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.

  • Starbucks Hong Kong adds alcohol to IFC Mall menu

    Starbucks Hong Kong adds alcohol to IFC Mall menu

    Starbucks Hong Kong has opened its first cafe serving alcohol – including coffee-infused craft beers, exclusive to the city.

    Starbucks’ local licensee, the Dairy Farm International subsidiary Coffee Concepts, says the move is part of its strategy of elevating the chain’s ‘Third Place’ experience for its customers through continuous innovation in its coffee offer and in-store experience.

    After a month-long refit, the store on the level 2 podium of IFC Mall in Central was formally unveiled to media last evening. It has been upgraded into the Starbucks Reserve format in a bid to attract customers after work as well as during the day.

    And besides gourmet coffee blends, a Starbucks Reserve range of merchandise and beer, the cafe offers a selection of wines and light meal menu featuring dips, cured-meat-and-cheese board, bacon-wrapped asparagus skewers and baked meatballs.

    Craft beer partnership

    Starbucks Hong Kong has released two coffee-infused craft beers created in partnership with a local brewery. A company spokesperson says the two beers are infused with “signature notes of Starbucks coffee, leaving a refreshing taste on the tongue”.

    “The Caramel Macchiato Cream Ale is inspired by the signature Starbucks Caramel Macchiato. Cream ale is harmoniously brewed with pre-ground Starbucks Colombian coffee and delectable caramel for more than 18 hours, resulting in an irresistibly smooth taste with nutty notes and a subtle caramel sweetness, as well as a brilliant golden colour.

    “The Mocha Brown Ale marries a robust brown ale with the indulgent chocolate and soft spice notes of Starbucks Caffe Mocha. Brewed with Starbucks Guatemala Antigua cold-brewed coffee and cocoa nibs, the intense brown ale will surprise customers with its distinctive contrast of dark-brown hue and luscious sweetness.”

    Starbucks Hong Kong is also launching three bottled beers including Hiiro Seed Guava Love, a fruity beer with a tropical pink guava aroma, brewed locally by Hitachino Nest Beer.

     

    The Starbucks Reserve wine list features four red wines (pinot noir, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz), three white wines (sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and riesling) and an Italian prosecco.

    Starbucks says that extending the ‘Third Place’ experience (in which home and workplace are the first and second places) the Starbucks Reserve Coffee Experience Bar provides “the widest in-store offerings for customers as they connect with colleagues and friends over their beverages of choice”.

  • Why Jollibee Wants To Buy Pret a Manager

    Why Jollibee Wants To Buy Pret a Manager

    Fancy a 400-calorie Pret A Manger quinoa salad to go with your greasy Jollibee fried chicken and sweet-style spaghetti? Hong Kong’s diehard patrons of the star-logoed British healthy foods chain and the Philippine fast food institution balked when this question was posed to them by Retail News.

    But while the menu offerings of the two companies – deemed national treasures of sorts in their home countries – hardly go well together, industry experts say that is no reason to write off a corporate marriage between the food titans.

    The prospect of the uncanny alliance was thrust into the spotlight this week after Reuters reported that cash-rich Jollibee Foods Corp – the biggest Asian-owned fast food company – was mulling an acquisition of Pret A Manger in its latest push to expand its global reach.

    The deal would be worth upwards of US$1 billion, Reuters said, quoting unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter, making it one of the biggest overseas deals by a Filipino company.

    The two companies did not outrightly refute the report, although Jollibee said in a filing to the Philippine Stock Exchange that the information in the Reuters report was not from the company.

    Its founder Tony Tan Caktiong told us that Jollibee “did not make any formal nonbinding bid”. But “if it does look worthwhile and would be a good fit for Jollibe, I would not rule out exploring Pret as a potential acquisition.”

    Pret A Manger, owned by the private equity firm Bridgepoint, kept silent.

    Bridgepoint earlier this year appointed bankers to explore a New York public listing for Pret A Manger, which would potentially see the chain valued significantly higher than the US$1 billion figure.

    Jocelyn Cheung, research analyst at Euromonitor International, said a deal would be able to “leverage the fast-growing health and wellness trends within big cities in China and Southeast Asia”.

    And Jeffrey Young, managing director of the London-based research and consulting firm Allegra Group, said “Jollibee’s presence and knowledge of the Philippine market would give Pret an advantage if they entered there and could be a significant gateway to other parts of Asia”.

    Pret A Manger – whose name means “ready to eat” in French – is ubiquitous in London with over 200 branches, and its offering of premium soups, sandwiches and salads along with organic coffee is a staple of the British capital’s calorie-counting and big spending city slickers.

    The chain is popular in Hong Kong too, with 23 outlets across the city.

    Within Asia, it has branches in Singapore, Shanghai, and Dubai. It also operates in France and the US, boasting over 350 stores worldwide.

    “I would hope there is no change to the menu here. It will be quite outrageous to have fried chicken sold here,” finance executive Diedre Muller told us while selecting a sandwich for lunch at Pret A Manger’s newly opened Times Square branch.

