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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.

  • Vietnam eyes top 15 agriculture spot in 10 years

    Vietnam eyes top 15 agriculture spot in 10 years

    “Vietnam must strive to become a top 15 country in agriculture development in 10 years,” says PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc. “In particular, the agriculture processing sector should be in the top 10,” Phuc said at a conference held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on Thursday. “Vietnam must strive to become a global centre for wood processing and shrimp production,” he added.

    The PM also set a 3 percent growth target for the whole sector (agriculture, forestry and fisheries), and a $42-43 billion export target for 2019.

    Phuc asked the agriculture ministry to deploy the best measures and promote innovation to achieve targets set.

    “This is a difficult and challenging task but it must be done, a political duty, if we do not do it, our people’s lives will still remain difficult,” he emphasized.

    In order to achieve the goals, the ministry should develop good legal institutions and remove obsolete ones, the PM said.

    The ministry needs to step up efforts to restructure agricultural and rural development systems, including the creation of key national and provincial products, he added.

    It should also perform well its marketing functions, namely, forecasting, assessing supply and demand, developing new markets, and brand building for Vietnamese agricultural products like rice, shrimp and wheat, in which Vietnam is “a little slow compared to Thailand and Cambodia,” Phuc noted.

    He called for enhanced application of science and technology, hi-tech, biotech, artificial intelligence and other technological breakthroughs of Industry 4.0.

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that the sector will maintain its good form while undertaking comprehensive and synchronous reforms.

    He said the sector still has several limitations that need to be addressed, including uneven development of different segments, limited innovation of existing processes, and inadequate managerial manpower for market regulation.

    The sector would aim to build a smart industry in 2019, foster international integration, adapt to climate change, increase value additions for products and services and ensure sustainable development through building better rural areas, he noted.

    Vietnam’s agricultural growth had reached 3.65 percent year-on-year in 2018, the highest since 2012, according to the General Statistics Office.

    Last year, the country earned $22 billion from agricultural and forestry product export, and $8.8 billion from fishery shipment, respectively increasing 10 percent and 6.3 percent over the previous year, said the office.

  • Omotesando Koffee Coffee Shop Opens in London

    Omotesando Koffee Coffee Shop Opens in London

    Popular Japanese coffee shop Omotesando Koffee has opened in the central London district of Fitzrovia on Rathbone Square. Serving coffee in a manner inspired by Japanese tea ceremony, the cafe features a cubic bar design where each customer is served by a single barista in ritualistic fashion. The approach has inspired a cult following in the brand’s home territory, and has been followed by a sister brand in Tokyo that offers gourmet bean selections in cloth bags.

    While Omotesando’s original location has closed due to poor building maintenance, it reopened in Hong Kong in 2016, followed by launches in Tokyo and Singapore. The London location aims to provide a unique coffee experience in an otherwise generally homogeneous market.

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  • Starbucks South Korea offers incentives using own cups

    Starbucks South Korea offers incentives using own cups

    Starbucks South Korea says the number of customers bringing their own cups to the store leapt 24 per cent in just one month. The boost is the result of its ‘Eco Bonus Star Program’ aimed at reducing waste and improving consumer awareness of sustainability issues. Through the Eco Bonus Star Program, customers of Starbucks South Korea can collect additional ‘stars’ – or bonus points – by bringing their own cups to cafes. The stars can be used for discounts and other benefits.

    Customers can choose to receive an immediate discount of 300 won (US27 cents) if they don’t want to collect stars.

    Starbucks said that, compared to 970,000 customers who brought their own cups in October, more than 1.21 million customers brought their own cups in December, the first full month of the program.

    Two-thirds of customers chose to save up stars, rather than receive the discount.

    “More than 1.81 million additional stars were given to customers just 50 days after the Eco Bonus Star program was implemented,” said Starbucks.

    “Gold members for My Starbucks can get a free drink for 12 stars, which also likely encouraged more customers to bring their own cups.”

    More than 8 million customers have brought their own cups this year, twice as many as last year.

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  • Vietnam’s Sabeco, taxman at loggerheads

    Vietnam’s Sabeco, taxman at loggerheads

    HCMC tax authorities have failed to collect $135.73 million in taxes and fines, while brewer Sabeco has cried foul. The Tax Department of Ho Chi Minh City informed Vietnam’s largest brewer Sabeco on December 24 that it would withdraw VND3.1 trillion ($135.73 million) from the beer company’s bank account to collect overdue special sales tax from 2007 to 2015 and penalties for administrative violations.

