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Tag: drink

  • Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz dies aged 78

    Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz dies aged 78

    Considered to be the richest man in Austria, the entrepreneur built a global empire around the energy drink.

    Mr Mateschitz’s fortune is estimated at around €25bn (£21.8bn), putting him 51st on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people.

    Formula 1 praised his “unforgettable contribution” to the sport and said he leaves behind a “lasting legacy”.

    Little is known about Mr Mateschitz’s private life – he was publicity shy and rarely gave interviews.

    After graduating from the University of World Trade in Vienna, he worked as a marketing specialist for various companies in the 1970s.

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  • San Pellegrino unveils new flavour in Essenza range

    San Pellegrino unveils new flavour in Essenza range

    S.Pellegrino Essenza has added a new Black Orange & Black Raspberry flavour to its range, joining the existing line-up of Lemon & Lemon Zest and Tangerine & Wild Strawberry.

    S.Pellegrino’s Essenza is a tasteful range of Italian sparkling mineral water with a subtle hint of fruit flavour, gentle bubbles, and no added sweeteners with zero calories.

    Essenza Blood Orange & Black Raspberry has a delicate scent and taste, beginning on a sweet note and ending with the taste of freshly squeezed orange. It pairs with rich, complex foods from red meat dishes to creamy, light pasta.

    S.Pellegrino Essenza’s range is a great on-the-go product with the can format; plus, it’s recyclable. It also works as a non-alcoholic mocktail spritzer option.

    It is available now in Woolworths and independent supermarkets at $15 per eight-pack.

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  • Guinness drops a weather-sensitive promo

    Guinness drops a weather-sensitive promo

    Winter and Guinness go hand in hand, which is why the brand is celebrating Australia’s coldest month of the year with a unique, weather-moderated giveaway.

    To encourage drinkers into the pub to enjoy a stout at its prime, GUINNESS has launched GUINNESS WEATHER, allowing punters to redeem a free pint of Guinness Draught as soon as the temperature drops to ideal consumption conditions.

    Winter is the best season for enjoying a Guinness, however a lesser known fact is the optimum temperature to pour a pint of the black stuff is between five and seven degrees, so when the temperature drops to five and seven degrees outside, the promotion activates.

    “Everyone thinks about Guinness on St Patrick’s Day but the campaign aims to remind drinkers that winter is the best time to enjoy a Guinness, and a great time to get people together enjoying a pint in their local pubs,” said connections director Ed Stening.

    “We wanted to give people a reason to look forward to a cold snap, with a chance to enjoy a Guinness at its best,” said Paul Swann, Thinkerbell executive creative tinker.

    Guinness lovers can check out the website housing an official Guinness Digital Thermometer which gauges the temperature on the border of NSW and Victoria. A free Guinness is not far with the promotion’s Pub Finder tool, which locates the closest participating venue. The promotion is now live and will run throughout July or until keg stocks last.

    The promotion is supported by a multi-channel campaign running across outdoor, radio, PR, digital channels, and media partnerships.

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  • 7-Eleven Singapore launches beachfront store with Tiger Beer

    7-Eleven Singapore launches beachfront store with Tiger Beer

    Singapore’s favourite convenience store, 7-Eleven, and the country’s favourite, Tiger Beer, have joined forces to unveil the very first beachfront convenience store right on the sands of Palawan Beach Walk, Sentosa! On 25th and 26th June, the first-of-its-kind store will kick off opening celebrations with a variety of promotions and special treats for families enjoying the last weekend of the school holidays and for young adults and tourists who have made hanging out on the beaches of Sentosa their highlight of the week.

    Perched right on the sands of the popular Palawan beach, this instagrammable 7-Eleven store can be spotted from afar with its vibrant murals and unique graffiti artwork on its facade. This exciting store offers ice-cold Tiger beer on reverse tap, exclusive Nitro Tea and icy Arctic Coke to help beat the heat, of course, along with 7-Eleven’s all-time favourites – Slurpee, Mr. Softee and 7CAFÉ. Guests can enjoy their refreshing drinks, hot snacks and even ready-to-eat meals at the special 7-Eleven x Tiger Beer chillout area on the sands or at their favourite beach spot.

