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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.

  • Thailand’s wine tax reform could be opportune for Aussie winemakers

    Thailand’s wine tax reform could be opportune for Aussie winemakers

    A new wine tax regime in Thailand – where wine drinkers have always been taxed higher than those who prefer beer or spirits – could open the way for higher exports from Australia winemakers.

    The move comes after the government introduced a series of relaxations on liquor sales. Last year, the Thai government lifted a 50-year-old ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in the afternoon, from 2 pm to 5 pm, and extended the operating hours of entertainment venues such as nightclubs and bars to boost the tourism industry.

    According to government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke, the steep import tariffs on wines, which currently stand at 54 per cent and 60 per cent of declared value, will be abolished indefinitely.

    Moreover, the excise tax on wine will be reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent and on spirits from 10 per cent to zero to help small-scale producers.

    The tax cuts are expected to considerably lower the cost of imported wines in Thailand. The country has been known for imposing an average tax of around 250 per cent on wine, which includes import tariffs, excise tax, municipal tax, and 7 per cent VAT.

    However, the change in tariffs could impact the country’s revenue.

    In the previous year, the government generated as much as A$7.6 billion in tax coffers from alcohol, beer, and other beverages, including $2.8 billion from alcoholic drinks.

    The new tax measures will take effect shortly, added Wacharonke.

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  • Pepper exports rise in volume, fall in value

    Pepper exports rise in volume, fall in value

    While Vietnam’s pepper export volumes soared by 16.6% to 267,000 tons in 2023, the value dropped by 6% to US$912 million, according to the Vietnam Customs.

    The average export price of Vietnamese pepper, which constitutes 60% of global supply, dropped by 19.4% from the previous year, to US$3,420 per ton.

    Black pepper made up 71.2% of Vietnam’s exports, and white pepper comprised the remainder.

    The U.S. remained the top purchaser of Vietnamese pepper, accounting for 23.5% of the total export value, followed by China 14.1%, India 5.4% and Germany 4.3%.

    The U.S. decreased its pepper imports from India in favor of Vietnamese pepper, which is recognized for its favorable pricing and improving quality.

    The Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association notes that Vietnamese pepper holds a competitive edge over other pepper-exporting nations such as Indonesia and India, bolstered by the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which has slashed the import tax on ground and crushed pepper to the EU to zero.

    It is forecast Vietnam’s pepper export slow down because domestic supply is no longer abundant. The pepper inventory in 2024 will be at its lowest in many years.

    This year’s pepper crop is projected to decrease by 10-15% to around 165,000 tons due to smaller cultivation areas and unfavorable weather conditions.

  • Paradox Coffee unveils its first limited-edition single-origin coffee

    Paradox Coffee unveils its first limited-edition single-origin coffee

    Paradox Coffee Roasters has introduced Los Contares Panama Geisha Natural, the brand’s first limited edition single-origin coffee, with only 100 tins produced and roasted to order.

    But it is not for the budget-conscious: Los Cantares Panama Geisha Natural comes in a 100gm numbered tin and sells for $65. It is only available to purchase online at paradoxroasters.com.

    The specialty fine filter coffee originates from Panama, Central America, and Paradox says it boasts “complex-tasting notes of strawberries, soft floral jasmine, nashi pear’s sweet acidity, and a gentle clean finish”.

    “It is not every day you come across a coffee with such a symphony of flavours,” says Yogesh, head coffee roaster, Paradox Coffee Roasters.

    “Every sip highlights how precious this coffee is and I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I do.”

    The tins also contain information on the coffee estate owned by coffee producer Marie Jackie Mercer, a brew recipe, coffee tasting notes, and a personalised invitation to a virtual coffee tasting session led by the brand’s training managers and head roaster.

    “Our virtual tasting session is designed as a journey of discovery,” says Nicole Saleh, MD at Paradox Coffee Roasters.

