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Tag: asia

  • UPS bolsters healthcare logistics capabilities with cold-chain acquisitions

    UPS bolsters healthcare logistics capabilities with cold-chain acquisitions

    UPS announced that it has agreed to acquire Frigo-Trans, and its sister company BPL, (together “Frigo-Trans”) industry-leading, complex healthcare logistics providers based in Germany. Once completed, the acquisition will enhance UPS’s end-to-end capabilities throughout Europe for UPS Healthcare customers who increasingly require temperature-sensitive and time-critical logistics.

    “The fast-paced innovation in the pharmaceutical industry is creating the need to have more integrated cold and frozen supply chains,” said UPS EVP and President of International, Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions Kate Gutmann. “Frigo-Trans will help deepen our portfolio of solutions for our customers and accelerate our journey to become the number one complex healthcare logistics provider in the world addressing their needs.”

    Frigo-Trans’ network includes temperature-controlled warehousing that covers six temperature zones from cryopreservation (-196°C) to ambient (+15° to +25°C); a Pan-European cold chain transportation solution and temperature-controlled and time-critical freight forwarding capabilities.

    The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to customary regulatory reviews and approvals. The value and terms of the transaction are not being disclosed at this time.

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  • Philippines rice imports up 19% in 8 months

    Philippines rice imports up 19% in 8 months

    Rice imports to the Philippines amounted to 2.8 million metric tonnes (MT) during the first 8 months of this year, 19% higher than he same period last year, data from the country’s Department of Agriculture (DA) showed.

    In its latest report, the department’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) said in August alone, rice from abroad increased to 296,350.9 MT compared to 167,403 MT in July. However, it was still lower than the average monthly arrival of 400,000 MT logged in the earlier months.

    Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said rice prices have been decreasing. Regular and well-milled rice is sold at around 45 PHP (US$0.8) per kilo and even as low as PHP42, he added.

    According to the report, Vietnam remained the Philippines’ top source of the staple during the period, shipping over 2.17 million MT or around 77% of the country’s total imports in the January-August period. It was followed by Thailand (371,390 MT), Pakistan (156,121 MT) and Myanmar (66,910 MT).

    Last year, inbound shipments of rice totaled 3.6 million MT, down 5.9% from the record-high 3.82 million MT in 2022. The DA projects rice imports for this year will not exceed last year’s volume.

  • Chinese luxury EV maker Zeekr enters Vietnam

    Chinese luxury EV maker Zeekr enters Vietnam

    Zeekr, Chinese conglomerate Geely’s premium electric vehicle brand, will be distributed in Vietnam by transport services provider Tasco.

    Following an agreement signed Monday the EV maker joined the list of auto brands distributed by Tasco, which also includes Lynk & Co and Volvo, two other Geely subsidiaries.

    Tasco has not disclosed when or which Zeekr models will be sold in the market, nor has it confirmed whether it will build charging infrastructure for Zeekr vehicles or outsource this to a third party.

    Zeekr was established in 2021 and is positioned as a luxury EV manufacturer that focuses on driving assistance and safety technologies.

    It targets high-end customers and competes in the premium EV segment, but offers competitive prices. It recently expanded to Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

    The brand offers seven models in China, all based on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture EV platform.

    Zeekr vehicles sold in Vietnam will be imported from China, where the company has its only plant.

    Other Chinese EV brands that have entered Vietnam within the last year include BYD and Lynk & Co.

    Three others, Omoda, Jaecoo and Aion, are expected to launch in the fourth quarter.

    VinFast, the only domestic producer, dominates the EV market in Vietnam with a wide range of products and the largest network of charging stations.

  • Malaysia’s Zus Coffee secures $57m funding, to expand into Singapore, Brunei

    Malaysia’s Zus Coffee secures $57m funding, to expand into Singapore, Brunei

    Malaysian coffee chain Zus Coffee has secured a US$57.27 million (RM 250) investment to support its expansion in Singapore and Brunei this year. The funding was secured from a consortium comprising private equity firm KV Asia Capital, Malaysian pension fund KWAP, and Indonesia’s Kapal Api Group.