    However, the move failed because there was no money left in Sabeco’s Vietcombank account.

    Le Duy Minh, deputy head of the department, said that his agency has temporarily blocked Sabeco’s Vietcombank account.

    “We have asked Sabeco to provide details of other bank accounts but it has not fulfilled that request,” he said.

    But Sabeco claims that it has not violated the law.

    Sabeco general director Neo Gim Siong Bennett said in a statement Sunday that Sabeco has not violated regulations on the declaration, calculation and payment of special sales tax.

    He said the enforcement action by the HCMC Tax Department was a violation of Vietnamese laws, as it was taken “without a valid administrative decision” and “contradicts with the very written guidance issued by the Ministry of Finance, General Department of Taxation and Tax Department of HCMC.”

    He said Sabeco’s “legitimate interests are being threatened by the inconsistent views among State authorities.”

    As Sabeco is set to meet with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the tax department will await the meeting’s results before taking further steps, Minh said.

    Following Sabeco’s meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Wednesday, the latter has asked the tax department to defer its enforcement actions.

    Mai Tien Dung, Chairman of the Prime Minister Office said that government bodies are carefully examining the case as it involves “foreign factors.”

    In December 2017, Thai Beverage acquired a 53.59 percent stake in Sabeco from Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade for $4.84 billion through a local entity, Viet Beverage (VietBev).

    Sabeco, formally known as Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp, recorded revenues of VND25.5 trillion ($1.1 billion) in the first nine months 2018, meeting 70 percent of its annual target.

    It occupies approximately 42.8 percent of the domestic beer market, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Securities Corporation. It produced nearly 1.8 trillion litres of beer in 2017.

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  • Jollibee aims for international growth

    Jollibee aims for international growth

    It’s been called the “McDonald’s of the Philippines,” and the late Anthony Bourdain dubbed it “the wackiest, jolliest place on earth.” Jollibee, a fast food chain based in the Philippines, has become one of the world’s largest restaurant franchises, with more than 4,000 stores in 23 countries, including 37 in the United States. (For comparison, McDonald’s has more than 37,000 worldwide and 14,000 in the U.S.)

    Known for its fried chicken, sweet spaghetti and “Aloha burger,” Jollibee serves fast-food with a Filipino twist: The spaghetti, for instance, includes cheese and mini hot dogs, and the fried chicken is meant to be eaten with rice and gravy.

    While Jollibee first came to the U.S. in 1998, opening locations in areas with large Asian populations including California, Hawaii and Illinois, the company’s latest investments and openings, including one near Manhattan’s Times Square, are part of a new strategy that the company hopes will make it one of the “top five restaurant companies in the world.”

    Incorporated in 1978, the company started as a pair of ice cream parlors before adding hot meals to its menu when McDonald’s announced they were coming to the Philippines.

    “We told our friends back then that we wanted to compete with McDonald’s, and they told us not to confront the giant,” Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee’s CEO and younger brother of founder Tony Tan Caktiong, said. “Instead of chickening out, we served Chickenjoy.”

    The company now owns 14 global brands. In February, it acquired stakes in Smashburger and fast-casual Mexican chain Tortas Frontera, both U.S.-based companies.

    Arthur Dong, professor of strategy and economics at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, said the acquisitions gives them “a bigger media footprint into the North American market, and a push into becoming one of the biggest companies in the world.”

    Dong added that Jollibee’s success in the North American market, as well as its other overseas locations, makes a huge impact on the Philippine economy.

    “Any success anywhere contributes to the company’s success overall and would make Jollibee at home more successful and endure a lot more things, in terms of their future expansion opportunities,” he said.

    Jollibee’s most recent opening in New York City was highly anticipated, with some customers lining up for 20 hours.

    Dong said that the New York opening is a wise move in line with what some economists call the “dense market theory,” which suggests that when a franchise opens a location in an urban area with populations that reside and work in high-rise buildings, it increases the chances of one’s success because of that population density.

    “It’s perfect because rather than putting a billboard up to advertise their brand, Times Square is like a billboards haven itself,” Dong said. “In cities, they go from zero to 60 very quickly because of the sheer amount of foot traffic. Because this new location is near Times Square, the result of that is they’re able to capture the attention of not only natives, but people who don’t even reside from New York City, and that gives exposure to the Jollibee menu and their concept.”