    Three MTR stops away, at Jollibee’s branch along Connaught Road Central, Ressie Gilla chuckled at the idea of the Philippine fast food chain and Pret A Manger one day having the same owner. “Jollibee is the McDonald’s of the Filipinos. Can you imagine if Pret is owned by McDonald’s?,” said the hotel worker while tucking into the chain’s signature fried chicken and spaghetti.

    Pret A Manger was in fact part-owned by McDonald’s from 2001 to 2008, one reason why experts say an acquisition by Jollibee is unlikely to be viewed as anathema for the healthy eating franchise. The acquisition could also be a less volatile exit strategy for Bridgepoint than an IPO.

    McDonald’s, which bought its 33 per cent stake just as the British company was expanding overseas, sold on its shares in full to Bridgepoint.

    Another reason why the pairing could work, observers say, is that while their food offerings are worlds apart, the companies share similar rags to riches narratives, and have the same customer-first ethos. Pret A Manger was founded in 1986 by Sinclair Beecham and Julian Metcalfe, two university friends who borrowed £17,000 from a bank and set up their first deli on Victoria Street in London. They said business venture arose out of their weariness of eating unhealthy food at the city’s numerous “greasy spoons”. Jollibee Group, now worth US$5.2 billion, was also once a David among a world of Western fast food Goliaths like McDonald’s, KFC, and Burger King. Its founder Tan – the son of Chinese immigrants from Fujian province – started out as an ice cream vendor in Metro Manila in the 1970s.

    According to Euromonitor data, the publicly listed company is now the number one fast food company in the Philippines, with 54.8 per cent market share in 2016. Its closest competitor McDonald’s held 20.8 per cent of market share.

    Across Asia, Jollibee is the third biggest fast food company, behind McDonald’s and Yum Brands Inc, the holding company of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

    It has been in an acquisitive mood in recent years.

    In 2015 it took a 40 per cent stake in the US burger chain Smashburger. It owns the Chinese fast food chain Yonghe King, and last year bought out a key supplier of that brand.

    For the Philippine behemoth, Pret A Manger presents a direct way to break into a new frontier – the increasingly lucrative healthy eating industry.

    Research firm MarketLine in August said the global organic food market is set to grow from US$98.5 billion in 2016 to US$187.6 billion in 2021.

    “The trend towards healthy eating is highly evident in Britain and is sustainably spreading fast across the globe,” said Cheung of Euromonitor International. “Great natural fresh food offerings, strong brand equity and successful corporate strategies make Pret a highly attractive acquisition target.”

    London-based Young said Pret A Manger’s track record of registering strong growth in overseas markets – its businesses in the US, Hong Kong and France are thriving – makes its particularly attractive to Jollibee.

    Pret A Manger patron Muller, who scoffed at the idea of a fast-food chain owning her favourite lunch joint, said she was unlikely to give up on her staple of rocket and crayfish sandwiches if the acquisition did eventually come to pass.

    McDonald’s offloaded its Pret A Manger holdings in 2008 amid some disquiet among the sandwich chain’s anti-fast food clientele about its stake in the company.

     

  • Strong Filipino population draws fast food chain Jollibee to expand its reach in Canada

    Strong Filipino population draws fast food chain Jollibee to expand its reach in Canada

    The growing Filipino population in Canada has been catalyst for the biggest fast food chain in Asia to expand its market into Canada.

    Jollibee, a Filipino fried chicken restaurant with more than 1,000 locations in the Philippines, is opening its third Canadian location this weekend in Toronto.

    “People are very excited for the Easter Sunday opening,” Maribeth dela Cruz, vice president and general manager of Jollibee North America, told in a phone interview.

    “There’s going to be really long lines.”

    Jollibee has developed a bit of a following for its famous fried chicken, pineapple-topped burgers, peach-mango pie and spaghetti.

    Dela Cruz says the decision to expand into the Toronto market made sense because of the sheer volume of Filipinos in the region. She estimates there are about 300,000 Filipinos living in Ontario with roughly 30,000 of them living within a five-mile radius of their new Scarborough location.

    The 2016 Census indicates there are 837,130 Filipinos living in Canada, making it the third largest Asian Canadian group. The population grew by 26 per cent from 2011 to 2016.

    “The Filipino population in Canada continually grows and we’re very optimistic it will be a good market for us,” she said.

    Jollibee began expansion into North America in 1998, with the Toronto location being the 40th franchise to open in the continent. The two other Canadian locations are in Winnipeg.

    “North American expansion has been very encouraging, especially in locations where there are a lot of Filipinos,” said dela Cruz.

    When the first Canadian location opened in Winnipeg back in December 2016, dela Cruz says customers lined up in -30 C weather to get a taste of their fare.

    Jollibee provided the dedicated fans who camped overnight with heated trailers.

    “Winnipeg actually has a large Filipino population as well,” said dela Cruz. “We expect it’s going to be even bigger here in Toronto.”

    Jollibee has plans to continue expanding in North America and Canada, with locations in New York City, Las Vegas and somewhere in California all expected shortly.

    The Manila-based company is expected to open an Edmonton restaurant in a couple years with additional plans for locations in Mississauga and downtown Toronto.