    Founded in 2019, Zus Coffee has expanded to become one of Malaysia’s largest coffee chains, with an estimated  550 stores.

    It has also extended its footprint to the Philippines, where it operates 50 stores. This is following a strategic partnership with the Filipino hospitality group Choi Garden Restaurant Company, which acquired a 35 percent stake in the company last year.

    The Edge reports that the investment from KV Asia Capital will be raised in two phases: an initial US$10.7 million (RM 50 million), followed by an additional $42.8 million (RM 200 million) at a later date.

    KV Asia Capital has already invested in several other companies in Southeast Asia. These include the Taguig-based Wildflour Hospitality Group, the Vietnamese logistics firm Bee Logistics, the Indonesian beauty brand Victoria Care, the health food supplement company DXN, and the Malaysian supermarket chain TF Value Mart.

    Ernst & Young Malaysia acted as an adviser for the transaction.

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  • Alibaba’s Freshippo launches into Australia with local partner

    Alibaba’s Freshippo launches into Australia with local partner

    Alibaba-owned grocery chain Freshippo will launch its first presence in Australia, in partnership with Ebest, the local online Asian supermarket.

    Freshippo’s items will be available through Ebest’s shopping app and website, with a product selection tailored to the Australian market, including Chinese delicacies such as snacks, juices, tea drinks, and culinary sauces.

    Ebest’s spokesperson says that this agreement will greatly expand their product line, providing Australians with better access to authentic and modern Chinese groceries.

    “The pandemic has driven more consumers to explore ethnic products, diversifying their home cooking either as a lifestyle choice or as a cost-saving alternative to dining out,” the spokesperson said.

    “This trend has encouraged a wider demographic to discover different cultural ingredients and find better deals at grocers that initially served migrants.”

    Australia is Freshippo’s third offshore market after the US and Singapore. Freshippo, founded in 2015 as Alibaba Group’s grocery retail business, now has 400 locations in 30 Chinese cities.

    Ebest, launched in 2020, has become one of Australia’s highest-profile online Asian supermarkets, with more than 50,000 items across 18 categories.

    In June, Ebest launched on Albaba’s e-commerce platform AliExpress, with the goal of “revolutionising the online grocery shopping landscape by bringing in a new era of convenience and accessibility for consumers.”

  • Gentle Monster unveils its third Haus Nowhere flagship

    Gentle Monster unveils its third Haus Nowhere flagship

    South Korean fashion and lifestyle company Gentle Monster has opened its third Haus Nowhere store – in Shenzhen, China.

    The retail space spans 6914sqm across three floors and features kiosks from its eyewear brand Gentle Monster and perfume line Tamburins, along with other curated shops and brands.

    Inspired by the theme of “Insect Kingdom”, a fictional tale of the 10,000-year relationship between colossal humans, beasts, and insectoids, the store aims to evoke “unique emotions” as visitors are invited to step into the narrative and become part of the story.

    The Gentle Monster section is designed with an abstractly shaped concrete mantis head, with insect-inspired objects that give off an otherworldly atmosphere.

    Meanwhile, Tamburins’ section features silkworm installations and kinetic art pieces.

    “Haus Nowhere Shenzhen is more than just a shopping destination,” said the company. “It is a vast universe with its own narrative.”

    The Haus Nowhere Shenzhen marks the third chapter of the project, following the successful launches in Seoul and Shanghai.

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  • Italian luxury brand N21 debuts in South Korea

    Italian luxury brand N21 debuts in South Korea

    Italian luxury fashion brand N21 (Numero Ventuno) has opened its first store in South Korea at the Hyundai Department Store Trade Center, marking its entry into the Korean market.

    Founded in 2010 by designer Alessandro Dell’Acqua, N21 is known for its modern yet feminine designs, offering a range of clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories.

