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.

  • SM scraps Goldilocks acquisition deal

    SM scraps Goldilocks acquisition deal

    SM Retail, a subsidiary of SM Investment Corporation (SMIC), has called off a planned acquisition of Goldilocks Bakeshop chain in the Philippines.

    This follows the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) approving the takeover just last month.

    Citing changes in the business environment, SMIC corporate secretary Elmer Serrano has confirmed that SM Retail has backed out of the deal, saying it was a joint agreement.

    SMIC, through SM Prime Holdings (SMPHI), runs nearly 70 SM Malls in the Philippines, while Goldilocks has a network of more than 500 stores, some of which are in SM Malls. The acquisition would have made Goldilocks a subsidiary of SM Retail.

    Both parties had committed to address potential competition issues when submitting details of the proposal to the PCC. Concerns included the possibility of limited retail space in SM Malls for Goldilocks’ competitors. There were also concerns SM Retail might gain access to competitors’ sales information.

    Lees ook:

  • Ogilvy & Mather wins Pizza Hut in Singapore

    Ogilvy & Mather wins Pizza Hut in Singapore

    Ogilvy & Mather Singapore has won the local creative account for Pizza Hut following a pitch.

    The agency-of-record account marks an extension of Ogilvy’s regional creative brief with the restaurant chain’s parent company Yum! Brands.

    Ogilvy did not specify a contract period and instead said the account would be with them until  “discontinued”.

    Although sister WPP agency J. Walter Thompson previously held the AOR role for Pizza Hut in Singapore from 2012, the agency has said it was not the incumbent on the account and did not pitch.

    In a press statement, Ogilvy said it will be tasked with “localising Pizza Hut’s global brand positioning and driving integrated marketing communications”.

    This includes creative strategy, campaign execution, and social media programs aimed at “rekindling brand love from Singaporeans”.

    “Ogilvy has demonstrated a strategic understanding of the nuances of the Singapore market, the Pizza Hut brand and audience, and delivered creative that embodies our new global brand positioning and how we can clearly differentiate from the competition,” said Merrill Pereyra, chief executive officer of QSR Brands (M) Holdings – the local operator of Yum!

    “Having already enjoyed working with KFC in Singapore for three years, we couldn’t be more thrilled to grow our remit with Yum! Brands and to now embark on this creative journey with Pizza Hut as a result of winning the recent pitch. Iconic brands are built across channels, touchpoints and over time – days, months, years,” said Chris Riley, group chairman, Ogilvy Singapore.

    “It is this type of multifaceted, integrated work that really excites our team and we believe will give us the opportunity to make the Pizza Hut brand matter even more with consumers.”

    Lees ook:

  • Coca-Cola brings back the Clay Dolls for Chinese New Year

    Coca-Cola brings back the Clay Dolls for Chinese New Year

    Coca-Cola China has once again revived its festive ‘Clay Doll’ figures to help promote Chinese New Year festivities.

    The commercial from McCann Shanghai features “evolved and refreshed” versions of the animated dolls, which first appeared in Coca-Cola festive campaigns in 2001.

    Modelled on Chinese traditional folk dolls, the brand usually depicts the pair as gleefully trying to find ways to help bring loved-ones together at holiday time.

    For the 2018 campaign, the Clay Dolls are shown causing mischief around a family dinner table in order to create moments of closeness.

    The full campaign will see the dolls depicted on Coca-Cola packaging, while the ad will be shown on TV, in-store, on OOH, cinema and digital channels.

    The campaign also continues the use of virtual Red Packets, which Coca-Cola launched on the Alipay platform last year, where consumers click to win real money – with amounts ranging from 0.1 to 99 RMB.

    “We’ve found our Chinese audience to be strongly empathetic towards these characters and their cultural significance for Chinese New Year, having been associated with CocaCola for nearly 17 years”, said Richard Cotton, head of creative excellence and content, Coca-Cola China.

    “They are Chinese New Year’s mischievous secret helpers and their characters reflect the spirit of the celebration, which is joyful and exuberant.”

