizza-making.

    More stores  are planned later this year.

    Domino’s Bangladesh is operated by master franchisee Jubilant FoodWorks and its local operator Golden Harvest.

    “We are excited to launch the first Domino’s restaurant in Dhaka and look forward to offering a menu that keeps the needs and preferences of local customers in mind, while also offering the best of the brand’s international menu,” said Pratik Pota, Jubilant FoodWorks CEO and director.

    Pota said the brand will also launch an ordering app that will help “redefine the pizza-ordering experience” for consumers in Bangladesh.

    “We are confident that Domino’s is going to be one of the most-loved pizza brands in Bangladesh,” said Rajeeb Samdani, MD at Golden Harvest Group.

    “The open-kitchen design will be innovative in this market and will show our commitment to food safety and quality standards.”

    Founded in 1960, Domino’s now operates in more than 85 markets worldwide, with more than half of its global retail sales coming from international stores.

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  • Habitat by Honestbee expands choices

    Habitat by Honestbee expands choices

    Habitat by Honestbee has added two new outlets to its 15 existing eateries.

    The first, Hama Hama, is a seafood bar with Asian-centric small plates and a seasonal sharing menu, with oysters at its core.

    The second new offer is B Bar, located near the liquor aisle and serving classic drinks along with cocktails featuring local and Asian flavours. Mocktails are also available.

    Honestbee, the online grocery-delivery service, opened its 60,000sqft Habitat last November.  The full-scale supermarket hosts more than 20,000 Asian and global foods and ingredients as well as daily essentials, which can be purchased both online and offline.

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  • Jollibee Malaysia makes debut

    Jollibee Malaysia makes debut

    Jollibee Malaysia has opened its first outlet – in the beachside city of Kota Kinabalu. CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong said opening in Malaysia marked a new chapter for the group.

    “We invite Malaysians to come and see for themselves why people line up for hours.”

    Jollibee Foods head of international business, Dennis Flores, said Jollibee is beloved throughout Asia, because it appeals to diverse tastes and cultures.

    “This has propelled us to become the fastest-growing Asian restaurant company, and we are thankful for the overwhelming support. It drives us to do better for our customers, and to continue to serve delicious food with our signature warm service.”

    The Jollibee Malaysia opening follows the brand’s recent expansion into London and Manhattan as its rapidly expands its global store network to surpass 4300.

    After making its debut in the capital of Sabah, Jollibee Malaysia plans further outlets in major cities across the country.

  • The Alley Singapore to open two more outlet stores

    The Alley Singapore to open two more outlet stores

    Taiwanese bubble tea chain The Alley Singapore is opening two outlets in mid-April.

    The first of a new global concept called The Alley Luxe is set to open in Cineleisure. The concept carries what the brand describes as its finest collection of beverages on a curated menu distinctive to Singapore.

    The outlet will offer European baked treats such as croissants, ‘cruffins’ and Kouign-amann. Customers can opt for take-away, or dine-in while enjoying a view over Orchard Road.

    The Alley Luxe

     

    The second outlet will be launched in Jewel Changi Airport about the same time.

    Having opened its first outlet in 2013, The Alley now has more than 300 stores around the world.

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  • PopSquare pops up at Mong Kok

    PopSquare pops up at Mong Kok

    AI pop-up store platform PopSquare is now installed at TOP Mall in Mong Kok.

    The kiosk, which stocks a variety of fashionable and designer international products targeted at young adults and couples, uses big data and AI technology to collect customer responses to products on sale.

    The Mong Kok PopSquare kiosk features a new interactive game – “Grab Grab Fun” – via the kiosk’s touch screen. The game serves to draw customer attention and increase engagement while building a customer database for future marketing and product pre-launch testing initiatives.

    PopSquare rotates at different locations from time to time to extend its reach to potential consumers.

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  • 200 Mr Bean stores Set To Open for Vietnam

    200 Mr Bean stores Set To Open for Vietnam

    Soy-milk retailer Mr Bean has entered into a franchise agreement with EGroup to launch 200 stores in Vietnam.