    Justin Callan from the New York City neighborhood of Coney Island said that, as a non-Filipino, he has always felt welcomed at Jollibee. He and his girlfriend, Faye, were the first customers in line for Jollibee’s Manhattan grand opening on Oct. 27. “All you have to do is open up the door and let the people smell it — that’s what got me,” he said.

    Jollibee executives hope to open 150 stores in the U.S. and 100 stores in Canada over the next five years.

    “This is our entry into the mainstream, not just Filipino, market — we are catering to a bigger spectrum, and want to keep strengthening our foothold both in the U.S. and globally,” Tanmantiong, the CEO, said.

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  • Amazon to expand Whole Foods, open more stores

    Amazon to expand Whole Foods, open more stores

    Nearly a year-and-a-half after Amazon acquired Whole Foods for approximately US US $13.5 billion, things are about to start changing. Amazon is planning to expand its Whole Foods Market portfolio by adding more stores to put more customers within its two-hour delivery service range, The Wall Street Journal reported this week. The report says Amazon has been scouting locations for bigger Whole Foods stores in states and regions where they don’t currently have any stores at all–places like Idaho, south­ern Utah and Wyoming, along with many other suburban areas.

    The report goes on to say that these stores will be approximately 45,000 sq. ft. in size and the extra space is intended to accommodate Amazon delivery and pickup from online orders.

    According to WSJ, the world’s largest online retailer also plans to expand its two-hour delivery service, Prime Now, to nearly all of its roughly 475 Whole Foods stores in the United States.

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  • Knows more : Rahul Singh, Founder & CEO, The Beer Café India

    Knows more : Rahul Singh, Founder & CEO, The Beer Café India

    With multiple awards like; Images Coca Cola Golden Spoon Award, India Restaurant Congress Award, Times Nightlife Award and ET Now Business and Service Excellence Award, the consumer and industry has recognized this startup as a blockbuster. Singh is the recipient of the TiECON 2010 Entrepreneurial Award for Excellence and holds the position of the Honorary Secretary for the NRAI (National Restaurant Association of India). He was also bestowed with the Prestigious Entrepreneur India 2015 Award in F&B services.

    Before he started The Beer Café, Singh was CEO, Greg Norman Collection India from 2007-09. In that role he spearheaded the brand’s operations involving sales, marketing and manufacturing.

    Prior to 2007, he was the Executive Director at Reebok India for 8 years and was a part of their leadership team, also setup a robust sourcing base for exports from South Asia.

    As a textile engineer, he brings in an analytical approach to each line of enterprise that he gets into. He has undergone training in draught beer technology at Micromatic Institute in Florida, USA.

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  • Yum! appointed new leader for Pizza Hut Asia Pacific

    Yum! appointed new leader for Pizza Hut Asia Pacific

    Pizza Hut International on Tuesday announced that Unnat Varma, Managing Director, Pizza Hut India Subcontinent has been elevated to the position of Managing Director, Pizza Hut Asia Pacific effective 1 January 2019. In his new role, he will be responsible for steering Pizza Hut to the next phase of growth across the Asia Pacific region. Varma will be based in Pizza Hut APAC headquarters at Singapore and will report to Vipul Chawla, President, Pizza Hut International. As part of the APAC growth strategy, Pizza Hut India-Subcontinent will now be inducted under the Asia Pacific Business Unit. In total, Varma will oversee over 5500 stores across 22 countries.

    With Varma at the helm since 2015, Pizza Hut India-subcontinent has achieved strong business results with 10 successive quarters of positive Same Store Sales Growth. The brand has also expanded its physical store footprint – having recently launched its 500th physical store in the Indian Subcontinent.

    Under his stewardship, Pizza Hut has also pioneered the Fast-Casual Delco (FCD) concept in India, which offers a seamless integration of dine-in, takeaway and delivery channels, all under one roof and also upgraded all its digi-tech assets including the website, m-site and mobile app.

    These initiatives have enabled Pizza Hut to deliver on the promise of providing the Easiest, Fastest and the Tastiest pizza experience to consumers in India. As a result, Pizza Hut has been voted the most trusted brand in India for the 12th time in a row (as per a reputed media house) and was awarded the prestigious EFFIE Gold in the Foods and Confectionery category in 2018 for its outstanding consumer-centric performance.