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  • Asia Pacific’s foodie hotspots deliver real estate benefits

    Asia Pacific’s foodie hotspots deliver real estate benefits

    For many cities in Asia Pacific, being known as a foodie destination is more than a badge of honour; it’s fast becoming a key driver of real estate development well beyond the retail and hospitality sectors.

    Take the South Australian capital of Adelaide, which boasts plenty of home grown produce and has several renowned wine regions like Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale on its doorstep. For international, and even domestic visitors, the city has traditionally been eclipsed by better known – and better developed – rival Melbourne, but recent urban re-furbishment plans are shining the spotlight on its foodie credentials.

    There’s certainly an appetite for its growing restaurant scene. ““Our year-on-year retail spending growth in the cafes and restaurants category has been in double-digits since mid-2016. It’s all about food and wine down here,” says Rick Warner, Strategic Research Manager for JLL Australia, says.

    Stage one of Adelaide’s laneways regeneration saw hospitality groups clambering for space, transforming once under-utilized units into prime real estate. Local authorities followed this up with the ongoing Laneway Master Plan, which aims to create a new hospitality and retail spine in the city and breathe new life into its nightlife.

    Warner says: “The most obvious benefit to the commercial property market is the positive impact on CBD retail vacancy, albeit in areas outside the city’s major retail destination, Rundle Mall. However, the multiplier effect of the Laneway Master Plan is the increased vibrancy and attractiveness of the city as a place to do business, a place to study and as a place to live.”

    Indeed, the area along the River Torrens is being transformed with several major projects, including the large–scale redevelopment of Festival Plaza. Also in the pipeline are several big name hotels and residential projects: Accor’s premium Pullman brand will make its debut in October, Crowne Plaza Adelaide is set to open in 2020 in the city’s tallest building, Frome Central, and luxury names Sofitel and Langham are also entering the city. The City Of Adelaide Council has also given the green light to a number of residential projects including the 40-level Realm Adelaide tower.

    The rise of foodie destinations

    Similar transformations have taken place in in other Australian cities. For example, along Sydney Harbour, old shipping yards have been converted into a world-class food and tourist destination at Barangaroo. It boasts a range of stylish apartments and offices, yet the biggest draw is its dining precinct along the foreshore which opened in 2016 and includes popular eateries like Belle’s Hot Chicken, Old Tow Hong Kong and Nola Smokehouse.

    Hobart’s food scene is also drawing in visitors and new residents. The city’s waterfront area is awash with new food and drink venues, which are supporting the revitalization of the surrounding area. New developments such as sustainable The Commons apartments are slated to open in 2019, while new hotels include the boutique MACq1 and the soon-to-be-launched Tasman Hobart, housed in an assortment of repurposed heritage buildings.

    Meanwhile, in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, a bustling food scene has sprung up on Hastings Street, its main retail strip, which is pulling in growing numbers of visitors. New apartments have followed, including the upcoming Settler’s Cove residential complex and  Parkridge units, both in Noosa Heads.

    Warner points out that the lifestyle such foodie destinations offer has become increasingly important to prospective residents and tourists alike. “It’s why developers and planners are focused on locations like these – people want vibrant places to live with plenty of amenities on their doorstep. For investors, this can create strong returns and for landlords, there’s a good pipeline of tenants looking to live in the area.”

    Food-obsessed in Asia

    Across Asia, cities with a strong epicurean culture have welcomed more food and beverage (F&B) retailers and have seen their real estate bolstered accordingly.

    “In Hong Kong, the leasing market has become much more accommodating towards F&B operators with the broader retail sector in the midst of a three-year long slump,” observes Cathie Chung, Research Director, JLL Hong Kong.

    Last year, F&B operators accounted for 66 percent of all international newcomers, compared to only 51 percent in 2016.

    Chung adds that the popularity of F&B, combined with consumers seeking out more unique experiences, is leading to more creative uses of retail space. Indeed, experiential concepts such as Speedway Diner in Kowloon City Plaza and Strokes, the first restaurant in the city to offer a mini golf course, have opened up in the past year.

    Over in Kuala Lumpur, the city is steadily growing its F&B credentials with new speakeasies and eateries. The neighbourhood of Damansara Heights has been listed among the world’s most buzzing neighbourhoods for its trendy restaurants and cafes, which form a key part of its appeal for residents and visitors. This has boosted the lifestyle credentials of developments such as Damansara City, which includes a new Sofitel hotel, office towers and an F&B-centric mall, as well as luxury apartments Aira Living.

    “It’s a journey – you need sufficiently a large population to support the food and beverage openings and once a new neighbourhood has matured, more new residents will move in because of the high-quality local amenities,” explains Veena Loh, Head of Research for JLL Malaysia. Penang and Malacca, for example, have attracted much foreign investment because of their famed cuisine.

    While a flourishing foodie scene isn’t an automatic recipe for the success of a neighborhood, when done well, it can spur the type of development and regeneration which bring long-term benefits.

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  • Shake Shack Rumoured To Be Opening At Jewel Changi Airport

    Shake Shack Rumoured To Be Opening At Jewel Changi Airport

    A Shake Shack Singapore store is reportedly planned for the Jewel Changi Airport shopping centre.

