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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.

  • Second DFS Group cocktail festival planned

    Second DFS Group cocktail festival planned

    The second DFS Group cocktail festival has begun its run at Singapore’s Changi International Airport.

    The event runs for eight weeks until late October, across Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4, providing travelers with an opportunity to taste and recreate cocktails at home using a range of spirits brands from around the world.

    Combining entertainment with education, travelers are invited to mix, taste and enjoy their own custom mixes at the DFS Group cocktail festival through tastings, brand engagements, and hands-on cocktail mixing. Many first-launch products within Asia, as well as Changi exclusives, have been selected for the festival, all of which will be available for purchase.

    “Over the last few years, Singapore has really made its mark as the cocktail capital of the world,” said DFS Group’s GM Singapore Prashant Mahboobani, “and we look forward to showing our travelers innovative ways to elevate their cocktail cabinet and experience at home with signature cocktail recipes and a range of exhilarating new products on offer, many of which can only be found here at DFS.”

    Travelers will have the opportunity to develop customized cocktails using featured brands. Each cocktail will include three easy steps – choosing a base, mixer and garnish – so guests can easily replicate them at home with their purchased products.

    Travelers who spend S$150 (US$109) or more can accessorize their cocktail cabinet with a complimentary bar kit that includes an iridescent shaker, jigger, and spoon.

    All products featured at the DFS Group cocktail festival will also be readily available on iShopChangi.com, where passengers may browse and purchase products from 12 hours to 30 days before their flight. Purchased items can be collected at the departure terminals, arrival halls or delivered within Singapore.

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  • Juice bar makes appealing bioplastic cups from orange peels

    Juice bar makes appealing bioplastic cups from orange peels

    International design and innovation office Carlo Ratti Associati has developed an experimental orange squeezer that 3D-prints bioplastic cups from orange peels.

    The “Feel the Peel” project was completed in partnership with global energy company Eni with the aim to bring circularity to everyday life. The juice bar turns squeezed oranges into a filament that is dried, milled, and converted into a bioplastic by combining the substance with polylactic acid. The plastic is then printed into recyclable cups that can be used to drink fresh orange juice.

    The 3.1-meter-tall prototype, topped with a dome filled with 1,500 oranges, will start touring public spaces around Italy over the coming months.

    “The principle of circularity is a must for today’s objects,” said CRA founding partner and MIT director of the sensible city lab Carlo Ratti which designed a system which makes bioplastic cups from orange peels.

    “Working with Eni, we tried to show circularity in a very tangible way, by developing a machine that helps us to understand how oranges can be used well beyond their juice. The next iterations of Feel the Peel might include new functions, such as printing fabric for clothing from orange peels.”

    The project is among a series of collaborations between CRA and Eni exploring circularity and design

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  • Countdown cuts off kids’ access to energy drinks

    Countdown cuts off kids’ access to energy drinks

    Countdown’s implemented its energy drink age-restrictions on Tuesday, in an effort to curb the growing obesity rate in New Zealand.

    Customers will now need to produce ID to prove they are over the age of 16 in order to purchase energy drinks across Countdown’s 180 stores.

    According to Countdown general manager of corporate affairs, safety and sustainability Kiri Hannifin, support for the initiative has been overwhelmingly positive since it was announced in June.

    “We have had incredible feedback from parents, teachers, health workers and our customers about our decision. I think New Zealanders were ready for this discussion around energy drinks,” Hannifin said.

    “We made our decision after engaging with health and education leaders, but also in talking with our team, many of whom are parents themselves.

    “Across the board, we found communities of people who are seeking help to address New Zealand’s high child obesity rates.”

    New Zealand’s has the third-highest obesity rate in the OECD.

    Public health advocate Dr Lance O’Sullivan said reducing children’s access to energy drinks is a step in the right direction.

    “Children don’t understand either the short or longer-term consequences of consuming drinks with high amounts of sugar and caffeine, and sometimes we need to step in until they are old enough to make that decision for themselves,” O’Sullivan said.