    Mr Bean VN

    The stores will be rolled out gradually over the next decade, following the first five locations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which opened yesterday.

    Mr Bean VN 1

    “Markets overseas are bigger than Singapore and chuan zong jie dai (carrying on the family line) has always been my dream,” said founder and CEO Loh Jwee Poh.

    Mr Bean VN 2

    “What sets [Mr Bean] apart is the fact that [Loh] works with contract farmers in North America to ensure a consistent supply of non-genetically modified soybeans used for their products,” said EGroup’s president and founder Nguyen Ngoc Thuy.

    Poh has taken the brand to several overseas locations. Only Japan, South Korea and Singapore have met with success. He launched Mr Bean as a hawker stall in Singapore’s Chinatown in 1995.

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  • DFS Celebrates Eighth Prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits in Singapore

    DFS Celebrates Eighth Prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits in Singapore

    DFS Group (DFS), the world’s leading luxury travel retailer in partnership with Changi Airport Group (CAG) hosted its eighth annual edition of the prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits in Singapore on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24. The highly-anticipated event showcased a curated collection of 140 of the rarest and finest whiskies, wines, Cognacs and Champagne from around the world.

    The 2019 edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits was hosted at Singapore’s state-of-the-art complex, Infinite Studios. The event brought together over 1,000 local and international guests to celebrate DFS’ global travel retail leadership and innovation and their relationships with some of the world’s top wine and spirit houses. Guests were invited on an immersive and interactive journey to discover each of the brands through engaging video art installations and digital projections and an exploration of a wide variety of unique tasting experiences.

    This year’s edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits explored the theme of “Masters at Work” – an homage to those who have acquired complete knowledge or skill in a subject, technique or artform and whose passionate commitment to their task continues to raise the bar for all others in the field. During the weekend, DFS celebrated six masters across a spectrum of backgrounds including Brooke Supernaw of DFS as Master of Curation, Ewan Gunn of Diageo as Master of Whisky, Sarah Burgess of The Macallan as Master of Malt, Fabrice Papin of Château Lafite Rothschild as Master of Wine, Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five as Master of Cocktails, and DJ Arthur Bray as Master of Music.

    The event also featured four exceptional masterclasses to inspire and delight guests. Masters of Malt hosted by Sarah Burgess, Whisky Maker at The Macallan, saw guests taste premium and exclusive products such the Macallan Enigma and Macallan M Decanter. Masters of Wine hosted by Fabrice Papin, International Brand Ambassador of Château Lafite Rothschild took guests through a full-range tasting of eight different Domaines Barons de Rothschild Châteaux wines. Masters of Blending hosted by Ewan Gunn, Global Whisky Master at Diageo, saw guests taste Coal Ila 35 year-old, Port Ellen 39 year-old and Johnnie Walker Blue Ghost and Rare.  Masters of Cocktails presented by Japanese mixologist and Spirited Awards World’s Best Bartender in 2016, Hidetsugu Ueno, took guests on a journey through the Japanese craft of spirits and a cocktail making session featuring whisky, sake and gin.

    “This year’s Masters of Wines and Spirits once again showcases the extensive expertise of DFS’ merchant team in curating a world-class, bespoke collection and bringing together the world’s most sought-after wines and spirits and their brand ambassadors,” said Brooke Supernaw, DFS Group’s Senior Vice President Wines, Spirits, Tobacco, Food and Gifts. “Our ability to present such an unrivalled and illustrious assortment of highly collectable and exclusive products would not be possible without the longstanding partners and relationships we hold dear.”

    “Changi Airport is honored to host the latest annual edition of the Masters of Wines and Spirits here in Singapore. Through our long-term partnership with DFS, we strive to delight our passengers with unique experiences and look forward to showcasing another outstanding and rare collection that can only be found at Changi,” said Teo Chew Hoon, Group Senior Vice President for Airside Concessions, Changi Airport Group.