    Lees ook:

  • McDonald’s to open 1,000 new restaurants, speed up tech upgrades

    McDonald’s to open 1,000 new restaurants, speed up tech upgrades

    Burger chain McDonald’s announced it will open about 1,000 new McDonald’s restaurants starting 2018 after posting strong sales and earnings for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2017 fueled by strong interest in its value promotions and new menu items.

    Kevin Ozan, McDonald’s chief financial officer, said it is part of their development plans for 2018 to open about 1,000 new McDonald’s restaurants, 75 per cent of which will be funded by their expanded network of developmental licensees and affiliates around the world.

    Ozan added they also plan to continue making meaningful investments in technology to modernise the company’s customer experience and redefine convenience.

    “I’m confident that now is the opportune time to strategically invest in our business and our restaurants to drive profitable growth and become an even better McDonald’s,” he said.

    McDonald’s posted a 5.5 per cent increase in global same-store sales for the quarter, it’s fastest pace in six years. Systemwide sales increased eight per cent in constant currencies.

    In the US, fourth quarter comparable sales increased 4.5 per cent as a result of strong performance of core menu items featured under the McPick2 platform and beverage value, as well as strong consumer response to the new Buttermilk Crispy Tenders and delivery. Operating income for the quarter increased four per cent, reflecting higher franchised margin dollars and G&A savings, partly offset by lower company-operated margin dollars.

    Comparable sales for the international lead segment increased 6.0 per cent for the quarter, led by continued momentum in the UK and Canada, as well as positive results across all other markets. The segment’s operating income increased 14 per cent (seven per cent in constant currencies), fueled by sales-driven improvements in franchised margin dollars.

    Due to the impact of the company’s strategic refranchising initiative, McDonald’s stated its consolidated revenues decreased 11 per cent.

    Steve Easterbrook, McDonald’s president and CEO, said 2017 was a strong year for McDonald’s.

    “Customers responded to the many ways we are making their experience more convenient and enjoyable,” Easterbrook said. “We served more customers more often, achieved our best comparable sales performance in six years, gained share in markets around the world and made tremendous progress with growth platforms such as delivery, mobile order and pay and Experience of the Future.”

    On January 25, 2018, the company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.01 per share of common stock payable on March 15, 2018.

  • QSR Brands to open 30 more KFC outlets nationwide this year

    QSR Brands to open 30 more KFC outlets nationwide this year

    QSR Brands Malaysia Holdings is investing more than RM100 million (US$25.6 million) into opening at least 35 KFC outlets this year.

    MD Datuk Mohamed Azahari Mohamed Kamil says the company will spend between RM3 million and RM4 million for each outlet, and also plans to enhance 200 restaurants.

    “We see the economic fundamentals growing well this year,” he said at the launch of the KFC Golden Egg Crunch product in Kuala Lumpur.

    “We believe there is a lot of potential in KFC and Pizza Hut, and that this will be a good year for us to capitalise on our growth for both chains.”

    QSR Brands restaurant division CEO Merrill Pereyra says that over the past five years the company has invested nearly RM1 billion for both KFC and Pizza Hut, with a focus on the Malaysian market. The company is the franchisee of more than 750 KFC restaurants in Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore, and also runs Pizza Hut in Malaysia (370 restaurants) and Singapore (75).

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • COCA Restaurant returns to Malaysia after years of absence

    COCA Restaurant returns to Malaysia after years of absence

    Thai dining chain Coca Restaurant is returning to Malaysia with plans to open four outlets in the next three years.

    First up will be an outlet in the Bangsar Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur seating about 100 diners and serving an à la carte menu of Thai/Cantonese cuisine along with Coca’s signature hot pot, creative stock broths (including one being created exclusively for Malaysia) and suki sauce.

    Chefs will focus on freshness, including live seafood and premium beef.

    Absent from Malaysia for seven years after a 20-year stretch, Coca returns with a change of partnership and a new strategy to open in upmarket malls as well as introduce freestanding restaurants – a strategy it has used over the past seven years in Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia.

  • Korea’s PK Market to enter the US market

    Korea’s PK Market to enter the US market

    Shinsegae’s discount chain E-mart plans to enter the US by opening its premium food outlet PK Market.