    Singapore food blog 8 Days, quoting an “industry source” says the chic American gourmet burger chain is in the final stages of preparation to launch in Singapore. Elsewhere in Asia, the brand is preparing to open in Hong Kong, where it has appointed local licensee Maxim’s Caterers, a division of Dairy Farm International, which also owns the Starbucks license for Hong Kong and Singapore.

    However 8 Days is tipping the Shake Shack Singapore eatery to be run by Korean food and beverage company SPC Group, which operates Paris Baguette and has the Korean rights to Shake Shack.

    The burger chain’s founder Danny Meyer was in Singapore to address a Restaurant Association of Singapore event and while “coy” about plans for Singapore, he reportedly told 8 Days he wants to see the brand launched in the city state.

    “It’s a possibility,” he told 8 Days. “My guys have visited Singapore thrice for site trips and they loved it here. It’s all about finding a good licensee.”

    Jewel Changi Airport is a shopping centre to be managed by CapitaLand, attached to the airport’s Terminal 1 and scheduled to open early next year.

    No confirmation was forthcoming from Changi Airport or SPC.

    Shake Shack, which started out as a food cart in New York City, now has more than 170 outlets internationally.

    Besides burgers, it is known for milkshakes, ice cream and other staple US dishes, but with more focus on flavour and serving size than is traditional in US fast-food restaurants.

  • Jollibee Milan Is Finally Open And the Response Is Intense

    Jollibee Milan Is Finally Open And the Response Is Intense

    There were queues when Filipino fast-food giant Jollibee Europe opened its first-ever branch, in Milan.

    An estimated 170,000 Filipinos live in the Italian city.

    In the early hours of the outlet’s opening day, families, young people, members of the Filipino community, and even locals were lining up in front of the Jollibee store.

    Slide to view the gallery below :

    “Gaining a foothold in Milan is a fundamental step for Jollibee, as well as a launch pad for the expansion of the brand to Europe,” says Jollibee Foods Corporation CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong.

    Milan’s opening follows the signing of a JV between Jollibee Foods Corporation and Singapore Blackbird Holdings to take the fast-food chain into Europe.

    “We want to bring Filipinos a taste of home, and at the same time share with Italians, who are famous for their gastronomic heritage, says Tanmantiong.

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  • Perrier-Jouët ‘Garden of Wonder’ Pop-up at Pacific Place

    Perrier-Jouët ‘Garden of Wonder’ Pop-up at Pacific Place

    Following its incredible debut in Hong Kong last year, Perrier-Jouët lavishes the city with the return of the Garden of Wonder Pop-up at Pacific Place from 19th March to 8th April 2018.

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    In its newiteration,the exquisite Garden of Wonder celebrates the city’s passion for the arts, innovation and gastronomy in a luxurious all-encompassing immersive experience.

    Crafting nature into art since 1811, the House of Perrier-Jouët draws upon the exuberant power of nature to delight and inspire, re-wilding the Garden of Wonder to re-enchant Hong Kong with an #ArtoftheWildtheme.

    Open daily, 11am –8pm from 19thMarch to 8th April, the Garden of Wonder welcomes guests to an exclusive champagne experience set against the backdrop of the captivating cutting-edge art installation, “Becoming” by German-American duo Luftwerk.

    In addition to taking in the beauty and artistry of the pop-up, visitors will also enjoy the unique opportunity to personalise a Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut bottleas well as activities including DIY Floral Painting workshops and “Surprise Happy Hours”.

    Held twice a weekand announced on the Garden of Wonder minisite (www.gardenofwonder.hk), “Surprise Happy Hours” invite the first 50 Garden of Wonder patrons toenjoy a complimentary glass of a select Perrier-Jouëtchampagne.

    For gastronomes, the Garden of Wonder celebration extends across Perrier-Jouët’s partnering hotels including Conrad Hong Kong,Hotel Iconand Cordis Hotel,where guests can savour meticulously crafted gourmet Popsticks and champagne pairings for a sublime culinary experience.

    As a special part of this celebration, Perrier-Jouët Cellar Master Hervé Deschamps will travel from France to bring Hong Kongers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

    For true lovers of champagne, Perrier-Jouët offers Hong Kongers the ultimate champagne gift –private “By & For” consultations with Hervé Deschamps for clients who wish to create their own bespoke champagne, composed for you by the Perrier-Jouët Cellar Master himself.

    The once-in-a-lifetime “By & For” experience enriches the customer experience. By & For is the experience of a lifetime that leads to an extraordinary creation –a champagne that expresses both theuniqueness of the person who commissioned it as well as the exceptional savoir-faire of Maison Perrier-Jouët and Cellar Master Hervé Deschamps.

    Two months after commissioning the champagne, By & For guests are invited to the historic home of Perrier-Jouët in Epernay, France where they will experience their personal cuvée in the House’s private cellars.

    True to Maison Perrier-Jouët’s meticulous attention to detail, the presentation of the By & For cuvée can be extensively customised –from the colourof the foil and logo to engraving text around the neck of the iconic Belle Epoque bottle.