    Ice-cold Tiger Beer Quick and Easy

    To help people get their drinks fast, 7-Eleven and Tiger Beer will be bringing a special reverse tap bar, which will automatically dispense the right pour of beer in each cup consistently – without needing a bartender. The reverse tap dispenser is fast, convenient and easy, giving you more time to spend soaking up the sun.

    Stay cool in the heat with outlet-exclusive Nitro Tea and brain-freezing Coke slushies

    7-Eleven’s Sentosa Palawan Beach store will also be introducing the new and exclusive Nitro Tea. Choose between a refreshing black tea or a variety of caffeine-free fruit teas to give your taste buds a high-five. Either way, you will experience a rich, dairy-free creamy foam, refreshing and longer-lasting flavour, and sweetness without the added calories – thanks to the nitrogen infusion that gives beverages a sweet taste without added sweeteners.

    7-Eleven will also be bringing the unique Arctic Coke machine to Palawan Beach! Simply choose your bottle of Coca-Cola, put it into the machine and press a button – in no time, you will have an icy cold Coke slushie to give you a brain freeze that will refresh your mind for the week ahead.

    Carefree snacking with grab-and-go hot bites and Ready-to-Eat meals by the beach

    Beachgoers who feel peckish after sun and surf will also be able to get delicious warm pastries and finger food from the hot food counter. Savoury hot food items include fried chicken selections from super crispy chicken to savoury chicken drumsticks and wings, while those who long for buttery pastries can expect offerings such as Butter Croissant, Cocoa Hazelnut Croissant, Pain Au Raisin, Tomato Cheese Tart, Mini doughnuts, Pure Butter Madeleine and Citrus Madeleine. Ready-to-Eat meals will also be available for those who need more filling up, an affordable alternative to the pricier options in the area.

    Mark your calendars and celebrate the opening with us on 25 and 26 June!

    Savour the last weekend of the June school holidays with an unforgettable carnival-inspired blast on the beach with family and friends at the 7-Eleven’s Sentosa Palawan Beach store on 25 and 26 June 2022 from 10am onwards.

    Customers can enjoy free popcorn, 7-Eleven balloons, face painting activities, Häagen-Dazs or Walls ice cream (first 200 customers, with any purchase), Mr. Softee (100 cups a day), chances to walk away with exciting Spin and Win rewards (with a minimum spend of $7, list of prizes in table below*), and last but not least, live music performed by local singer-busker Jeff Ng, who recently made headlines for his popular weekly busking at The Cathay!

    Customers can also look forward to the following deals:

    Promotion Promotional period Details
    Spin and Win prizes* (with a minimum spend of $7) 25 and 26 June 2022 ● Sentosa premium merchandise such as luggage tags and tote bags

    ● $5 Dairy Farm vouchers

    ● $10 Dairy Farm vouchers

    ● Jinro Hite Tonic Water 250ml FOC

    ● Vaseline HB SPF 24 Sun + Pol E 100ml

    ● Asian Delight Sea Coconut

    ● Lays Max BBQ potato chips 73g

    ● Authentic Tea House Ceylon Tea 500ml

    ● Seaweed Wasabi Cashew Mix Macadamia 35g
    Slurpee and Nitro Tea 25 June – 3 July 2022 ● Slurpee Large 16oz at promo price $1.50 (normal RSP $1.80) 25 and 26 June

    ● Nitro Tea BOGO – applicable for both flavours
    Tiger Beer 25 June – 22 July 2022 ● Buy 5 reverse tap cups of beer at a go and get 1 free Tiger Crystal 49cl can

    ● While stocks last
    Tiger Beer gift with purchase 23 July – 19 August 2022 ● Buy 3 reverse tap cups of beer and get 1 free Elegante glass*

    ● Buy 6 reverse tap cups of beer and get 1 free Elegante glass and 1 slipper-shaped floatie* [1m (W) x 1.5m (H)]

    *Limited quantity of 200 each

    More promotions and updates can also be found on the official 7-Eleven Singapore Facebook and 7-Eleven Singapore Instagram pages.