    While mostly high-end products will be sold at the South Korean group’s outlet, some of its low-tier private brands such as No Brand and Peacock will also be offered.

    E-mart is eyeing cities with significant Asian communities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. It may also acquire a food factory in Portland, Oregon, for producing its Peacock products for the US.

    E-mart has also joined hands with US shopping mall giant Taubman, which helped establish Starfield shopping malls in Korea.

    The Korean company has been trying to diversify its global reach, particularly after closing down stores in China over the THAAD row. Its accumulated operating loss in China has reached more than KW150 billion (US$141 million) since 2013, according to industry sources. E-mart finally exited the Chinese market last month.

    Meanwhile, the company plans to open its second outlet in Ho Chi Minh City in May.

    Lees ook:

  • BAssets continues to up stake in 7-11 Malaysia

    BAssets continues to up stake in 7-11 Malaysia

    After rumblings that 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings is being targeted for privatisation, diversified group Berjaya Assets (BAssets) has taken steps to achieve this.

    BAssets is owned by businessman/investor Vincent Tan Chee Yioun, who has started mopping up 7-Eleven shares on the open market.

    “Something is brewing between 7-Eleven Malaysia and BAssets – a corporate exercise is being contemplated,” the newspaper says, quoting an unnamed source.

    BAssets last week surfaced as a substantial shareholder of 7-Eleven Malaysia. It has a 5.1 per cent stake after acquiring 5.1 million shares on the open market and through direct deals.

    Tan himself is already a major shareholder in 7-Eleven, along with Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

    Including BAssets’ stake, Tan has total equity interest of 42.46 per cent in the 24-hour convenience store chain. He also controls BAssets with a 59.36 per cent stake. Sultan Ibrahim is the second-largest individual shareholder of 7-Eleven Malaysia with a 15.52 per cent direct stake, and he also has a 9.38 per cent direct stake in BAssets.

    Tan’s Berjaya Retail, the single largest shareholder of 7-Eleven Malaysia, has pared down its stake from 48.62 per cent as at January 9 last year to 31.61 per cent in October.

    According to the 7-Eleven corporate website, it has 17,799 stores in Japan, 8469 in Thailand, 5022 in Taiwan, and 477 in Singapore. In Malaysia, it has more than 2100 stores serving about 900,000 customers daily.

    Lees ook:

  • Lina’s Paris opened new eatery at Incheon Airport

    Lina’s Paris opened new eatery at Incheon Airport

    French restaurant brand Lina’s Paris has opened a kiosk in the new terminal at Seoul’s Incheon Airport.

    Managed by the exclusive franchisee SPC, it is the brand’s 12th outlet in South Korea. Half the sales in the country are beverages, predominantly French coffee and French draft beer.

    A concept that is midway between a French cafe and a quick-service restaurant, Lina’s Paris was founded in 1989 based on four factors: a full range of French preparations (breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, hot dishes, soups, fresh juice, sorbet and pastry), a comfortable environment (a lounge area, free Wi-Fi, free press and a Parisian atmosphere), creative and authentic French recipes, and healthy, fresh, quality products and preparation.

    The brand has nearly 55 restaurants in six countries, with South Korea being the first for Asia. Development plans include expansion in Southeast Asia.

    Lina’s Paris will be looking for opportunities at the Paris Franchise Expo from March 25 to 28.

     

  • Kit Kat Flagship Store to Open Its First Location in Korea

    Kit Kat Flagship Store to Open Its First Location in Korea

    A KitKat flagship store has been launched in Shinsegae’s Gangnam department store in South Korea.

    It has been opened by Swiss food giant Nestle’s Japanese unit, which has developed special flavours for the chocolate wafer snack in collaboration with chef Yasumasa Takagi, who has just rolled out a special ruby version. As well as the original KitKats, the new Seoul store offers such exotic variations as cherry blossom and wasabi.

    “Nestle decided to open the first flagship store to reflect Korean customers’ needs for new and trendy premium chocolate,” says Nestle Korea CEO Erwan Vilfeu.