    “People who purchase this exceptional coffee can join our Paradox team online for an interactive coffee experience to learn more about the coffee origin and farm, how the coffee is roasted, how to brew this exceptional filter coffee, a discussion of the characteristics in the cup and what makes this Los Cantres Natural Panama Geisha so special”.

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  • McDonald’s Malaysia files $1M lawsuit against Israel boycott movement

    McDonald’s Malaysia files $1M lawsuit against Israel boycott movement

    McDonald’s Malaysia has filed a lawsuit seeking US$1.31 million in damages from a movement promoting boycotts against Israel for “false and defamatory statements.”

    Gerbang Alaf Restaurants Sdn Bhd (GAR), which is the licensee of McDonald’s in Malaysia, is suing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Malaysia movement, claiming that BDS had made a series of social media posts linking the fast-food franchise with Israel’s military offensive in Gaza?

    It said the BDS campaign has encouraged a public boycott of McDonald’s Malaysia, resulting in financial losses, employment reductions and other adverse effects due to the shutdown and reduced operational hours of its establishments.

    In response, BDS Malaysia said it “categorically denies” defaming the fast-food company and would leave the matter to the court.

    “Boycotting companies like these is a personal choice and it is up to that individual consumer,quoted social media user Sheryl Ho as saying.

    “That being said, anyone in their right frame of mind who wasn’t boycotting [McDonald’s] before this, sure would be doing it now.

    “They terminated their staff to save cost and they are making other people pay for it?” X user Syafiq Fadli asked.

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  • Vietnam cooperate on rice exports with Thailand and Philippines

    Vietnam cooperate on rice exports with Thailand and Philippines

    Vietnam has agreed with Thailand as well as the Philippines to strengthen rice export cooperation to ensure regional and global food security.

    The consensus was reached when Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin and Filipino President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit on Sunday in Tokyo.

    The Vietnamese and Thai prime ministers agreed to lift the two-way trade between the two countries to US$25 billion soon, through creating more favorable conditions for importing and exporting goods, including rice.

    Thailand is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, with import-export turnovers reaching $21.5 billion last year. Meanwhile, it is the 9th largest foreign investor in Vietnam.

    Vietnam and Thailand will also implement the “Three Connections” Initiative which focuses on new areas such as digital transformation, green transformation, and the circular economy.

    The Vietnamese prime minister and the Filipino President agreed to step up rice export cooperation to ensure regional and global food security when both countries export rice to many nations, and the Philippines imports Vietnamese rice.

    Among Vietnamese rice importers, the Philippines currently imports the most. In the first nine months of this year, the Philippines imported 2.4 million tons of rice worth $1.5 billion from Vietnam.

    Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shows in the first 11 months, Vietnam earned $4.4 billion from exporting 7.75 million tons of rice to many countries around the world.

    The average price of Vietnamese rice was $568 per ton, surging 17% over the same period last year, sometimes reaching nearly $650 per ton.

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  • Indian beef imports half local price

    Indian beef imports half local price

    Beef and buffalo meat imported from India are being sold for VND60,000-100,000 (US$2.47-4) per kilogram on some online marketplaces in Vietnam, half the price of local beef.

    According to data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam imports meat and meat products from 44 countries worldwide. In the first 10 months of 2023, it imported 127,000 tons of meat and meat products from India, making the country Vietnam’s biggest meat supplier with a 22.2% market share.

    In the same period, the average price of these imported products decreased 6.8% year-on-year, down to VND72,000 (US$3) per kilo.

    Oanh, who operates a meat import business in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Binh District, said beef imported from India had never been as cheap as it has been in previous years.

    Some online marketplaces sell Indian beef brisket for just VND63,000 a kilo, and topside for VND107,000-110,000 a kilo.

    In comparison, Vietnamese beef fillet is currently priced at VND250,000-280,000 per kilo, while American and Australian beef can fetch as much as VND350,000-450,000 a kilo, Oanh said.