    “7-Eleven is reimagining convenience at the beach with our first beachfront store at Sentosa, in collaboration with Singapore’s iconic brand Tiger Beer. From the Arctic Coke machine to the exclusive Nitro Tea, and Reverse Tap beer and the Tiger Beer chill out zone, our new store offers a lot of exciting things for beach loving families, young adults and tourists, and we look forward to welcoming them! We hope that customers will be able to enjoy our new concept store with its unique design and special murals,” said Mr. Steven Lye, Managing Director of 7-Eleven Singapore.

    “This is a great collaboration with 7-Eleven where we pushed the boundaries and found innovative ways to uncage the ultimate refreshment for our consumers. Tiger has a special bond with beer-lovers, and we believe that the beachfront store at Sentosa Palawan Beach would energise the experience by bringing consumers the smoothest beer and greatest vibes,” said Yogender Sharma, Marketing Manager of Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore.

    “We are delighted to be home to Singapore’s first-ever 7-Eleven store by the beach. This new store concept is an example of the novel and imaginative experience that we are curating for our guests on our beach. Apart from providing the convenience of getting beach essentials, the store is also a unique beachfront bistro where guests can pick up a quick and affordable meal. We welcome this partnership with 7-Eleven in enhancing our guests’ experience as they enjoy their day on Sentosa, ” said Mr Chew Tiong Heng, Divisional Director (Business and Experience Development), Sentosa Development Corporation.

  • Huawei plans to launch coffee chain

    Huawei plans to launch coffee chain

    Telecommunication giant Huawei Technologies Co’s recent plan to enter the on-premise coffee market in China has triggered heated discussions on the beverage’s role in rejuvenating established non-food brands among younger consumers.

    Huawei has applied for two trademarks related to coffee. The registered name of one trademark is “One Cup of Coffee Absorbs Cosmic Energy”. The name is classified into the category of convenience food and the application is waiting for acceptance, according to Qichacha, a data bank that tracks business registrations.

    The other trademark is classified into the category of catering and accommodation, covering services including cafes, restaurants and mobile food supply. The application is waiting for review.

    The move is a follow-up to the company’s management interests in the coffee sector.

    In August, Ren Zhengfei, founder of Huawei, said that the company plans to open more than 100 coffee stores in the company’s Qingpu base in Shanghai to attract young people to work for the company.

    Before Huawei, domestic leading sportswear brand Li-Ning recently started its own freshly brewed coffee as it has applied to register its brand as “Ning Coffee”.The sportswear company already operates coffee services in Beijing, Xiamen in Fujian province, and Zhanjiang in Guangdong province. The company runs coffee as an innovation and added value to its in-store shopping experiences, according to Li-Ning, which owns more than 7,000 stores in the country.

    Li-Ning is one of the large-scale retail networks that have banked on the beverage to get closer to younger consumers. Beijing TRT Group, a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, China Post, Petro-China, Sinopec Group and even Goubuli－an iconic Tianjin-based bun specialist－have opened their own coffee units. The list of brands entering the coffee sector goes on.

    Zhu Danpeng, a food and beverage analyst, said the recent cross-sector marketing events, which have involved business extension into the coffee sector, have shared one identical aspiration－to get engaged with the younger generation, which has become a dominant consumer group, playing a crucial role in a brand’s future. “To make a brand younger is more or less about how to grow loyalty and frequency with the Gen Z consumers,” said Zhu.

    The capital market and investors have also been drawn to the fast-rising coffee industry, pushing the growth of on-premise coffee niche brands including Manner Coffee, M Stand and Seesaw as well as those internet-based packaged instant coffee brands such as Saturnbird Coffee.

    According to a report by Jiemian, the domestic coffee sector received financing of more than 4 billion yuan ($594 million) in 2021. In March, Canadian coffee group Tim Hortons in China announced it had received an investment of 1.2 billion yuan, propelling the chain to grow from the current 410 stores in the country to 2,750 stores by 2026.