    The New Zealand Beverage Council spokesperson Stephen Jones said in June while he respected the right of Countdown to make this decision, New Zealand already has some of the strongest energy drink regulations in the world.

    “This is really a case of a solution looking for a problem,” Jones said.

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  • The Coffee Academics launches world’s first Nitro Coffee Bar

    The Coffee Academics launches world’s first Nitro Coffee Bar

    Hong Kong’s specialty coffee chain The Coffee Academics is launching its latest retail concept the world’s first single-origin Nitro Coffee Bar on September 16 at K11 Musea.

    The Nitro Coffee Bar is the first of its kind to put single-origin specialty coffee at the forefront of product offerings, raising awareness of the specialty coffee value chain. The bar highlights The Coffee Academics’s moves to “drive more value to the source” via direct-trade and other social enterprise programs.

    “The Coffee Academics’ new concept at K11 Musea pushes the boundaries of specialty coffee by incorporating the nitro technology and tapas pairing into the coffeehouse experience,” said The Coffee Academics founder Jennifer Liu.

    In celebration of the opening, The Coffee Academics is offering a rare Yemeni coffee, recently acquired via the largest Yemen coffee auction to-date, with only 1500 cups total – exclusive worldwide at the K11 Musea store. With 60–70 percent of the FOB price going directly to the farmer, The Coffee Academics’ participation in this particular Yemen Coffee Auction was made to deliver a meaningful contribution to the revival of an ancient coffee civilization and the rebuilding of a war-torn nation.

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  • Starbucks and Alibaba Launch Voice Ordering and Delivery through Tmall Genie

    Starbucks and Alibaba Launch Voice Ordering and Delivery through Tmall Genie

    Starbucks is taking another step toward evolving the digital customer experience for customers in China by launching voice ordering and delivery capabilities within Alibaba’s smart speaker, Tmall Genie. Customers can now order their favorite Starbucks beverages and food simply by using their voice for delivery within 30-minutes. Leveraging Alibaba’s on-demand food delivery platform, Ele.me, the voice ordering capabilities for Starbucks, further extend the customer experience within Starbucks digital ecosystem.

    The launch of the new service marks the one-year anniversary of Starbucks and Alibaba’s strategic partnership which advances the New Retail infrastructure and digital power in China – one of the fastest-growing markets in the world for coffee consumption. The announcement also builds on several significant collaborations between the two companies that enable a seamless Starbucks Experience for Chinese customers, such as establishing back-of-house kitchens, Star Kitchens, within Alibaba’s Freshippo supermarkets in China.

    “We are thrilled to provide our cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence technology through Tmall Genie to serve Starbucks digitally-savvy customers in China,” said Miffy Chen, general manager at Alibaba A.I. Labs which leads the development of Tmall Genie. “Earlier this year, we launched food order and delivery service through Ele.me in response to our users’ needs for on-demand local services. We’re excited to introduce an even more diverse and enriched experience on our platform through Starbucks voice ordering and provide a direct benefit to Chinese consumers within their daily routine.”

    “The Starbucks feature through Alibaba’s Tmall Genie ushers in a new era of digital customer engagement for Starbucks, leveraging ground-breaking digital technology to create an unprecedented experience that elevates our connection with customers to new heights,” said Molly Liu, vice president and general manager, Digital Ventures, Starbucks China. “We are focused on ensuring that Starbucks voice ordering is truly personal, and we look forward to offering our customers more convenient moments and new opportunities to engage with Starbucks on a single integrated platform as they move throughout the day.”

    Through Alibaba’s Tmall Genie, customers place an order using their voice and can track their order in real-time within the 30-minute delivery timeframe.

    Starbucks® Rewards members also can earn Stars and receive membership updates, including benefits, on the Tmall Genie. Soon, members will be able to receive personalized recommendations when using voice commands to place orders that are tailored to previous order preferences and popular items from Starbucks seasonal menu. As another added benefit, Starbucks fans in China can also listen to the latest Starbucks in-store playlists through Alibaba’s music streaming app, Xiami Music.

