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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.

  • AEON Hong Kong switches to Vietnamese bananas

    AEON Hong Kong switches to Vietnamese bananas

    Japanese retailer AEON has replaced Philippine and Taiwanese bananas with Vietnamese imports at its Hong Kong outlets.

    AEON started selling Vietnamese bananas at its 91 outlets in Hong Kong last year because they are of high quality and grown using a process that does not result in waste, Yuichiro Shiotani, CEO of AEON Topvalu Vietnam, said at a forum Friday.

    “This process meets AEON’s sustainability criteria.”

    Apart from prices, environment friendliness and quick delivery are now top priorities for retailers, he added.

    The company plans to double its purchase of Vietnamese bananas this year and also switch exclusively to Vietnamese mangoes instead Thai and Philippine varieties.

    Mirash Basheer, CEO of May Exports Vietnam, a division of LuLu Group International, a major retailer headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, said there is increasing demand for Vietnamese goods, especially those that meet green production requirements.

    May Exports Vietnam plans to buy more cashew from Vietnam, along with other products such as canned fruit juice, coconut juice and canned tuna.

    U.S. retailer Walmart said it buys from around 500 suppliers in Vietnam, but most are foreign-owned companies with Vietnamese ones mostly being secondary suppliers.

    More Vietnamese goods could reach American consumers if they meet sustainability criteria, a spokesperson for the retailer said.

    Do Ngoc hung, a trade consultant for Vietnam in the U.S., said Vietnamese businesses should study the requirements of U.S. distributors such as Walmart, Costco and Amazon, who all require green products.

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  • TikTok plans to take on Instagram with new app for sharing photos

    TikTok plans to take on Instagram with new app for sharing photos

    TikTok users have started getting pop-up notifications about a new app that the social network company plans to launch soon. The app is called Notes and allows users to share photos like Instagram.

    TechCrunch reports that TikTok has already confirmed the Notes app was in development, but the company didn’t offer any timeframes for releasing the photo sharing app.

    As part of our continued commitment to innovating the TikTok experience, we’re exploring ways to empower our community to create and share their creativity with photos and text in a dedicated space for those formats.

    The notification that many TikTok users have been getting in the last couple of weeks mentions that Notes is “a new app for photo posts.” Also, TikTok explains that “your existing and future public TikTok photo posts will be shown on TikTok Notes.”

    Thankfully, TikTok will offer the option to opt-out from the app: “if you prefer not to show your public TikTok photo posts on TikTok Notes, turn this off now.”

    The upcoming Notes app is not the only project that TikTok is currently working on. The company is also experimenting with different formats such as text posts and longer videos.

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  • Rice exports rise 42%

    Rice exports rise 42%

    Vietnam exported 2.1 million tons of rice in the first three months, worth $1.4 billion in total, up 42% year-on-year in value.

    According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, main buyers such as the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Ghana, Malaysia, and Singapore all posted growth.

    The Philippines and Indonesia, however, are making efforts to increase production to reduce their dependence on Vietnamese rice.

    African countries, which have long been a buyer of Vietnamese rice, are now also being supported by other countries to grow their own rice.

    The ministry therefore urged rice exporters to diversify their markets and increase their product quality to make Vietnamese rice more competitive.

    Vietnam’s 5% broken rice export price is now at $576 per ton, down 12% from the beginning of the year and lower than competitors in Thailand and Pakistan.

    Vietnam, which ranks third globally in rice exports, aims to ship $5 billion worth of rice this year, up from a record $4.7 billion last year.

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  • Vietnam beats Thailand at durian exports to China

    Vietnam beats Thailand at durian exports to China

    Vietnam has surpassed Thailand as the top durian exporter to China, shipping 32,750 tons in the first two months of 2024.

    This accounted for 57% of China’s imports, up from 32% last year, according to Vietnam Customs.

    Vietnam’s export of the fruit to China rose by 2.4 times year-on-year.

    Thailand saw its exports plunge by half to 19,000 tons.

    At US$4,916 per container, Vietnam’s export price was almost 20% lower than Thailand’s.

    Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruits & Vegetables Association, said Vietnam’s weather allows durian to be grown all year round.

    It shares a border with China, which offers it an advantage in transportation.

    Farmers have been hiking durian prices in recent months thanks to high demand from China.

    In March the prices of the highest quality Monthong variety in the Mekong Delta were up 15% from a year earlier to VND218,000-230,000 ($8.7-9.2) per kilogram.

    Vietnam’s durian exports are expected to top $3.5 billion this year, up 66% from last year.

