Tag: based

  • Starbucks expands plant-based range in Asia Pacific

    Starbucks expands plant-based range in Asia Pacific

    Starbucks has rolled out a new plant-based menu in selected Asia-Pacific markets. The brand has added two new seasonal plant-based beverages – Oatmilk Cocoa Macchiato and Almondmilk Hazelnut Latte. The beverage range will be available across eight markets: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

    The new options will remain part of the chain’s core menu in up to seven of these markets when the seasonal promotion ends.

    Starbucks’ new plant-based food options will be sold in five markets: Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. The company says they were created to suit the tastes and preferences of consumers in specific markets.

    They are:
    Hong Kong: Maize Impossible Sandwich, the Spiced Impossible Puff, and vegan chocolate breadstick.
    New Zealand: Mince & Cheese Pie.
    Singapore: Impossible Wrap.
    Taiwan: Beyond Meat Bolognese Penne, the Beyond Meat Sausage Sandwich, and the Beyond Meatball Sandwich.
    Thailand: Beyond Meat Sandwich.

    “As customer demand for plant-based choices increases, Starbucks remains committed to expanding plant-based food and beverage offerings in locally-relevant ways…,” the company said in a statement.

    “This menu expansion is designed to offer our customers the same flavors and handcrafted service they know and love from Starbucks, in a new way,” said Sara Trilling, president at Starbucks Asia Pacific.

    According to Euromonitor, Asia Pacific is the largest market for plant-based milk options as traditions in food culture have been well established.

    Industry manager at Euromonitor said plant-based options are strongly ingrained in Asian culture. Innovation is key to meeting the taste preferences of consumers seeking out new flavors and modern takes on traditional diets.

  • Hong Kong’s Mana! to open third location in August

    Hong Kong’s Mana! to open third location in August

    Fast-casual plant-based whole-foods retailer Mana! will open its third location in Hong Kong’s Starstreet Precinct this August.

    Mana! Starstreet will be a 1600sqft flagship store offering the brand’s signature flats, plant-based burgers, and other “fast slow food” served “fast, in an eco-friendly and responsible manner, packaged and ready to go”

    The company’s original Mana! Central branch on Wellington Street has become a popular destination, serving more than 500 customers daily – while its second branch in Sheung Wan is a popular weekend spot for brunch, books, and vegan coffee.

    “We’re ready to build upon our success as a brand and embark beyond Central and Sheung Wan to bring our food revolution to Admiralty, Wanchai, and beyond,” said Mana! founder Bobsy Gaia. “With Mana! Starstreet, we’re excited to join Swire Properties’ vision to transform the area into a wellness and sustainability destination.

    “I have personally waited for this moment for a very long time, since I pulled out of Life [Cafe] circa 2009. Mana! has always played a unique role in Hong Kong with its emphasis on solid vibes, holistic atmosphere and cultural community. Finally, with a larger space, we can bring these to the fore of what we offer and allow many more people to enjoy our Mana! vibes.”

    Theresa Leung, GM of Pacific Place, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Mana! to the Starstreet Precinct, a wonderful addition that will further enhance the area’s unique and diverse lifestyle offerings. Mana! is part of our commitment to offering healthy and fresh new experiences that emphasise wellbeing, and to building strong vibrant communities.”

    The new flagship store will be located on Queen’s Road East opposite Three Pacific Place at the Starstreet Precinct, a historical, vibrant and eclectic community hotspot in Wan Chai.

  • Vietnam banks to slam doors on home-based business owners

    Vietnam banks to slam doors on home-based business owners

    Home-based businesses will soon find it, not just increasingly difficult, but impossible to find a bank loan. The central bank has tightened lending criteria for household and other unregistered businesses, meaning they will not be eligible for bank loans.

    With the change coming into effect from March 15, a housewife who wants to earn some extra money by selling handmade soap will have to apply for a consumer loan rather than a commercial loan from the bank.

    A consumer loan is more expensive than a business loan, which will later reflect in the costs of operating her business, limiting revenue growth and profitability.

    Vietnam currently has 5 million unregistered home-based businesses, said Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). However, the country plans to relax the business environment so that by 2020 it will have one million private businesses, most of which will be home-based businesses that have converted to legal entities.

    Loc said because some regulatory requirements, mostly involving administrative procedures and tax policies, are expensive and time-consuming, the vast majority of local businesses choose to remain as home-based micro businesses.

    Also according to the VCCI, about 70 percent of small business owners, including home-based ones, that apply for a bank loan get rejected, even though they are critical to job creation in Vietnam, employing 52 percent of the private sector workforce.