    The new store incorporates the brand’s signature design elements, featuring a nude colour palette with materials like lava stone and translucent surfaces, creating a “bold yet luxurious” ambience.

    It currently showcases the Fall/Winter 2024 collection, with key pieces such as the ‘Jewelry Sweater’ with signature jewellery buttons, oversized wool jackets, and long silk dresses.

    Kolon FnC – which secured exclusive distribution rights for N21 in South Korea  – said it plans to use the new store to strengthen N21’s presence and name awareness.

    With this addition, the company expands its portfolio of international brands, which includes Marc Jacobs, Neil Barrett, Valextra, and Khaite.

  • Some markets ramp up imports of Vietnamese durian

    Some markets ramp up imports of Vietnamese durian

    Vietnam’s durian exports to several markets like Thailand, Hong Kong and South Korea rose by double digits year-on-year in the first seven months.

    China remained the biggest buyer as exports rose by nearly 53% to US$1.47 billion, accounting for 92% of all shipments.

    Thailand was second with $65 million, up 51%, followed by Hong Kong, $19 million, up 24%.

    Exports to South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Japan, and Cambodia increased by at least 50%.

    Total exports were also up 50% to $1.6 billion.

    Ngo Tuong Vy, CEO of fruit exporter company Chanh Thu, said Vietnamese durian is more competitively priced than those from Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

    Her company saw exports rise by 30% this year because of a decline in Thai output due to unfavorable weather.

    Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruits & Vegetables Association, said many countries are craving Vietnamese durian because of its high quality and availability all year round.

    Vietnam and China’s recent protocol on frozen durian exports would also help boost exports, he added.

    Vietnam exported $2.3 billion worth of durian last year, 90% of it to China.

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  • iOS 18 launch date revealed: here’s when you can update your iPhone

    iOS 18 launch date revealed: here’s when you can update your iPhone

    The time has come for Apple to officially announce its new iPhone 16 series, alongside other new devices, and, of course – the exact day you can expect the iOS 18 software update.

    At today’s so-called Glowtime event, the Cupertino giant made it official – iOS 18 is coming to supported iPhones on September 16. The release day for iPadOS 18 is also that one.

    This is the day iPhone 16 users can update their software and get all the promised iOS 18 features, although if you’re waiting for the crowning selling point – Apple Intelligence – there is a caveat.

    Apple Intelligence is expected to arrive in its fullest only on the iPhone 16 models, and 15 Pro models, only in the US (at first), and only when iOS 18.1 comes around sometime in October.

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  • Domino’s chooses Made With Plants mozzarella for vegan pizzas

    Domino’s chooses Made With Plants mozzarella for vegan pizzas

    Domino’s is now using Made With Plants‘ dairy-free and gluten-free mozzarella for its vegan pizzas across Australia.

    The pizza chain has been serving plant-based pizzas since 2019. Its vegan-friendly offerings include pizza variants Spicy Veg Supreme and Vegan Margherita and sides such as vegan cheesy garlic bread.

    “At Domino’s, we’re passionate about choice,” said Michael Treacy, head of new product development at Domino’s ANZ.

    “As the world’s best bonding food, it’s important that all our customers can share in the joy of pizza, regardless of their religious, ethical, dietary or lifestyle choices, which is why we’re proud to offer a new and improved vegan cheese.”

    Made With Plants mozzarella is also now available at select Domino’s stores and at Coles and Woolworths supermarkets.

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  • Vietnamese passion fruits enter Australian market

    Vietnamese passion fruits enter Australian market

    Passion fruits have become the fifth kind of Vietnamese fruits to be officially exported to Australia, following mango, longan, lychee, and dragon fruit.

    On Monday, the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Australian Embassy in Vietnam held a ceremony to announce the export of Vietnamese passion fruits to Australia and the import of Australian plums into Vietnam.