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  • Tea chain Heytea opening outlets in Singapore

    Tea chain Heytea opening outlets in Singapore

    Chinese tea chain Heytea will open a new store at Westgate, Singapore on Saturday.

    The minimalist store design is inspired by the traditional Chinese handscroll and attempts a “Zen” vibe intended to provide customers with an immersive store experience to enhance inspiration and creativity.

    The Westgate store introduces two newly launched items in its Oreo Series, including the Orea Boboshake and the Oreo Sundae.

    The tea chain Heytea operates 268 stores in more than 35 cities in China and abroad. Its first overseas store launched in Singapore last year, since which time it has opened three more locations.

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  • 5 Star Plus designs concept store for Sinsian Black Jelly

    5 Star Plus designs concept store for Sinsian Black Jelly

    Sinsian Black Jelly is making a play in China’s growing health food industry from its Liangmaqiao store in Beijing, which opened earlier this year.

    The brand plans to open 10 further stores in the coming year so that more of China can experience the dessert.

    The Sinsian Black Jelly store’s design by 5 Star Plus Retail Design reflects the product geometrically via tiles intended to resemble the squares of the jelly after processing, offset by white tones to symbolise the ingredients.

    In expressing the product through a minimalist decor and style, the designer’s goal is to allow customers to recall the product more easily. The lighting sources and glass walls convey warmth and a coordinated environment, while the transparent design elements place a focus on the grass jelly by putting the preparation of the desserts on display, encouraging confidence in the product.

    Customers in store can watch as fresh ingredients are put into their jellies using toppings of their choice.

    The jelly is made from a plant known as Mesona chinensis, which grows largely in East Asia. It is preserved without pigments or preservatives and prepared by allowing the leaves to dry before boiling cooling before being cut into cubes.

    Sinsian Black Jelly is making a play in China’s growing health food industry from its Liangmaqiao store in Beijing, which opened earlier this year.

    The brand plans to open 10 further stores in the coming year so that more of China can experience the dessert.

    The Sinsian Black Jelly store’s design by 5 Star Plus Retail Design reflects the product geometrically via tiles intended to resemble the squares of the jelly after processing, offset by white tones to symbolize the ingredients.

    In expressing the product through a minimalist decor and style, the designer’s goal is to allow customers to recall the product more easily. The lighting sources and glass walls convey warmth and a coordinated environment, while the transparent design elements place a focus on the grass jelly by putting the preparation of the desserts on display, encouraging confidence in the product.

    Customers in store can watch as fresh ingredients are put into their jellies using toppings of their choice.

    The jelly is made from a plant known as Mesona chinensis, which grows largely in East Asia. It is preserved without pigments or preservatives and prepared by allowing the leaves to dry before boiling cooling before being cut into cubes.

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  • London’s Duck & Waffle opens in Hong Kong

    London’s Duck & Waffle opens in Hong Kong

    The Duck & Waffle restaurant will officially land in Hong Kong this September at IFC mall.

    Its first destination outside of London, the new venue is designed to welcome guests throughout the day and into the late hours of the night with a large open space and kitchen combined with an “island” bar.

    The restaurant was designed by architecture and interior design firm CetraRuddy.

    The Duck & Waffle’s menu is designed for sharing and offers a take on British cuisine with broad European and American influences. Its signature eponymous dish has sold more than 1 million servings.

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  • Lewis Hamilton launches meatless Neat Burger

    Lewis Hamilton launches meatless Neat Burger

    Five-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is collaborating with hospitality organization The Cream Group and other investors to launch Neat Burger – the first international, plant-based burger chain.

    “I’m very passionate about being kinder to our world and also really respect Neat Burger’s commitment to more ethical practices and supporting small businesses, so this is something I’m also really proud to support,” said Hamilton. “But it is also about the product. As someone who follows a plant-based diet, I believe we need a healthier high street option that tastes amazing but also offers something exciting to those who want to be meat-free every now and again.”