    The By & For experience marks the beginning of an enduring relationship: as members of an exclusive circle, By & For clients and their descendants can, at any time, order bottles of their bespoke cuvée, whose secret recipe is preciously guarded by Maison Perrier-Jouët.

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  • Isetan Mitsukoshi Opens Supermarket in Chengdu, China

    Isetan Mitsukoshi Opens Supermarket in Chengdu, China

    An Isetan Chengdu/Isetan Supermarket will be opened in the In99 shopping complex in Chengdu Financial City, Gaoxin, next month.

    It will be opened by Chengdu Isetan, a retail subsidiary of Japan’s Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings. In99 is part of the Chengdu Yintai Centre and is about 6.5km south of Isetan Chengdu department store.

    Isetan Chengdu/Isetan Supermarket will occupy the first basement floor of the shopping complex, offering food and daily goods in a 2650sqm space. The lineup will include fresh and chilled grocery foods, household goods and daily necessities. It will also offer specialty shops from Japan, including meat store Sugimoto, greengrocer Korokuya and Tomizawa Shoten (Tomiz), which sells candy – and bread-making ingredients and equipment.

    Slide to view the gallery below :

    A food-court zone will feature eight shops, including the bakery Johan, making its debut in Chengdu, and Tonkatsu Wako, which specialises in pork cutlets.

    The supermarket’s main corridor will be known as “Sunny Alley”, while the store will focus on the brand’s “food safety, security, reliability” credo. Areas will be provided for customers to experience food culture, such as a juice bar, a steak bar and a Chinese tea corner.

    The opening of the Isetan Chengdu/Isetan Supermarket coincides with the first anniversary of the launch of In99.

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  • Tim Hortons unveils $700M plan to renovate most Canadian locations

    Tim Hortons unveils $700M plan to renovate most Canadian locations

    Canadian restaurant chain Tim Hortons has opened the first of a new store concept which it plans to progressively convert most domestic stores to during the next four years.

    The chain, owned by Restaurant Brands International, has adopted a contemporary design look it has dubbed the ‘Welcome Image’ and is positioning as the biggest upgrade since the company was launched in 1964.

    Rolling out the new design across Canada will cost the company and its franchise partners an estimated $700 million (US$543 million) over the four years. There is no word yet on plans for the chain’s international stores, including in the Philippines where it has 11 stores trading already with plans for 24 more in the short term.

    The restaurant exteriors will be designed with natural looking, lighter, and more inviting materials, the company said in a statement.

    “Inside, restaurants will be decorated with artwork that reflects Tim Hortons values and history – including a commissioned portrait of Tim Horton, a mosaic of iconic brand images and a photo wall that features Tim Hortons unique coffee-sourcing and proprietary blending process. Guests will also enjoy upgraded, open concept seating that fosters the sense of community at the core of the Tim Hortons brand.”

    Slide to view the gallery below :

    “We want Tim Hortons to always be their home away from home,” said Alex Macedo, president of the Tim Hortons brand.

    “We know that Tim Hortons is a fundamental part of Canadian culture and we’ve worked hard with our restaurant owners to ensure we’re delivering exactly what our guests have come to expect from their favourite local coffee shop. Throughout the creative process, we conducted extensive market testing that revealed our new Welcome Image is not only approved, but loved by our guests across the country.”

    Tim Hortons has more than 4700 restaurants located in Canada, the United States, and around the world.

    Restaurant Brands International also owns Burger King and Popeyes.

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  • DFS Celebrates Success of Seventh World-Class Masters of Wines and Spirits In Singapore

    DFS Celebrates Success of Seventh World-Class Masters of Wines and Spirits In Singapore

    DFS Group (DFS), the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, successfully hosted its seventh annual Masters of Wines and Spirits event on Saturday March 24 and Sunday March 25 at The Warehouse Hotel on the banks of the Singapore River.

    The highly anticipated event, held in partnership with Changi Airport Group, was staged for the first time over two days, bringing together almost 800 local and international guests who explored a variety of unique tasting experiences from the world of whiskies, wines and Cognacs. The historic atmosphere of the meticulously renovated venue, a former trading warehouse, was a perfect backdrop for the event, with each of the hotel’s rooms playing a part in the theme – “Bespoke. Speak Easy. Secret Society.”

    Guests were given the opportunity to meet leading spirit brand ambassadors through a unique and interactive panel, hosted by DFS Group’s Director of Spirits Frederik Vanden Bulcke and featuring experts from John Dewar & Sons, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich and The Kyoto Distillery. Two “Classes with the Masters” were also hosted by The Balvenie Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE, and Rufus Beazley from Chateau Latour Asia Pacific.

    In another first for DFS, this year will see the Masters of Wines and Spirits collection transported beyond Singapore for the enjoyment of customers in Hong Kong and Macau.

     

    “Each year, our talented merchants at DFS bring together the world’s most sought-after wines and spirits and their brand ambassadors, in an event dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of the finest products. As with past events, the Masters collection will be available for purchase first at Changi International Airport. This year, we are also very excited to bring this incredible collection to our customers in Hong Kong and Macau later in 2018, with some fabulous events and activations that are sure to surprise and delight,” said Brooke Supernaw, DFS Group’s Senior Vice President Wines, Spirits, Tobacco, Food and Gifts.