    Nestle Japan is looking into taking its special flavours to other Asian countries with similar flagship stores.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • The world’s first MasterChef TV restaurant is coming to Dubai

    The world’s first MasterChef TV restaurant is coming to Dubai

    TV’s MasterChef series is to make its live debut in Dubai – as a restaurant.

    A landmark deal for the first MasterChef the TV Experience restaurant has been signed by Dubai property developer and F&B specialist The First Group with global content giant Endemol Shine Group.

    Based on the reality television series, the restaurant will showcase the talents and recipes of MasterChef contestants from many of the 52 territories where the program is produced.

    Scheduled to open late this year in The First Group’s upcoming Wyndham West Bay Dubai Marina Hotel, the restaurant concept will fully immerse guests in the MasterChef experience with its interior design inspired by the show’s TV set.

    MasterChef is produced and distributed by Endemol Shine Group, a Dutch production company, and has been adapted in 52 countries. It is seen in more than 200 countries and watched globally by more than 250 million viewers.

    “MasterChef has a global fan base keen to engage with the brand in new ways,” says Endemol brand-strategy director Frances Adams. “MasterChef the TV Experience is an exciting opportunity for audiences in this market to enjoy a unique and immersive dining experience.”

    Global F&B director for The First Group Duncan Fraser-Smith says the company will work with Endemol to take the concept to other cities worldwide in coming years.

    He says the signing of the restaurant is a milestone development for The First Group, which aims to introduce up to 40 original and world-first dining concepts to the UAE by 2021.

    Lees ook:

  • Beef & Liberty to take off at Hong Kong airport

    Beef & Liberty to take off at Hong Kong airport

    Burger chain Beef & Liberty will start serving its signature gourmet offering at Hong Kong International Airport from early April.

    Opening in Terminal 1, its restaurant will seat up to 100 diners.

    From Shanghai, where it has three outlets, Beef & Liberty arrived in Hong Kong in 2014. The airport outlet will be its fourth for Hong Kong.

    Beef & Liberty uses beef only from Hereford cattle, raised naturally by farmers in the Cape Grim region of Tasmania, Australia. It says the meat is typically lean and high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

    Lees ook:

  • SPAR International Expands Further Into The Middle East

    SPAR International Expands Further Into The Middle East

    SPAR International has announced the brand’s entry into the Saudi Arabian retail market. Partnering with the well-established Saudi conglomerate, the Al Sadhan Group, SPAR has ambitious plans to open 40 stores in Saudi Arabia by 2020.

    Yesterday, three SPAR stores were opened in Riyadh, the nation’s capital and primary economic hub. Plans are in place to open a further five stores throughout 2018, bringing the total number of stores in the country to eight by the end of the year.

    The first SPAR stores in the Saudi Arabian market will be aimed at the mid- to premium sector of the retail market. However, as the brand develops in the country, SPAR plans to launch stores in all economic sectors, providing all customers with competitive pricing for the best global and local products.

    The Al Sadhan Group is a family owned business established in 1952. Its services include real estate, facilities management, food retail and brand development. Al Sadhan Stores operates the company’s retail arm employing 1,500 colleagues and has a long history in the market, being the first supermarket to obtain a business licence in Riyadh in 1952. SPAR International began their partnership with Al Sadhan in 2016, soft launching the first SPAR store in the second half of 2017.

    SPAR International has provided extensive support to Al Sadhan in the lead-up to the store openings including study tours to other SPAR markets and fostering awareness of the SPAR Way of Working. Support was also given in logistics development, supply chain creation and store design.

    The stores will benefit from the access to globally and locally sourced SPAR Own Brand products, expertise in category management and the support from SPAR International’s design and development teams to ensure modern and dynamic store design.

    SPAR International will also support SPAR Saudi Arabia to utilise the strengths of the joint buying model to ensure competitiveness.

    The partnership with Al Sadhan in Saudi Arabia builds on SPAR International’s existing partnerships in the wider region, notably in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar.

    A grand opening ceremony took place in Riyadh, with ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the three high-quality SPAR Supermarkets. Thereafter, Tobias Wasmuht, SPAR International’s Managing Director, was joined by officials from the Netherlands embassy and senior management from Al Sadhan Group to celebrate the brand’s official debut in Saudi Arabia.