    Varma is a respected and credible leader with over 24 years of industry experience. He joined Yum! in February 2006 and was elevated to Director Marketing, KFC, India Subcontinent in 2008. In February 2011, he took over the role of General Manager – Taco Bell and was responsible for launching the brand as the next growth engine for Yum! in India.

    After successfully establishing a strong foundation for KFC and Taco Bell, Varma was appointed as General Manager – Pizza Hut, India Subcontinent in December 2015and thereafter promoted as Managing Director – Pizza Hut, India Subcontinent in February 2016.

    Varma is also the Chairman of FICCI Task Force on Food Service Retail. Prior to joining Yum!, he worked with Gillette in India for 12 years across sales and marketing functions.

  • 2018 : Alibaba’s news about F&B, starting from Starbucks’ partnership

    2018 : Alibaba’s news about F&B, starting from Starbucks’ partnership

    Starbucks launched its first virtual store in China powered by technology from Alibaba Group, providing a unified, one-stop digital experience across the Starbucks app and mobile apps within the Alibaba ecosystem, including Taobao, Tmall, and Alipay. The first-of-its-kind virtual store leverages an online management hub developed specifically for Starbucks by Alibaba. It provides consumers integrated access to Starbucks’ digital offerings, including “Starbucks Delivers,” “Say it with Starbucks” social gifting and merchandise available from Starbucks’ Tmall flagship store.

    Alibaba’s technology streamlines the shopping process, pulling offers that were available in multiple digital apps into a single access point. Adopting a centralized approach to its mobile presence enabled by the Alibaba ecosystem, Starbucks now has a complete overview of its consumers’ actions online. Moreover, the integration of membership between Starbucks and the range of Alibaba apps is expected to fuel strong growth in Starbucks Rewards membership in China.

    The new virtual store steps up the collaboration announced by Alibaba and Starbucks in August 2018, when the companies agreed a deep, strategic “New Retail” partnership. Ele.me, China’s leading on-demand food delivery platform, owned by Alibaba, provides Starbucks delivery service for 2,000 stores across 30 Chinese cities.

    In October 2018, Starbucks also piloted its first “Star Kitchens” within two FRESHIPPO (previously known as Hema) supermarkets in Shanghai and Hangzhou. As the first retail brand to establish a dedicated back-of-house presence in FRESHIPPO locations, each Star Kitchen utilizes the distinct fulfilment and delivery capabilities on-site to complement the handcrafted beverages offered through existing Starbucks stores.

    The launch of Starbucks’ virtual store is also the latest example of how the so-called “Alibaba Operating System” empowering traditional retailers. After years of development in this digital age, Alibaba has created a unique system to support enterprises in the process of digital transformation that covers critical areas such as retail, marketing, finance and logistics.

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  • Supermarket retailer Big C opens 147th hypermarket

    Supermarket retailer Big C opens 147th hypermarket

    Supermarket retailer Big C has launched its 147th hypermarket at Nakhon Si Thammarat. Big C Supercenter CEO Aswin Techajareonvikul said Big C’s business has continued to expand this year. “We are recruiting new employees to drive our promising business providing the best shopping experience to our customers. “In Nakhon Si Thammarat, we are offering the new shop-in-shop concept serving the variety of customers. We also focus on home appliance and electronic products responding to trend and consumers’ interests in electronics and IT products.”

    The new centre will employ more than 1000 workers and joins the firm’s network of hypermarkets, 60 markets, 671 Mini Big Cs, and 138 Pure Pharmacies, as well as e-commerce channel Big C Shopping.

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  • Starbucks to open two stores in Macau Airport

    Starbucks to open two stores in Macau Airport

    International cafe chain Starbucks will open two outlets at Macau Airport by Lunar New Year next February. The two stores, which will each open on either side of the customs area, add to the total of 17 Starbucks coffeehouses already in the territory – comprising seven on peninsular Macau and 10 in Taipa and Cotai. A spokesperson for Macau International Airport Company Limited said Starbucks has been committed to inspiring and igniting Macau customers’ love for coffee with the finest Starbucks experience. “We are thrilled to be launching two Starbucks stores at the Macau International Airport”.
    “We are thrilled to be launching two Starbucks stores at the Macau International Airport”.