    Along with leading whiskies, wines and Cognacs, including the Louis XIII Le Jeroboam with T.T. Trunks Paris, the Jean-Paul Camus 1945 Private Reserve, the Harlan Estate Double Magnum 100 Point Trifecta and the Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux 2010 Double Magnum, an extended collection of 54 premium products available in the Masters series includes the Octomore 8.2 by Bruichladdich, the DFS exclusive Rare Cask Reserve Araid 18 Years Old 0.7L by William Grant & Sons, the Cask-aged Kyoto Dry Gin 2nd Edition by Ki Noh Bi, the Carigellachie 24yo Small Batch Exceptional Cask by Craigellachie, the Dalmore Luceo, the DFS exclusive Highland Park Single Cask Series 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky and the Single Cask #1476 Mizunara Heads by Malt Chichibu.

    The Octomore 8.2, meaning “The big eight” in Scots Gaelic, by Bruichladdich, is an enigmatic spirit and a cult classic amongst whisky aficionados. Its release was a landmark moment for head distiller Adam Hannett. The DFS exclusive Rare Cask Reserve Àraid 18 Years Old 0.7L by William Grant & Sons, meaning “unique” in Scots Gaelic, is an exclusive bottling of a blended scotch from the distillery’s Rare Cask Reserves collection. The blend comprises malt and grain from whiskys accumulated by the Grant family over the past 50 years and have been expertly brought together by Master Blender Brian Kinsman.

    The Cask-aged Kyoto Dry Gin 2nd Edition by Ki Noh Bi is the first of its kind; a Japanese gin created, blended and bottled at Ki Noh Bi’s dedicated artisanal distillery in Kyoto using local ingredients and inspired by the history and culture of the ancient Japanese city. This DFS exclusive limited edition of Ki Noh Bi gin is aged in casks that previously held Japanese Single Malt whisky and labeled using mask images from the Kamiasobi Noh Troupe.

    The Craigellachie 24yo Small Batch Exceptional Cask by Craigellachie is a part of the John Dewar & Sons Fine Scotch Whisky Emporium and showcases the rare release of some of the finest and most delectable single cask and single malt expressions. Handpicked by Dewar’s Master Blender and Malt Master Stephanie MacLeod, the Exceptional Cask series features a collection of extraordinary single cask bottlings, double-cask and small batch releases. Selected for their finesse and remarkable qualities, the Craigellachie 24Year Old limited release is one of a kind, providing the opportunity to try something truly unique.

    The Dalmore Luceo is part of a selection of releases finished in different types of Sherry casks. The Luceo was finished in “first fill” Apostoles Sherry casks, resulting in decadent waves of sweetness.

    The DFS exclusive Highland Park Single Cask Series 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky comes from one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. For more than 217 years, the distillery has combined old tradition with the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection. Products from Highland Park use only top layer peat, that helps contribute to its honey-infused flavor. The Single Cask #1476 Mizunara Heads by Malt Chichibu has a strong, earthy aroma, yet maintains a sweet fragrance similar to rich brown sugar. This exceptional malt trails off in a long, profound finish with hints of prune and dried fig.

    The 2018 Masters of Wines and Spirits Collection will be available for purchase at Singapore’s Changi Airport
    from March 25, and later in the year at T Galleria by DFS in Hong Kong and Macau DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits is part of the DFS Masters Series, a signature program of exhibitions that also includes the highly anticipated Tenth Masters of Time set to take place in Macau this December. 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.

     

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  • China VMF 2018 is closed with big success

    China VMF 2018 is closed with big success

    China International Vending Machines & Self-service Facilities Fair 2018 (China VMF 2018) was successfully held in China Import & Export Fair Complex earlier this March. With a total space of 25,000 Sq.m and Over 300 Exhibitors, China VMF 2018 surpasses former editions in every aspect, attracting more than 30,000 Visitors domestically and globally.

    Three thematic pavilions are set up at China VMF 2018: Self-service Vending Machine, Unattended Retail and Commercial Payment System. Our exhibitors brought not only unique brand products but also products with high quality and great innovation.

    For instance, the most popular exhibits from the self-service vending machine pavilion included smart-opening refrigerator, unattended convenience store system, intelligent cooking food vending machine, commemorative coins vending machines, shared power bank/umbrella, self-service ice cream vending machines, as well as remote control and monitoring system for vending machines, online management system, vending solutions, face recognizing vending machines, etc. Exhibits in the other two pavilions were also very eye-catching.

    Exhibitors were impressed a lot by the large crowd, and the internationality of visitors. Overseas visitors have increased 140% compared with previous year, coming from over 65 Countries and Regions, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Australia, UK, USA, Japan, Italy, Korea, Germany, etc.

    Visitors’ top 3 product interests were innovative vending machines, advanced vending solutions and technology, and payment system.

    China VMF always keeps retailers abreast of the latest industry trends and consumer palates. According to the exhibits on site and our pre-show buyer survey, we have concluded 4 noticeable vending trends!