    Opening its first site on Monday (September 2), Neat Burger intends to transform the way people see plant-based food by appealing not only to those who follow plant-based diets, but any individuals – meat-eaters included – who want dishes that are more sustainable, healthier and ethical.

    Neat Burger will serve patties specially created by a team of chefs in collaboration with Beyond Meat, a plant-based meat alternative, and which forms the basis for the burgers.

    “Neat Burger aims to change the way we view our eating habits,” said restaurateur Ryan Bishti of The Cream Group. “We’re not preaching or shaming people for eating meat. We’re offering an alternative that tastes as good as, if not better than meat.”

    The team plans to expand the concept globally with 14 franchises scheduled in the next 24 months. Backers of the project include Unicef ambassador and early backer of Beyond Meat Tommaso Chiabra.

    “The meat industry is the biggest contributor to greenhouse emissions and its environmental impact is no longer sustainable together with the growth of the population,” said Chiabra. “Neat Burger aims to disrupt the non-sustainable food industry and become a force for good.”

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  • BreadTalk Group to buy Food Junction

    BreadTalk Group to buy Food Junction

    Listed Singapore food-and-beverage company BreadTalk Group is to buy foodcourt operator Food Junction Management (FJM).

    A subsidiary of BreadTalk, Topwin Investment, has signed a sale and purchase agreement to pay S$80 million for FJM, which operates 12 foodcourts in Singapore and three in Malaysia. A fourth is on track to open next year at The Mall in Johor Bahru.

    BreadTalk Group sees synergies between the FJM business and its own foodcourt operations – it owns Food Republic and Food Opera-branded sites in Singapore, Greater China, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. The combined operation could share support services and rationalise supply arrangements.

    FJM is owned by Singapore investment company Auric Pacific Group Limited.

  • New Cheesecake Factory Outlet in Macau to open at Sands Cotai Central

    New Cheesecake Factory Outlet in Macau to open at Sands Cotai Central

    American upscale casual-dining restaurant The Cheesecake Factory in Macau is set to open in Sands Cotai Central.

    The more than 8500sqft restaurant, which will be operated by a subsidiary of Maxim’s Caterers Limited, will offer fresh from-scratch dishes and more than 30 cheesecakes and specialty desserts from the US.

    The venue is sized to accommodate more than 220 guests and is decorated with hand-painted wall murals and artistic lighting features, keeping a consistent look with The Cheesecake Factory restaurants all over the world.

    The Cheesecake Factory in Macau will also feature a Macao-only limited-edition dish with Macao culinary characteristics: Portuguese Chicken, a portion of a half roasted chicken with coconut curry and peanut sauces and crispy potatoes.

    The opening of The Cheesecake Factory in Macau follows launches regionally in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.

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  • Zhang Yong Tops the latest Forbes Singapore Rich List

    Zhang Yong Tops the latest Forbes Singapore Rich List

    Hotpot-restaurant tycoon Zhang Yong has topped the latest Forbes Singapore Rich List.

    Zhang, the founder of the Haidilao restaurant business, has an estimated net worth of US$13.8 billion (US$19.2 billion) – enough to push last year’s richest Singaporeans, property magnates Robert and Philip Ng into the second spot with their combined wealth of US$12.1 billion. This year is the first in a decade the Ngs, who own Far East Company, have not headed the rankings.

    Zhang, a native of China, has become a naturalized Singaporean citizen and resident, who was previously featured among China’s richest, is now a naturalized Singapore citizen and resident.

    Third place on this year’s list went to Eduardo Saverin, a founder and shareholder of Facebook, who lives in Singapore. His net worth was estimated at $10.6 billion, down $1.2 billion on last year.

    Haidilao opened 130 new restaurants in the first half of this year, boosting sales by 59.3 percent to RMB 11.7 billion (US$1.66 billion).