    Speaking at a press conference announcing SPAR’s entry into the market, Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director of SPAR International said:

    “With a growing young population, rising GDP and increased consumer purchasing power, the retail market in Saudi Arabia has been growing steadily. We are delighted to enter this exciting and dynamic market with such an established and well-respected Partner as Al Sadhan Group.

    In addition, the new partnership provides SPAR with yet another important base in the Middle East, a region that is becoming more and more important to SPAR International’s strategic business development.”

    Mr. Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Al Sadhan, Chairman of Al Sadhan Group commented:

    “We are very proud of this partnership with SPAR International. Having the right mix between SPAR International’s knowledge and best practice along with our experience in the local market will provide our customers with an excellent retail experience. The SPAR brand products will be a key factor in our success, and we are getting great support from SPAR International’s team to source items from SPAR partners around the world.

    Also, this partnership is in-line with the Saudi Arabian vision 2030 and the support we have from the Saudi government for the development of the Saudi market.”

  • Walmart and Rakuten Announced New Strategic Alliance

    Walmart and Rakuten Announced New Strategic Alliance

    In Tokyo today, Walmart president/CEO Doug McMillon and Rakuten chairman/president/CEO Hiroshi “Mickey” Mikitani announced a strategic alliance aimed at expanding consumer reach and enhancing customer service.

    Included in the collaboration is the launch of an online grocery delivery service in Japan as well as an exclusive retail alliance between the US retail giant and e-reading service Rakuten Kobo. This will enable Walmart to sell e-books and audiobooks, as well as offer Rakuten Kobo e-readers in stores and online in the US.

    “We’re excited to collaborate with the top online shopping destination in Japan,” says McMillon.

    “We look forward to expanding our grocery footprint in Japan and launching eBooks and audiobooks for our customers in the US.”

    Rakuten and Seiyu GK, a Walmart subsidiary, have reached a basic agreement to establish a JV to launch a delivery service for online grocery shoppers in Japan, to be known as Rakuten Seiyu Netsuper and planned to start late this year. With the aim of increasing fulfillment capacity, enriching the merchandise offering and improving customer convenience, the service will establish a fulfilment centre this year as well as offering deliveries from Seiyu stores.

    The service’s merchandise offering will showcase Seiyu’s twin strengths of “quality” and
    “low prices”. It will include not only fresh produce and daily consumables, but also convenience items such as cut vegetables, partially prepared foods and ready-meal kits, as well as local gourmet products from Rakuten Ichiba marketplace merchants.

    An optimised user experience will be offered, with more personalisation enabled by big data and AI. Customers will be able to earn and use Rakuten Super Points on more than 70 services.

    Meanwhile, Walmart will become Rakuten Kobo’s exclusive mass retail partner in the US, offering nearly 6 million titles from thousands of publishers and hundreds of thousands of authors. Walmart will also sell digital book cards in more than 4000 stores.

    All e-book content will be accessible through a Walmart/Kobo co-branded app for Android and iOS devices, a desktop app and Kobo e-Readers, which will also be sold at
    Walmart.

    Lees ook:

  • Bench Café Opens At The New Bench Flagship Store

    Bench Café Opens At The New Bench Flagship Store

    Philippine clothing brand Bench has opened its own cafe, in its Bonifacio High Street flagship store in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

    The interior was designed by Miguel Pastor, and the food is by the Foodee Group under executive chef Carlo Miguel. He has lined up such Filipino dishes as Binagoongan Caesar and “bento boxes” with soup, vegetables, rice and choice of ulam (entree) like fried tilapia and bistek (beef steak).

    “Through food, we tell stories of our past, present and future by making local traditions accessible to more Filipinos and Filipinos at heart,” says Bench, a casual clothing brand that now has a presence in China and the US. It is endorsed by local and international celebrities including Adam Levine, Bruno Mars, Lee Min Ho, Liam Hemsworth and Nicole Scherzinger.

    The company that owns Bench also has franchise rights to such international brands as Aldo, American Eagle Outfitters and Jo Malone. It also manages international restaurant chains like Pablo Cheese Tart and Paul boulangerie.