    • Unattended Stores: A promising sector in the rising New Retail trend.
    • Self-service Parcel Pickup Machines: A new service spawned by the online shopping boom.
    • Mini Vending Machines: Sprouting up in buses, hotel rooms and etc, for more efficient use of space.
    • Hot Meals Vending Machines: Projected to be widely deployed in business parks.

     

    The 5th Asia-Pacific Vending Industry Summit

    2018 Asia Pacific Self-service Vending Industry Summit was held on the first day of the show, themed on “New Opportunities, New Retail, and New Future”.

    Featuring 22 Brilliant Speeches, one enlightening Panel Discussion and an eye-opening New Product Launch, this dual-track two-day forum delved into the latest vending trends and the emergence of New Retail.

    President Phillip Barry from Australian Vending Association(AVA), President Aleksander Wasik from Polish Vending Association (PSV) and General Secretary Francesc Güell Isern from Spanish Vending Association (ANEDA) shared their opinion on the development trend of vending industry in their respective country and proposed constructive suggestions for the healthy and orderly development of domestic and overseas market. Representatives from domestic enterprises also made speeches while Fulei, Yo!Point, Benyuan, Kimma, BD Vending, Funsales and Taiwan Vending Machines Council conducted in-depth analysis and discussion on the current status of the industry to seek solutions for its development.

    APVA AWARDS

    Initiated by Asia Pacific Vending Industry Association (APVA), and co-organized by China VMF, the APVA AWARDS is designed to recognize the contribution made to global vending industry by outstanding enterprises. This year, 12 award categories were set up, and 60 enterprises were awarded.

    Partial Award Winners

    1. 2017 Enterprises of Influence Awards

    Yinhai Star; Convenisun; Easy Touch; Easivend; UBOX; KIMMA; JOIE UBIQUE; AUEMA; etc.

    1. 2017 Star Operators Awards

    TS Vending (Malaysia); Vendiman (India); Sun108 (Thailand); Miyuan Beverage; etc.

    1. 2017 Premium Quality Awards

    Fuji Electric; Crane Payment Innovations (CPI);

    1. 2017 Technological Innovation Awards

    Zhouyi; Dongji; Miquan; Yunjuxian; Fulei; Gump Come; etc.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Kerry invests in Thailand operations and opens Asia’s first Meat center

    Kerry invests in Thailand operations and opens Asia’s first Meat center

    Kerry, a global leader in taste and nutrition solutions for the food and beverage industry, today announced the opening of its expanded Regional Development and Application Centre that is also designated as the first Centre of Excellence for Meat in Bangpoo, Thailand. The opening is part of a larger series of upgrades to Kerry’s Bangpoo facility, designed to increase Kerry’s local innovation pipeline as well as its research and application capabilities.

    Spanning more than 8,500 square metres, and equipped with the latest technologies, Kerry will use the state-of-the-art facility to work with local customers on all stages of their product development – from ideation to application and manufacturing – for a range of categories including meat, snacks, bakery, dairy and beverages.
    The dedicated meat centre, unveiled today, includes best-in-class taste and functional technologies, allowing Kerry to co-develop signature meat profiles based on different protein types, helping customers keep pace with the technically challenging and fast changing meat markets in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region. With in-house application, sensory and culinary meat experts, the centre is well positioned to develop commercially viable and innovative products at an unrivalled speed to market.

    Another upgrade to Kerry’s Regional Development and Application Centre announced today is new facilities for food and beverage brands to develop authentic, savoury tastes and flavours. Drawing on Kerry’s expertise and market-leading position in cooking methods such as smoke and grill, the fully-equipped application lab includes the latest Clean Smoke technology, for F&B brands to experiment with using smoke condensate to add a signature taste and smoke profile to meat, vegetables, dessert and even beverages.

    The additional down packing and blending lines not only double the centre’s production capacity but also provide food service customers with greater flexibility and efficiency in how their food products are packed.

    “Thailand is a priority market and an important regional hub for many of our customers in South East Asia and beyond, so we’re delighted to be launching these new, world-class multi-application facilities in Bangpoo,” said John Savage, President & CEO, Kerry APMEA.

    “Consumer food and beverage tastes are changing rapidly due to the region’s growing urban middle class and this is creating huge opportunities for the F&B sector. We’re excited to combine our 15 years of heritage in Thailand with the very latest technologies and innovation to help our customers stay ahead of the curve and grow their market share now and into the future,” he added.

    Home to application labs, interactive customer suites and industry-leading research and sensory facilities, the centre also includes customer engagement kitchens and beverage bars where Kerry’s in-house chefs, mixologists and baristas will develop new menu concepts alongside customers.

    Experienced food scientists and technologists will also work alongside dedicated teams of sensory scientists to develop products that surpass consumers’ expectation when launched. As one of the largest food manufacturers in the world, Kerry is also committed to achieving the highest standards of sustainable best practice. As part of this commitment, the centre employs automated pouch filling technology to reduce energy consumption and improve operational efficiency.

  • Starbucks China pays tribute to partnerships

    Starbucks China pays tribute to partnerships

    Partners are at the heart of Starbucks’ success in its largest growing market, Starbucks China CEO Belinda Wong told the coffee company’s annual meeting in Seattle.