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  • Coffee prices soar to record high as supply shrinks

    Coffee prices soar to record high as supply shrinks

    Coffee prices surged 11.3% to a historic high of VND98,100 (US$3.95) per kilogram on Wednesday as inventories dwindle and production is forecast to decline.

    The price represented a 110% increase from a year ago. On online coffee business forums, many farmers and traders have expressed surprise at the unprecedented prices, which were around VND70,800 at the beginning of the year.

    Prices also rose globally, with the May robusta LRCc2 futures contract rising to an all-time high of $5,999 per ton and the May Arabica KCc1 to $4,186.5. According to Nguyen Hai Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Coffee Cocoa Association, the sharp increase in prices is due to a decline in production and record low inventories.

    He said droughts in coffee-growing countries caused by climate change and the El Nino phenomenon have declined global production. His association expects coffee harvests to be 10% lower this year since farmers have shifted to other crops due to low prices in recent years. Shipping disruptions and freight hikes due to the Red Sea tensions also contribute to higher global prices, he added.

    The skyrocketing prices have heavily impacted traders. Nguyen Loan, a coffee merchant in Dak Lak Province, said she is cutting back on purchases due to the record prices, pointing out that even large traders are hesitant to stock up on coffee.

    “I previously agreed to sell 1,000 tons of coffee to an exporter at VND70,000 per kilogram. At the current prices, I cannot procure enough stock to deliver.”

    Phan Minh Thong, chairman of agricultural products exporter Phuc Sinh Group, said coffee merchants are demanding as much as VND99,000 per kilogram.

    The company had to make some small purchases and bear the losses to maintain its operations.

    “The company has faced huge losses recently. We will incur bigger losses if we buy more.”

    According to traders, importers are now buying coffee from India and Brazil instead of Vietnam because of its high prices.

    With Brazil’s coffee crop set to harvest in April, prices in the global market might soon cool down.

    In the first two months of the year Vietnam exported 438,000 tons of coffee for $1.4 billion, according to data from the General Department of Customs.

    They represented increases of 28% and 85% year-on-year.

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  • Kobe beef sells for $11 a kilo online

    Kobe beef sells for $11 a kilo online

    Some online stores are selling what they claim to be Kobe beef, the premium Japanese variety that usually costs VND6-15 million (US$242-605) per kilogram for a mere VND280,000 ($11).

    Le Thu, a seller in Hanoi, said she had imported two shipments of the meat to fulfill large orders.

    “The beef is cut into neat 250-gram portions that look very appealing. It is also cheaper than other imported beef. So families who enjoy a good steak are very fond of it.

    “Previously Kobe beef was rare because there was very little imported. Now customers can order as much as they want at a cheap price.”

    Mai Anh of HCMC advertised that the meat originally cost VND600,000 but is currently sold at a 50% discount.

    At that price, her “Kobe beef” is even cheaper than American beef.

    The businesses claim it is genuine Japanese Kobe beef imported in large quantities from various countries, and hence the low price.

    “This meat is of high quality and delicious, the cheap price is because of the large supply,” Anh said, adding she sold over two tons in the past week.

    But consumers are not so easily convinced.

    Lien of HCMC’s Tan Phu District is shocked to see such a cheap price, even if it was thanks to a 50% discount.

    “I am doubtful about the quality because I have never bought it at this price.”

    Many others have also raised similar concerns.

    Some who bought it remarked that the meat quickly falls apart when thawed and cooked, and its quality is not like the beef they buy at specialized Japanese supermarkets.

    Nguyen Thi Loan, the owner of a chain of imported beef stores in HCMC, said the cheap “Kobe beef” sold on the market is actually “aukobe” beef imported from Australia.

    This is officially imported at VND600,000-800,000 per kilogram.

    But consumers should exercise caution since beef sold at VND200,000 is probably is close to expiration date, she said.

    Aukobe beef is produced by injecting fat into the meat to artificially create the marbling the authentic Kobe beef from Japan naturally has thanks to a special cattle raising process and unique diet.

    Kobe beef from Japan is one of the most expensive types in the world.

    In Vietnam, it is imported from Japan in very small quantities by legitimate importers and sold at millions of dong per kilogram, with the best cuts costing as much as VND18 million.

  • PepsiCo to invest $400M more in two new plants in Vietnam

    PepsiCo to invest $400M more in two new plants in Vietnam

    U.S. food and beverage giant PepsiCo has committed to investing an additional US$400 million to build two new plants powered by renewable energy in Vietnam, its government said.