    Toan, who runs a frozen meat importer in District 7, said this year, he imported all cuts of Indian beef and buffalo meat.

    These products are well-liked by meat processing facilities and restaurants due to their low prices and quality on par with beef from other countries, Toan said.

    “They were imported through official quotas and vacuum-packed before being shipped to Vietnam, so they meet all food safety regulations.”

    Cattle and buffaloes are raised on a large scale in India and the country accounts for 58-60% of the world’s cattle and buffalo population, yet consumption of beef and buffalo meat is very low in the country.

    Therefore, most of the beef produced in India is exported and the abundance of supply causes prices to plummet.

    Smuggling is also to blame, says the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam, an organization representing the livestock and veterinary industry.

    According to official statistics, there were131 cases of cattle and poultry smuggling in Vietnam over the first nine months of 2023, up 14.5 times from the previous year.

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  • Rice exports expected to hit $5B this year

    Rice exports expected to hit $5B this year

    In 2023, the rice farming area nationwide is 7.1 million ha with productivity estimated at 6.08 tonnes of unmilled rice per ha and total output at 43.1 million tonnes, up about 420,000 tonnes from last year.

    Some 7.75 million tonnes of milled rice was exported during the first 11 months of this year to bring home an estimated $4.41 billion in revenue, rising 16.2% and 36.3% year on year, respectively. Export prices averaged $568 per tonne, up 17.3%, according to the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

    The export volume has been kept at around 6 million tonnes and increased over years, with annual value continually topping $3 billion, statistics show.

    At a workshop held in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang on Dec. 13, MARD Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said the rice sector plays a crucial role in the agriculture of Vietnam and many other countries in the region and the world.

    Domestic and international rice markets will remain vibrant in the time ahead due to big import demand from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Middle East, and Africa, he forecast.

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  • Doritos Nacho Cheese as a spirit

    Doritos Nacho Cheese as a spirit

    Snack food giant Frito-Lay North America has partnered with spirits company Empirical to create a limited-edition beverage called Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit. The product claims to offer a multi-sensory drinking experience that smells and tastes like the Doritos Nacho Cheese Chips.

    Tina Mahal, SVP of marketing for Frito-Lay North America, said the partnership aims to disrupt the spirits category by offering the brand’s nacho cheese flavor in a bottle.

    “We’re always pushing our fans to try new things, so we figure it’s time we disrupt the spirits category by offering our iconic nacho cheese flavor in a bottle,” she said.

    To create the flavor, Empirical extracts the many flavor layers of Doritos Nacho Cheese using real chips. The process retains the essence of the chips through vacuum distillation, which operates at lower temperatures, preserving the full spectrum flavors derived from the chips.

    Meanwhile, Empirical CEO and distiller Lars Williams said the collaboration allowed the company to experiment with interesting flavors without being stuck in a particular spirits category.

    “Empirical is an ‘uncategorised’ spirits company, so it allows us the freedom to experiment with really interesting flavours and not have to be stuck in a gin box, tequila box, or whiskey box,” said Williams.

    Limited-edition bottles of Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit will be pre-ordered starting December 13 for an RRP of US$65 (42 percent ABV, 750ml) online and in select New York and California markets.

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  • Durian exports to China soar on insatiable demand

    Durian exports to China soar on insatiable demand

    Approved for official export last year, China imports dozens of containers of durians daily from Vietnam.

    The port in Pingxiang City, which handles much of durian imports, has seen an inflow of the fruit from Vietnam large enough to rival Thailand, China’s main supplier, since last year.

    Nong Liqing, CEO of a fruit importer in the city, told Xinhua his firm has imported more than 1,600 containers of durians in the year to date.

    China has a huge demand for the spiky fruit.

    Last year it imported a total of 825,000 tons of the fruit for US$4.03 billion, the highest of any fruit, according to data from China’s customs.