    “They are our core purpose of being and the reason why we are passionate about what we do,” she said more than 3000 shareholders and special guests. “Since our earliest days, we’ve been bringing to life Starbucks deeply rooted mission and values by investing in our partners.”

    Wong presented a video about the critical illness insurance for parents of Starbucks China partners, announced last year. “I wish you could have seen the reception when we announced the Starbucks critical care insurance,” she said. “There were tears of joy and almost disbelief.”

    Already, 93 percent of eligible partners have signed up and 14,000 parents have joined. “But we have higher ambitions – we want to inspire other companies,” said Wong, who has met with other companies in China to discuss the parental plan, leading to some now planning to launch similar programs.

    Belinda Wong, Starbucks China CEO, speaks at the Starbucks Annual Meeting of Shareholders at McCaw Hall in Seattle on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. (John Edwards, Starbucks)

    “That commitment to family has built a phenomenal sense of pride, enthusiasm and commitment among our 45,000 partners,” said Wong.

    Starbucks now has 3200 stores across 139 cities in China and is serving 6.4 million customers a week. There is now a goal of 5000 stores by 2021.

    “We are opening a new store every 15 hours,” said Wong.

    “It makes me even more excited how we can use the scale from growth to benefit the communities we serve,” she said, citing Starbucks’ $20 million commitment over the next five years to benefit social-impact programs in China.

    “Also, with Yunnan coffee, grown in China and sold at Starbucks, we are bringing China’s coffee to the world stage.”
    Starbucks’ Farmer Support Center has worked with 17,000 farmers in the Yunnan area on sustainable farming practices. “Starbucks has become the fabric of the local community,” she said. “We will continue to work with farmers to help change their lives.”

    Wong also shared a video of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Shanghai, which opened in December. Three more are coming online soon, including one in Tokyo.

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  • Robinsons Retail to take over Rustan’s Supermarket

    Robinsons Retail to take over Rustan’s Supermarket

    Multi-format retailer Robinsons Retail Holdings is spending PHP18 billion (US$343 million) to acquire Dairy Farm’s Rustan’s Supercenters, which operates the upmarket Rustan’s department stores.

    Owned by the Gokongwei family, Robinsons Retail has more than 3500 retail outlets including supermarkets, department stores, drugstores, international fashion and beauty, and specialty coffee shops. Rustans is 100 per cent owned via a subsidiary by Hong Kong-listed retail group Dairy Farm International, which is majority owned by Jardine Matheson. It runs the food retail brands Marketplace by Rustan’s, Rustan’s Supermarket, Shopwise Hypermarket, Shopwise Express and Wellcome.

    Robinsons Retail will acquire the 100 per cent stake held by Dairy Farm subsidiary MCBV in Rustans through a share swap. The deal calls for Rustans swapping shares for primary common shares of Robinsons. Some members of the Gokongwei family also intend to sell some of their shares under the deal.

    Robinsons says it has agreed to partner with Dairy Farm to create a leading food retailer in the Philippines. The Gokongwei family will effectively own 51 per cent of the expanded capital of Robinsons Retail while Dairy Farm, through its arm MCBV, will own 18.25 per cent of the listed retail company upon the completion of the secondary sale tranche. The board of directors of Robinsons Retail and MCBV have approved the acquisitions.

    In December, Robinsons Retail acquired a 20 per cent stake in Taste Central Curators, which runs Filipino e-commerce site BeautyMNL. Robinsons Retail shelled out PHP4 billion in capital expenditure last year, higher than the PHP3.3 billion spent a year earlier, to open about 150 new stores.

  • Foodpanda opens dine-in restaurant in Singapore

    Foodpanda opens dine-in restaurant in Singapore

    Food-delivery company Foodpanda Singapore has launched a 30-seater restaurant, Favourites by Foodpanda.

    In Woodlands Avenue, the 3100sqft (288sqm) restaurant allows customers to pick and match dishes from nine restaurants such as Ichiban Bento, Crystal Jade Kitchen and Wingzone.

    At the same time, the restaurant acts as a collective kitchen where customers in the nearby districts of Sembawang and Yishun can place delivery orders for the nine restaurants with a single delivery fee.

    Foodpanda Singapore MD Luc Andreani says there was a demand in the northern part of Singapore for more delivery options, but many restaurants were unable oblige because of their more central locations.

    “Favourites by Foodpanda offers brands an opportunity to expand output and reach a new customer base.”

    This move follows Foodpanda competitor Deliveroo opening its first central kitchen last year. While not available to the public for dine-in, Deliveroo Edition gathers chefs from six different restaurants at a 2110sqft kitchen space in Katong to prepare delivery orders.

    After setting up at Deliveroo Edition, New Ubin Seafood had a 600 per cent jump in delivery sales, says a Deliveroo spokesman.

    Beyond R&B, furniture retailer HipVan is another online business that has opened its first permanent 11,000sqft flagship store at The Cathay in Dhoby Ghaut. Luxury e-commerce retailer Reebonz also opened an eight-storey, 200,000sqft outlet in Tampines last year.

    Meanwhile, Foodpanda says it is looking to open another two outlets in Singapore by the end of the year.

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