    According to research institute iiMedia Research, in 2021, the coffee market has been valued at 381.7 billion yuan and is estimated to grow to 1 trillion yuan in 2025, with an average annualized growth rate of 27.2 percent.

    By comparison, milk tea, a darling among Chinese youth, has been gradually losing its appeal. According to Nayuki Tea’s annual financial report for 2021, the milk tea maker has seen a loss of 145 million yuan in net profit, which was 16.6 million yuan a year earlier.

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  • Liquor industry wants tax increase delayed

    Liquor industry wants tax increase delayed

    Liquor companies want the proposed increase in special consumption tax put off until they recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The government plans to hike the taxes on beer, liquor, and cigarettes from now until 2030 and is still considering by how much.

    The current rates are 65 percent on beer and 35-65 percent on liquor. Nguyen Van Viet, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Beer, Wine and Beverages (VBA), said the two years of Covid caused beer sales to drop by 20 percent or one billion liters.

    Around half of all breweries and distilleries saw revenues and profits fall in 2020 and 2021, according to a survey by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM). Over 79 percent of them tried to cut costs, and 58 percent postponed expansion plans and laid-off employees.

    It is estimated that 4-7 percent of workers were laid off, and the rest saw their incomes reduce by 7-10 percent. Though the situation has improved thanks to the reopening of the economy this year, the industry is unlikely to see profits rise as input costs have risen to historic highs.

    Gasoline and malt prices have increased by 50 percent, and that of beer cans by 30-40 percent. Holly Bostock, corporate affairs director of Heineken Vietnam, said any increase in special consumption tax would add to the burden on the beverage and tourism industries, while what they need now are stability and support.

    Phan Tuan Khai, a lawyer for the VBA, said the government needs to come up with a new tax mechanism that would help businesses but also generate more tax instead of just increasing the rates. Economist Ngo Tri Long said a tax hike would exhaust businesses.

    Long said a new mechanism that taxes products with higher alcohol content more would be fairer and more transparent than the current tax mechanism and encourage people to drink responsibly. Taxation by alcohol content is done in Singapore and European Union countries.

    A study by the CIEM from 2010 to 2018 found that despite increases in alcohol tax, consumption actually rose from 6.6 liters per capita per year to 8.3 liters.

    A 2019 study by Lancet, a British medical journal, found Vietnam among the world’s top beer-consuming countries and a 90.2 percent rise in drinking per capita between 2010 and 2017.

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  • Japan brewer Kirin to exit Myanmar

    Japan brewer Kirin to exit Myanmar

    Japanese drinks giant Kirin said Monday (Feb 14) it will withdraw from Myanmar, after a failed bid to disentangle its operations from a joint venture with a junta-owned company after last year’s coup.

    The brewery is the latest foreign company to pull out of Myanmar with international pressure building against the junta since it ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and waged a widespread crackdown on dissent.

    Kirin said its decision comes after months of wrangling following the coup last February, which prompted the company to express concerns about human rights and eventually seek to end its joint venture Myanmar Brewery Limited.

    Kirin has decided “to withdraw from the business in Myanmar in order to urgently terminate its joint venture partnership” with military-linked MEHPCL, the company said in a statement.

    Myanmar Brewery, whose beverages include its flagship and ubiquitous Myanmar Beer brand, boasted a market share of nearly 80 per cent, according to figures published by Kirin in 2018.

    Kirin’s attempts to terminate the partnership with MEHPCL were unsuccessful, and the Japanese drinks maker said in November that it would contest a bid to dissolve their joint brewery over fears liquidation proceedings would not be fair.

    On Monday, Kirin said it had taken “every measure to find a way forward that would allow it to continue to contribute to Myanmar’s economy and society”.

    That included filing for arbitration in Singapore in a bid to end the joint venture and proceed without the military-linked partner.

    “In the end, Kirin Holdings determined that it would be difficult to quickly terminate the joint venture in the manner it desires,” the company added in a statement.