    Huynh Tan Dat, Director of the Plant Protection Department, underlined that Vietnam has great potential and advantages in tropical fruits.

    Currently, Vietnamese fruits are available in over 60 countries and territories. Specifically, passion fruits have been exported to 20 countries in various forms such as fresh, frozen, and juice.

    The area of passion fruit in Vietnam is currently over 12,000 hectares and is expanding, mostly in the northern mountainous region. Many provinces in the Central Highlands are also expanding the cultivation area of this fruit.

    In recent years, Vietnam has concentrated on improving passion fruit quality by promoting chain production and ensuring traceability for the product, focusing on two varieties of yellow passion fruit and purple passion fruit.

  • Domino’s chooses Made With Plants mozzarella for vegan pizzas

    Domino’s chooses Made With Plants mozzarella for vegan pizzas

    Domino’s is now using Made With Plants‘ dairy-free and gluten-free mozzarella for its vegan pizzas across Australia.

    The pizza chain has been serving plant-based pizzas since 2019. Its vegan-friendly offerings include pizza variants Spicy Veg Supreme and Vegan Margherita and sides such as vegan cheesy garlic bread.

    “At Domino’s, we’re passionate about choice,” said Michael Treacy, head of new product development at Domino’s ANZ.

    “As the world’s best bonding food, it’s important that all our customers can share in the joy of pizza, regardless of their religious, ethical, dietary or lifestyle choices, which is why we’re proud to offer a new and improved vegan cheese.”

    Made With Plants mozzarella is also now available at select Domino’s stores and at Coles and Woolworths supermarkets.

  • Heinz launches pickle-flavoured ketchup in Australia

    Heinz launches pickle-flavoured ketchup in Australia

    Heinz is making a twist on its classic tomato sauce by introducing a new pickle-flavoured ketchup in Australia.

    The new flavour blends ketchup with dill pickle for a flexible sauce, which the company ensures “to thrill both pickle fans and ketchup lovers nationwide”.

    The new Heinz Pickle Flavoured Ketchup is already available in Coles stores and will be available countrywide at Woolworths and Metcash on October 14 with an RRP of $5.00.

    Last month, Heinz introduced two new mayo flavours – Cheesy Garlic Bread Aioli and Margherita Pizza Mayonnaise – which it describes as “criminally tasty”.

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  • Belgian brewery Rodenbach launches cherry-flavoured beer

    Belgian brewery Rodenbach launches cherry-flavoured beer

    Belgian craft brewery Rodenbach has made its cherry-flavoured craft beer, Fruitage, available in Australia.

    The beer is made from a blend of ripened and aged ale, young ale, and 7 per cent cherries, processed through “meticulous” fermentation.

    “The main fermentation and warm maturation occur with top-fermenting yeasts at ambient temperatures between 15 to 25 Celsius,” explained the brewery.

    “Secondary fermentation takes place over a two-year maturation period in oak casks, facilitated by bacterial flora and wild yeasts present in the oak.”

    These microorganisms initially produce organic acids, which are then transformed into fruity esters, giving Fruitage its distinct, vibrant taste.

    Rodenbach Fruitage is available in Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores nationwide at an RRP of $17 for a four-pack and $84.99 for a case.

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  • Uniqlo to open largest store in South Korea

    Uniqlo to open largest store in South Korea

    Japanese fashion label Uniqlo will launch its largest store in South Korea on September 13 after reporting strong sales at home and in some overseas markets.

    The 3504sqm store will be located in Jamsil Lotte World Mall.

    “As a local community member, Uniqlo has been striving to show our commitment,” said Kuwahara Takao, co-CEO of Uniqlo.

    “Our new store will provide products and services that enrich everyone’s daily lives and organise various local-friendly activities continuously to better the lives of people in Seoul.”

    Founded in 1949, Uniqlo is owned and operated by Fast Retailing Group and has more than 2000 stores worldwide.

    The brand entered South Korea in 2005 and now has 126 stores in strategic areas.

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