    The 140-piece strong curation – featuring collectable items such as the oldest whisky ever released by The Macallan family, The Macallan 72 Year Old in Lalique – The Genesis Decanter; a set of three extremely rare vintages, The Château Lafite Rothschild Double Magnum Collection; and one of 1,500 bottles produced from the owner’s original stocks – Port Ellen’s 39 Year Old. The collection will also be showcased and celebrated at Changi Airport through a series of activations at Terminals 2 and 3 until the end of April.

    DFS’ Masters of Wines and Spirits 2019 Collection

    More than 80 Cognacs and Whiskies make up this year’s collection and include The Dalmore Constellation Vintage 1973 Drinking Cabinet, a very special bespoke and handcrafted cabinet commissioned by Richard Paterson, containing The Constellation Vintage 1973 (cask no.10). The Bunnahabhain 39 Year Old Spanish Octave Finish, an exclusive limited edition piece that forms part of the new Bunnahabhain Element Series which is crafted around the importance of various elements impacting on the character of each Bunnahabhain whisky, and the DFS Exclusive, Caol Ila 35 Year Old boasting a fine freshness, cleanliness and precision for its age.

    The Glenfiddich 45 Year Old, an exclusive blend for DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits, honors a whisky-making tradition dating back to 1887 and is a true reflection of the passion and innovative spirit passed down through all five generations of the Grant family. Possibly the last ever cask of Karuizawa Single Malt to be bottled in Japan is the Karuizawa Single Cask 1995. Port Ellen 39 Year Old is an elegant complex 39 year old Single Malt Whisky, unlocked from the heart of Port Ellen and is expertly married from a selection of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry refill casks.

    Macallan presents The Macallan 72 Year Old In Lalique – The Genesis Decanter, the oldest whisky ever released by the Macallan family in commemoration of the opening of its new Distillery and Visitor Experience. Presented in a bespoke limited-edition crystal decanter handcrafted by Lalique, this exceptional whisky celebrates the collaboration of masters from across the fields of whisky, crystal, architecture, construction and craftsmanship. Also from the Macallan family comes The Macallan Fine & Rare Decades Collection. Created exclusively for DFS, the collection features five Fine & Rare vintages from 1938, 1947, 1954, 1965, 1976, each drawn from a single unique cask, denoting key historical events for the year.

    From the world of wine, DFS presents more than 60 collections including The Château Lafite Rothschild Double Magnum Collection, a rare opportunity to collect three of the great vintages produced by the estate in big formats and The Château Mouton Rothschild Magnum Collection, a unique six-vintage magnum set of exceptional vintages from 1988 to 2009.

    The Penfolds 2015 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon Imperial is one of the world’s most iconic Cabernet Sauvignons and a true representation of the Penfolds ‘House Style’ and has shown its ability to age with grace and finesse since the first vintage in 1964. All great wines begin with a great site, and the Continuum Tim Mondavi Library Vertical Selection is a unique collection offering an opportunity to enjoy a vertical flight of Continuum vintages from 2010 through 2015.

    Giving reason to celebrate is the Rare Le Secret Magnum Vintage 1997 With Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire. Inspired by the muse of both Maisons, Marie- Antoinette, Queen of France, Rare Le Secret  High Jewellery is royally embellished with a one- carat precious stone, interwoven golden bands set with 510 diamonds. Presented in a majestic box, this spectacular edition has been for more than 20 years in the cellar of Régis  Camus,  Rare  Champagne’s Cellar Master.

    DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits is part of the DFS Masters Series, a signature program of exhibitions around the world. The Masters Series is a showcase of the pinnacle of DFS’ leadership and innovation in curating and creating exceptional experiences across its five pillars of luxury: Wines and Spirits, Beauty and Fragrances, Watches and Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories, and Food and Gifts.

    The full 2019 Masters of Wines and Spirits Collection will be available for purchase at Singapore’s Changi Airport from March 25. A smaller, curated collection will be available later in year at T Galleria by DFS in Hong Kong and Macau.

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