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  • The Cheesecake Factory to open at Sands Cotai Central, Macau

    The Cheesecake Factory to open at Sands Cotai Central, Macau

    American upscale casual-dining restaurant The Cheesecake Factory in Macau is set to open in Sands Cotai Central.

    The more than 8500sqft restaurant, which will be operated by a subsidiary of Maxim’s Caterers Limited, will offer fresh from-scratch dishes and more than 30 cheesecakes and specialty desserts from the US.

    The venue is sized to accommodate more than 220 guests and is decorated with hand-painted wall murals and artistic lighting features, keeping a consistent look with The Cheesecake Factory restaurants all over the world.

    The Cheesecake Factory in Macau will also feature a Macao-only limited-edition dish with Macao culinary characteristics: Portuguese Chicken, a portion of a half roasted chicken with coconut curry and peanut sauces and crispy potatoes.

    The opening of The Cheesecake Factory in Macau follows launches regionally in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.

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  • Starbucks Reserve Riverside 66 Tianjin opens doors

    Starbucks Reserve Riverside 66 Tianjin opens doors

    Starbucks opened a flagship Reserve store in Tianjin, China, today which was built inside a Renaissance-era heritage building dating back to 1921.

    The Starbucks Reserve Riverside 66 Tianjin flagship store combines history with an entirely modern ‘third-place experience’ for the brand’s customers.

    “Over the past 20 years in China, Starbucks has constantly pushed to innovate and reimagine the third-place experience, to bring people and communities closer together,” said Leo Tsoi, senior VP, COO, and president at Starbucks China – retail. “We are immensely proud and privileged to preserve a revered piece of history that binds together four generations of Tianjin residents, and to share this rich cultural inheritance with more people, passing it on to future generations.”

    The new store marks the first in the city to feature a Starbucks Bar Mixato and Starbucks Teavana tea bar, in addition to its Starbucks Reserve offer.

    The building, located on the city’s main commercial street, was designed by Shen Liyuan, who was among the first Chinese architects to study overseas. It housed the Zhejiang Xinye Bank until the early 1950s, a symbol of the city’s economic prosperity and development.

    In the 1980s, the early days of China’s economic transformation, it reopened as the high-end Yongzheng Tailor Shop before being converted into the Xinye Foreign Trade Mall. The location was officially designated as a city heritage site in 1997 and has been vacant for the past 20 years.

    Working with local historic preservation experts, it took Starbucks three years to navigate technical complexities and realize the vision for a modern restaurant space in a preserved building.

    Features of the building, such as the majestic Greek-style exterior facade, glass dome, imported marble columns, and marble carvings, have all been preserved, along with the original bank counters. The architects specified bronze tubes to avoid using nails in the columns when the lighting was installed. Lighting and air conditioning systems were embedded into the glass dome.

    “Beyond preserving the century-old architecture in its fullest form, the Starbucks flagship store has also made creative use of its unique features,” said Luo Shuwei, historian and senior researcher from the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences. “Starbucks partners have shown great passion and dedication to ensure that every design detail is in harmony with the original architectural style, to create a warm and welcoming ambiance that is also filled with history.”

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  • Yum China buys Chinese retail chain Huang Ji Huang

    Yum China buys Chinese retail chain Huang Ji Huang

    Yum China Holdings has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Huang Ji Huang group, a leading Chinese-style casual-dining franchise business.

    Subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close early next year.

    Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Beijing, Huang Ji Huang has more than 640 restaurants in China and internationally. The group operates primarily under a franchise model and its brand portfolio consists of simmer pot brand “Huang Ji Huang” as well as “San Fen Bao”, a newly launched Chinese fast food concept.

    Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China, with more than 8700 restaurants as of June 30. With the addition of Huang Ji Huang, Yum China aims to gain a stronger foothold and enhanced knowhow in the Chinese dining space, which represents a significant share of the dining market in China.