    Starbucks has expressed interest in seeking further opportunities to expand within Macau.

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  • Hong Kong’s Hui Lau Shan debuts in Philippines

    Hong Kong’s Hui Lau Shan debuts in Philippines

    Hong Kong dessert chain Hui Lau Shan will launch in the Philippines in February. The franchise, best known for its mango-based treats,will open at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City with a range of desserts that are expected to draw on local fruits. Mango desserts have proven popular in the region recently, with prominent social media coverage of long queues for mango floats.

    Hui Lau Shan is a heritage brand originating from a herbal tea & tea trolley that traded in Hong Kong’s Yuen Long back in the 1960s.

  • Vietnam’s 2018 coffee exports at 1.88 mln tonnes, surges from last year

    Vietnam’s 2018 coffee exports at 1.88 mln tonnes, surges from last year

    Vietnam’s coffee export volumes for 2018 are expected to increase 20.1 percent from last year, while rice exports are estimated to rise 4.6 percent.

    Coffee

    Coffee exports from Vietnam will climb an estimated 20.1 percent this year to 1.88 million tonnes, equal to 31.37 million 60-kg bags, the General Statistics Office said in a report on Thursday.

    Coffee export revenue for Vietnam, the world’s biggest producer of the robusta bean, will edge up 1.2 percent to $3.54 billion in the year, the report said.

    December coffee exports were estimated at 160,000 tonnes, worth $287 million.

    Rice

    Rice exports in 2018 from Vietnam were forecast to rise 4.6 percent from last year to 6.09 million tonnes. Revenue from rice exports in the period was expected to grow 16 percent to $3.05 billion.

    December rice exports from Vietnam, the world’s third-largest shipper of the grain, were estimated at 450,000 tonnes, worth $220 million.

    Energy 

    Vietnam’s 2018 crude oil exports were seen plunging 39.5 percent from last year to an estimated 4.12 million tonnes. Crude oil export revenue in the year is expected to decline 21.2 percent to $2.27 billion.

    Oil product imports in the year were estimated at 11.35 million tonnes, falling 12.1 percent from the same period last year, while the value of product imports rose 7.8 percent to $7.61 billion.

    Vietnam’s 2018 liquefied petroleum gas imports were seen increasing 4.9 percent from last year to 1.43 million tonnes.

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  • Yellow Tie Hospitality to bring Taiwan-based beverage brand Chachago in India

    Yellow Tie Hospitality to bring Taiwan-based beverage brand Chachago in India

    Karan Tanna led Yellow Tie Hospitality, the leading food and beverage franchise management company, has tied up with Taiwan based beverage brand, Chachago to launch its first outlet in Bengaluru in January 2019. Yellow Tie has acquired the master franchise rights for the brand in India as well as UAE, Turkey, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Oman, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain & Afghanistan and plans to launch100 outlets in India by 2021, with an overall investment of USD 6 million in brand expansion and development in India.

    Chachago is a Taiwanese beverage brand known for its aromatic and delicious varieties of Taiwanese milk tea, bubble teas, fruit-infused beverage, cheese-based beverages, milkshakes, and other specialty beverages and desserts. This is the first time the brand is entering India after having established its presence in countries like Taiwan, Canada, Australia, Hongkong, Vietnam, and Phillippines. A typical Chachago outlet will be in malls, high street, and educational institutions, and will spread over an area of 100 to 500 square feet and a capex of INR 20-40 lakh will be invested in building each outlet.

    Commenting on the launch Karan Tanna, Founder CEO of Yellow Tie Hospitality said: “Chachago is a specialty beverage brand originated in Taiwan, a country also known as the ‘House of Milk Tea’. We felt Indian consumers would connect with these specialty beverages, as there is a high demand for them in a tropical country like ours. It is a well-known fact that specialty beverages are a large and growing segment in the QSR category. As the market evolves, niche offerings are becoming more popular, giving us confidence that a brand like this will go down well with Indian consumers. Chachago is positioned very well with a gamut of products ranging in various teas, fruit infusions, and milkshakes. Chachago will be a one-stop-destination for premium beverages. We are very sure that the finest product development capability of Chachago in Taiwan combined with their experience of over three decades and optimized operation to give more throughput, will enable very quick growth for them in India”.