    After the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free-trade agreement between ASEAN and various trade partners including China, allowed Vietnamese durian access to the Chinese market, that country has become Vietnam’s biggest importer of the fruit.

    Wang Zhengbo, president of a fruit company in Guangxi, said that his firm had signed deals last year with 3,000 hectares of Vietnamese orchards.

    In the first 10 months of this year durian accounted for 51% of total vegetable and fruit exports, according to the Vietnam Fruits & Vegetables Association (Vinafruit).

    Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of Vinafruit, said the country has surpassed Malaysia and the Philippines in durian exports to China and is behind only Thailand.

    But Vietnamese durian is expected to be more competitive toward year-end as it has off-season durian ready to ship while Thailand usually struggles with unfavorable weather every year.

    Exporters are eyeing a figure of $2.5 billion this year, and prices might rise to a new peak next month.

    Since 2010 the area under durian in Vietnam has shot up from 92,000 ha to 131,000 ha, and the yield is estimated at one million tons this year, up 15.9% from 2022.

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  • Asahi Beverages appoints Amanda Sellers as new group CEO

    Asahi Beverages appoints Amanda Sellers as new group CEO

    Asahi Group Holdings has named Amanda Sellers as the new group CEO of Asahi Beverages, the company’s Oceania business.

    Sellers has been the Group’s interim CEO since June, following the resignation of the previous CEO, Robert Iervasi.

    “The board of Asahi Group Holdings has huge confidence in Amanda’s ability to continue with the impressive growth trajectory of our business in Oceania while also delivering our sustainability commitments and setting us up for long-term success in Australia and New  Zealand,” said Atsushi Katsuki, president and CEO, Asahi Group Holdings.

    Sellers has been working as the CFO for Asahi Beverages for almost five years. She has more than 20 years of experience in the beverages industry and has held senior positions at Treasury Wines, where she served as CFO for Asia and Europe and previously as CFO for Australia and New Zealand.

    With her appointment, Sellers has become the first woman to hold the CEO position of a regional headquarters within the Asahi Group.

    “As interim group CEO over the past six months, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know our customers and suppliers much better,” said Sellers.

    “I’m confident that through these valued partnerships and the plans we’ve developed together, we’ll grow our businesses and deliver even more  for our consumers.”

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  • Chinese tea chain Heytea expands into the US

    Chinese tea chain Heytea expands into the US

    Chinese tea company Heytea has launched its first store in the US – in the heart of Broadway, New York, – as it continues its rapid international expansion, including into Malaysia, Australia, Canada, and London.

    The brand marked its US debut with a Times Square billboard and chose a location just a 10-minute walk from major New York landmarks.

    Heytea described its US entry as a success after selling 2500 cups at Broadway on opening day.

    “As the initial entry point for Heytea into the US market, New York City holds extraordinary significance for the growth of our brand,” said Yujia Gu, VP of strategy at Heytea.

    “By providing high-quality products and services, we aspire to deliver a joyful brand experience to consumers in NYC and beyond, contributing to the ongoing development of the US tea industry,” he said.

    By expressing their experiences on ‘Teaholics shared photos of the store on social media channels including TikTok and Instagram.

    Gu said the brand plans to keep expanding the tea market in the US.

    Established in 2012 and based in Jiangbianli, Guangdong, Heytea has 3000 stores worldwide.

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  • Miracle Coffee opens flagship store in Singapore

    Miracle Coffee opens flagship store in Singapore

    Miracle Coffee has launched its flagship store in Singapore, succeeding the brand’s pop-up kiosk at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, which opened in September last year.

    The flagship location, created by Singapore firm Parable Studio, includes The Miracle Lab as a sharing platform to promote coffee and innovation conversations.

    Miracle Coffee, founded in 2017 by Singaporean musician JJ Lin, launched its first store in Taipei in 2017 and now has five locations in Taiwan and China.