    “Therefore, Kirin Holdings has now commenced and is proceeding with discussions with MEHPCL in order to withdraw from the business in Myanmar, giving top priority to the termination of the joint venture as soon as possible.” A junta spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    With the economy tanking and pressure mounting from rights groups, companies from France’s TotalEnergies to British American Tobacco and Norway’s Telenor have upped sticks or announced they will leave.

    After the coup and arrest of Myanmar’s democratic leaders, Kirin said it was “deeply concerned” by the military’s actions.

    The brewery had been under pressure even before the coup over its ties to Myanmar’s military, and launched an investigation after pressure from rights groups into whether money from its joint venture had funded rights abuses.

    In a statement, Justice For Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung welcomed Kirin’s decision to withdraw from the country, praising the firm for “listening to the voice of Myanmar people and Myanmar, Japanese and global civil society”.

    “Kirin should never have entered into business with a brutal and corrupt military conglomerate,” she added, accusing the brewery of having “financed atrocity crimes and enriched top generals.”

    The activist group urged other Japanese firms doing business with the military to cut ties, and called on Kirin to avoid payments to MEHPCL or the military during the withdrawal process.

    Investors piled into Myanmar after the military relaxed its iron grip in 2011, paving the way for democratic reforms and economic liberalisation in the country of more than 50 million people.

    They poured money into telecommunications, infrastructure, manufacturing and construction projects, but the coup upended the democratic interlude and damaged the economy.

    The pandemic and supply chain disruptions have also hit the country, with Kirin saying in its earnings report released Monday that Myanmar’s beer market has shrunk by about 20 per cent.

    It said Myanmar Brewery’s sales volumes had decreased by around 30 per cent compared to the same period last year.

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  • Low-cost café franchising booms despite Covid

    Low-cost café franchising booms despite Covid

    Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more low-price cafés are franchising and doing well. At 9.00 every day a Napoli café franchisee on Dong Nai Road, District 10, HCMC is crowded. Its owner, Hoang, says: “We directly serve hundreds of customers a day. The number of customers making orders via apps is double that.”

    A café franchised by Milano on Pham Van Chieu Road, Go Vap District, also gets hundreds of customers daily, one of its employees says.

    Many other similar outlets are also making good profits despite the pandemic, mainly selling through apps and e-commerce websites.

    Nguyen Duc Hung, the founder of Napoli Coffee, said that after starting in 2010 his company has so far franchised 3,000 outlets which fetch hundreds of billions of dong annually.

    “We franchise an average of two to three coffee shops a month. Some of our partners want to open more shops though they already own five”.

    Now there are thousands of Milano franchisees across the country. Trung Nguyen E-Coffee franchised coffee shops are present in 54 cities and provinces.

    The franchisors do not seek royalties for their trademarks or other such fees, and most of their profits come instead from the construction and decoration of coffee shops or sales of packaged coffee and beverages they produce

    Napoli offers three franchising packages costing VND70-350 million for cafes of 50-100 square meters in size. The packages include a five-year warranty, decoration, furniture, lighting, uniforms, and the coffee-making process, and exclude the costs of sanitary equipment and salaries.

    Trung Nguyen E-Coffee offers franchising packages worth VND65-175 million.

    Le Anh Tu, a lecturer at Van Lang University in HCMC, said the low-price café franchising model thrives despite Covid because franchisors support franchisees a lot, and products are sold at reasonable prices like VND12,000-30,000 for a cup of coffee.

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  • PepsiCo Australia achieves its renewable energy target

    PepsiCo Australia achieves its renewable energy target

    PepsiCo Australia has effectively converted to 100 percent renewable electricity across all of its operations. Focusing on reducing global emissions, this initiative helps PepsiCo limit the amount of CO2 added into the environment – around 26,000 tones per year – and goes some way in helping the business hit its target to achieve net-zero emissions globally by 2040.