    He further added that there is a plan to turn Chachago into a 300 outlet chain by 2023 across the franchise geographies, “Going forward, the company is also looking for strong growth in countries outside India, by the second half of 2019; and by the year 2023, we are expecting the total outlets of Chachago to contribute approximate Rs 120 crore in annual revenue.”

    “We have tasted success in the very competitive Taiwanese market because of our own capability of using the most premium ingredients with optimized results. These ingredients are not only appreciated in Taiwan but also in other countries like Canada and Australia. We are very sure that with our experience and the expertise of Yellow Tie Hospitality, Chachago will be able to grow aggressively in a market which is the second highest competitive market in the world. We look forward to our presence in India”, said Hseih Yu Yin, Owner, Chachago.

    To further streamline the franchising process for Chachago, the company will go through a master franchise and multi-unit franchise route wherein franchise selection criteria will be based as per International brand standards. The potential franchise owner’s credibility will be audited by Yellow Tie Hospitality.

    Economic growth and social change on the Indian subcontinent are causing the beverage, dairy and liquid food industry to boom. Euromonitor International forecasted that all beverage sectors will grow at double-digit rates in the next four years, which Drink Technology India (DTI) will also benefit from.

  • Beer tax prioritized as foreign brands build market share

    Beer tax prioritized as foreign brands build market share

    The government is planning to overhaul the current cost-based alcohol-tax system to a quantity-based system, which may address concerns from local alcohol companies about cheap imported beer. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Tuesday, current taxes on alcohol are based on costs, such as manufacturing or import prices. The government is currently working on a reform that will transition the system, established back in 1969, to a new one based on quantity, such as total volume or alcohol content.

    The initiative has been in the spotlight with Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki addressing the issue during his recent confirmation hearing.

    “[We] will consider a change next year without increasing prices,” said Hong. “[We] will consider strengthening the future competitiveness of the alcohol sector and the fairness of the alcohol-tax system as a whole.”

    The comments come as criticism mounts against importers that reportedly declare low import prices for foreign beer and maintain competitive or even cheaper prices than local beer.

    The tax base for local beer is based on the price of beer shipped out from distilleries, which includes costs for production and sales and a margin. For imported beers, the tax is calculated based on the import price paid by the importer and the customs duty. As importers can lower taxes by reporting low prices, foreign beers can maintain price competitiveness against local offerings.

    Local beer companies have argued against this cost-based tax system, saying it is a form of discrimination against Korean manufacturers.

    “The tax rates are identical, but because the tax base is high, there is a twofold difference,” said Kang Seong-tae, chairman of the Korea Alcohol & Liquor Industry Association at the annual National Assembly audit in October.

    The favorable tax system has allowed for the competitive pricing of imports and an increasing market share for foreign beers, rising to 16.7 percent last year from 4.9 percent in 2013.

    While the tax change may provide a level playing field, it raises concerns that widely popular promotions in which four beer cans are sold for 10,000 won ($8.89) may not survive the reform.

    The change, however, is unlikely to eliminate the promotions altogether.

    The government is considering a plan to introduce alcohol taxes of 850 won per one liter (33.8 ounces) of beer. The current average beer tax works out to roughly 850 won per liter, though it is calculated in a different way.

    When converting the current alcohol tax to an amount per liter based on figures by imported country from the Korea Customs Service, imported beers that are taxed higher than 850 won per liter include those from the United Kingdom at 1,194 won per liter on average; the Philippines at 1,032 won per liter; Ireland at 1,004 won per liter and Japan at 958 won per liter.

    Beers from these countries will likely attract a lower tax after the reform.

    Meanwhile, beer from countries that have lower average taxes per liter compared to the 850 won per liter standard will become more expensive. Beers from the Netherlands are currently taxed at 519 won per liter, Belgium 567 won per liter, the United States 654 won per liter and Germany and Denmark 735 won per liter.

    In general, premium imported beers have expensive import prices.

    With the introduction of a quantity-based system, taxes levied will become lower and the current promotions of four cans at 10,000 won will likely remain.

    However, promotions of six cans for 10,000 won will probably disappear as cheap imported beer will face higher taxes.

    “[We] will establish a reform plan for alcohol tax as early as the first half of next year by conducting research and gathering opinions,” said Kim Byung-gyu, director general of the Tax and Customs Office at the Finance Ministry. “[We] have an objective to ensure overall fairness in taxation and make changes without increasing the burden on the consumer.”

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