    With a population of nearly 6 million, Singapore is an important market for foreign coffee brands due to its coffee-drinking culture. In the last 12 years, several coffee brands have arrived in the country, including Luckin Coffee, the South Korean business Compose Coffee, and Kenangan Coffee.

    However, in October, Singapore-based ‘tech-driven’ coffee business Flash Coffee closed all 11 outlets across the city-state, citing the need to “double down” on more promising areas.

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  • Aldi partners with BrewDog for pop-up pub in Sydney

    Aldi partners with BrewDog for pop-up pub in Sydney

    Aldi Australia has partnered with Scottish craft beer company BrewDog to launch a pop-up pub in Sydney.

    The Special Brews by Aldi pub will open its doors at the Hotel Sweeney’s for one night only on December 13 and will offer a sneak peek at the limited-edition beer on sale at Aldi stores. It will also offer lower-priced craft beers, with the collaboration’s exclusive Ald IPA priced at $3.25 per can.

    Aside from drinks, the pop-up pub will offer custom merchandise and snacks. Customers can collect their punch card at the door and purchase up to three cans of Ald IPA, along with Aldi and BrewDog slinging limited-edition stubby holders and socks.

    “Aussies know Aldi for delivering the best value on everyday groceries, but we’re taking it further by delivering a night out in Sydney for under a tenner this holiday season,” said Paul Handley, buying director at Aldi.

    “We are excited to welcome patrons to this new experience and for Aussies to crack open the new Ald IPA.”

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  • Pizza 4P’s opens its first store in Japan

    Pizza 4P’s opens its first store in Japan

    Vietnam-based artisan pizza business Pizza 4P’s has launched its first store in Japan, its second international expansion after Cambodia in 2021.

    Located in Tokyo, the store was designed by architecture firm Studio Dig and features handcrafted tiling with an earthy vibe and soft-form furniture. It’s lighting design and natural fibre cushions also provide a soft accent, symbolising the idea of “Earth to People – Oneness”.

    Following the Japan launch, Pizza 4P’s plans to open its first store in Bengaluru, India. The brand formally announced its debut on social media channels and began recruiting in October.

    Last year, Ho Chi Minh City-headquartered investment fund Mekong Capital sold its stake in the fast-growing pizza company. The business did not say who it sold the shares to or what its return on investment was in the company.

    Pizza 4P’s, headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, was launched in 2011 by Japanese couple Yosuke and Sanae Masuko, with a single location serving wood-fired gourmet pizzas. It immediately gained a cult following among expats and locals; and by the time Mekong Capital invested in 2018, it had grown to eight locations.

    The company presently operates 39 stores in Vietnam and two in Cambodia. In addition, the company also manages global franchises such as Ippudo and About Life Coffee Brewers.

  • Rice export prices soar to new record

    Rice export prices soar to new record

    Vietnam rice export prices have reached a new peak of US$663 per ton, the highest price in the world right now, amid rising global demand.

    On Monday prices rose 2% in a single day to $663. Rice from Vietnam’s competitor Thailand has also risen 8% in the last four weeks to $625 while Pakistan’s prices have risen 9% to $600.

    Traders say that rising global demand and declining supply in Vietnam are the reasons for the price hike.

    Dinh Ngoc Tam, deputy CEO of rice exporter Co May, said that India, which used to account for 40% of the global rice market, has not shown any sign of lifting its non-basmati white rice export ban since July.

    Concerns of trade restrictions and the impact of El Nino weather have prompted countries to increase their purchase to pump up reserves, which has sent export prices skyward.

    Up to 90% of Vietnam’s rice varieties are high quality and the country has enough for both domestic needs and exports. It can ship up to 8 million tons globally this year, according to Deputy of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien.

    In the first 11 months, Vietnam exported 7.75 million tons worth a total of $4.4 billion, up 36% in value. Many buyers from the Philippines, Indonesia and China are competing to buy the rice.

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