    The announcement came last Friday as delegations of more than 60 U.S. enterprises, including Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage, paid a 3-day work visit to Vietnam last week.

    The Vietnamese government said one beverage manufacturing factory will be in southern Long An Province and cost over $300 million, and another for food processing will be in northern Ha Nam Province, with an investment of $90 million.

    The report did not give details on the commissioning time of the two factories.

    Late last year, the company said it had been granted an investment certificate for the Ha Nam factory, which was scheduled to start operating in the third quarter of 2025.

    PepsiCo, which runs five factories across Vietnam, entered the country in 1994.

  • South Korean burger chain Mom’s Touch enters Japan

    South Korean burger chain Mom’s Touch enters Japan

    Korean burger and chicken fast food chain Mom’s Touch is set to open its first directly managed Japanese store in Shibuya, Tokyo.

    Scheduled to open on April 16, the new 418 sqm Shibuya store will sit in a location that used to be occupied by McDonald’s and have a seating capacity of 200 people. According to local media, the new store will be adjacent to Shibuya Scramble Square where the daily floating population reaches about 3 million people.

    “We believe this is an important first step for Mom’s Touch to make the leap to become a global brand and make full-fledged overseas expansion,” the company said in a statement.

    As part of the expansion plan, Mom’s Touch has participated in the Tokyo Franchise Show as it seeks to further expand internationally and promote its Korean burger in the country, which has a burger market estimated at US$5.3 billion.

    The company launched a pop-up store in Shibuya last October, luring about 33,000 visitors. As of February, Mom’s Touch operates 1420 stores in its home market.

    The Japan expansion follows the chain’s launch into Mongolia last year.

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  • Coach opens first cafe and fine-dining experience in Indonesia

    Coach opens first cafe and fine-dining experience in Indonesia

    Coach is expanding into the food and beverage business by launching its first concept dining experience in Jakarta, Indonesia.

    The destination comprises The Coach Restaurant and Coach Coffee Shop at Grand Indonesia Mall.

    The Coach Restaurant, designed by Coach creative director Stuart Vevers and William Sofield of Studio Sofield, serves traditional New York steakhouse cuisine.

    It reportedly incorporates natural and industrial materials in its architectural aspects, a nod to Coach’s craftsmanship and New York roots.

    Meanwhile, the Coach Coffee Shop contains New York cityscape wallpaper and industrial design elements.

    Coach and Brawn & Brains Coffee collaborated to open the world’s first cafe in Singapore last year. A month later, the luxury retailer opened Coach Airways, an aviation travel-themed store at the Freeport A’Famosa Outlet in Malacca, Malaysia.

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  • Gatorade enters new beverage category with ‘unflavoured’ water

    Gatorade enters new beverage category with ‘unflavoured’ water

    Sports drink brand Gatorade has introduced its first-ever ‘unflavored water’, Gatorade Water, entering a new category in the beverage market.

    While the idea of unflavoured water may sound amusing (because water has always been flavourless), the company said its product aims to meet the hydration needs of active people.

    Gatorade Water has a pH of 7.5 and is infused with electrolytes to provide a “refreshing and crisp taste”. Its bottles are also made from 100 per cent recycled plastic.

    “Today’s athletes are more wellness-minded than ever, and they expect Gatorade to meet all their hydration needs, 24/7,” said Anuj Bhasin, chief brand officer, of Gatorade.

    “Gatorade Water is an all-day hydration option for all active people, no matter who they are or how they move, from the leader in sports fuel that they know and trust.”

    Gatorade Water is available in the US currently, via Amazon or at gatorade.com.

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  • Fruit, vegetable exports rise 38%

    Fruit, vegetable exports rise 38%

    Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports surged 38% to about $749.7 million in the first two months and is expected to peak at nearly US$7 billion this year.

    Durian alone would will bring in $3.5 billion after the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Administration of Customs of China signed a protocol on phytosanitary requirements for the Vietnamese fruit exported to the neighboring country last year, said Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.

    Although shipments to Europe and the U.S. are forecast to be hindered by the Red Sea tension in the time ahead, exports to China will be boosted, driven by durian, dragon fruit, jackfruit, banana, and mango, he added.

    Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said four more Vietnamese products will be shipped to China via the official channel in the time ahead, comprising medicinal herb, coconut, frozen fruit, and watermelon, thus contributing greatly to Vietnam’s agricultural export revenue.

    According to statistics from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export turnover hit an estimated $5.6 billion last year, up 66% year-on-year. Surpassing dragon fruit, durian recorded the highest export value.

    The largest importers of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables included China, the U.S., the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, the Netherlands, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia.

    China remained the biggest buyer, with the import turnover reaching $3.7 billion in the year, up nearly 250% in value and 65% in market share compared to 2022.

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  • Indonesian coffee chain Tomoro Coffee expands into Singapore

    Indonesian coffee chain Tomoro Coffee expands into Singapore

    Tomoro Coffee has opened its first location in Singapore as part of its ambition to become Southeast Asia’s largest coffee chain.

    The location is inside the Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library at NUS Business School, aiming to convey the brand’s dedication to quality and affordability.

    “In today’s coffee culture, we’ve noticed a growing trend where many, especially the younger generation, enjoy caffeine multiple times a day,” said CEO Star Yuan.

    “Whether savouring a single cup or seeking a refill, Tomoro Coffee aims to be the ultimate destination for all your caffeine cravings. We invite coffee enthusiasts of all ages to join the Tomoro experience.”

    The brand intends to further grow its footprint throughout the city-state and into the Philippines. Tomoro Coffee currently runs more than 400 locations in Indonesia and China.

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  • Opportunity for Vietnam as Indonesia to import 1.6M tons more rice

    Opportunity for Vietnam as Indonesia to import 1.6M tons more rice

    Indonesia plans to increase rice imports by 1.6 million tons this year, giving Vietnamese exporters a big opportunity, the Vietnam Trade Office in that country said.

    The import licenses for the additional quota would be issued soon by its Ministry of Trade once legal procedures are completed, it said.
    It will increase the country’s rice imports to 3.6 million tons this year.

    Vietnamese exporters could capitalize on this opportunity, but would have to compete on price with many other countries, according to the head of a government agency in Dong Thap Province, one of the largest rice producers in the Mekong Delta.

    According to the official, Vietnam has advantages in terms of delivery times and quality, but its prices are high.

    “If businesses offer competitive prices, the chances of winning bids will be better.”

    The trade office advised businesses to push exports in the early months of the year since Indonesia’s main rice harvest has been delayed by two to three months due to a water shortage caused by the El Nino phenomenon.

    Indonesia imported 441,930 tons of rice in January, an 82% increase year-on-year, including 32,340 tons from Vietnam.

    Thailand accounted for 129,780 tons.

    Last month seven Vietnamese companies won a bid to export 300,000 tons of rice to Indonesia.

    Last year Indonesia was the second largest importer of Vietnamese rice, buying over 1.1 million tons or nearly nine times the volume it had imported in 2022.

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  • Nestle’s Smithtown factory gets a $32 million overhaul

    Nestle’s Smithtown factory gets a $32 million overhaul

    Food and beverage giant Nestle has invested $32 million in its Smithtown factory, aiming to boost the site’s manufacturing line.

    The funding will also introduce state-of-the-art technology and support an increased production capacity.

    James Garley, the site’s factory manager, said the investment reflects Nestlé’s commitment to support local manufacturing.

    “Over the next 12 months, the project will inject an estimated $20 million into the local economy and support almost 200 jobs as we construct a new building to house Milo production,” explained Garley.

    The Smithtown factory – which has been operating for over 100 years – manufactures Milo, Nesquik, Malted milk, and Nescafe mixes.

    “It’s a complex project, but the team will work to ensure the facilities continue to deliver the choc-malt crunch of Milo Australians have loved for generations,” Garley concluded.

    The upgrade is due to be completed by the end of this year.

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  • Chilean cherries 10% costlier than last year on lower imports

    Chilean cherries 10% costlier than last year on lower imports

    The prices of Chilean cherries are 10% higher this year at VND600,000 (US$24.4) due to lower import volumes.

    Size 3JD cherries, which have a diameter of 30-32mm, are sold at VND599,000 per kilogram and VND580,000 if bought in bulk, at a fruit store on Phan Xich Long Street, Phu Nhuan District.

    2JD cherries measuring 28-30mm cost VND569,000 and smaller ones sell at around VND250,000-300,000.

    In Hanoi too, large cherries are being sold at VND600,000.

    Smaller cherries cost less because they are of lower quality and prone to bruising.

    The prices are 5-10% higher than at the same time last year.

    The store manager on Phan Xich Long Street said: “This year’s supply is lower than previous years. Coupled with increased shipping costs, the prices are up 10%.”

    Last year Chile exported 800-1,000 tons of cherries to Vietnam, up 16% from the 688 tons in 2022, according to the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association.

    As a result their prices dropped to as low as VND200,000-300,000 last year.

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