    PepsiCo manufactures Smiths chips, Doritos, Red Rock Deli, Twisties, and Grain Waves in Australia, including at Regency Park in SA, Tingalpa in Queensland, and Forrestfield in WA which are now powered by a mixture of solar and wind energy sources. The achievement does not include the manufacturing of beverages that are undertaken by the brand’s local partner Asahi Beverages.

    As one of the global business’ first 15 markets globally to switch to 100 percent renewable electricity, PepsiCo Australia is now seeking sustainable solutions such as converting organic waste into bio-methane, converting its fleet to EV or hydrogen, and decarbonizing its snack manufacturing processes.

    The company has teamed up with Engie and the Northam Solar Farm – developed by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) and Bookitja – to get Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) that support a range of wind and solar farms across Australia.

    “Climate change is one of the most pressing concerns facing our global food system and we’re committed to working across our value chain to reduce emissions,” said Danny Celoni, CEO of PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand.

    “The move to renewable electricity is positive for our business and for the local economy. We are pleased to support sustainable initiatives that create local jobs and proud to partner with IBA and Bookitja through the Northam Solar Farm, which aims to provide a sustainable economic base for future generations of Whadjuk people”.

    PepsiCo is also a member of Re100, a global renewable energy initiative led by The Climate Group and CDP to make a commitment to renewable energy as a large business.

    “Companies that join Re100 pledge to go 100 percent renewable with their electricity use by a set date,” added Jon Dee, Re100 Australia coordinator

    “Here in Australia, PepsiCo is one of 110 major companies that have joined Re100. By successfully completing their transition to 100 percent renewable electricity, PepsiCo has demonstrated a high level of commitment to sustainability and it’s set a positive example for other companies to follow.”

  • How Covid-19 is impacting food-and drink-markets in Southeast Asia

    How Covid-19 is impacting food-and drink-markets in Southeast Asia

    The spread of Covid-19 is forcing Southeast Asian consumers to change their eating habits and embrace new shopping practices, says Mintel Apac food-and-drink analyst Tan Heng Hong.

    Given today’s consumer climate, food and drink categories with strong immunity claims can drive home the importance of immunity to protect wary consumers, he says.

    “Manufacturers of immunity-boosting food and drink products are actively promoting the importance of immunity to strengthen the body during the pandemic. These immunity-enhancing products include vitamin-fortified food and drinks, as well as spoonable yogurt, drinking/cultured yogurt, and nutritionally-complete drinks,” says Heng Hong.

    According to the Mintel Global New Products Database, growing-up milk (1–4 years) (16 percent), meal replacement drinks (6 percent), and drinking yogurt/liquid cultured milk (6 percent) make up the largest share of food and drink product launches in Southeast Asia that carried an immunity claim between March 2017 and February this year.

    The research also confirmed more and more consumers are turning to the convenience of ordering their groceries online as people choose to stay indoors to minimize their exposure to Covid-19. As a result, online grocery vendors have witnessed a surge in orders.

    This trend presents huge opportunities for grocery retailers to better engage with consumers through measures that bring added value and convenience, he says.

    “We’re also seeing growing interest in at-home cooking, which presents challenges and opportunities for brands looking to engage with those preparing and enjoying tasty meals at home.

    “Online grocery players can maximize the current situation and gain new users by showcasing the benefits of shopping for groceries online, including having sufficient stock of popular items during the pandemic, safe handling and delivery of parcels, free delivery, promotions, and use of e-payments.”

    There is evidence that consumers stuck at home are finding it challenging to prepare healthy meals that taste good. According to Mintel’s research, 72 percent of consumers in Vietnam cook meals from scratch all or most of the time, and 52 percent say it is difficult to prepare healthy food with great flavor.

    Heng Hong says as more consumers dine at home to avoid crowds, food manufacturers can step in to provide them with a more convenient, tasty and healthy meal solution.

    “Even after the current situation calms down, given the scale of the outbreak, and depending on the duration of lockdown measures, the pandemic is likely to leave an indelible mark on consumer lifestyles. Key behaviors such as vigilance around immunity and hygiene will stick around for the long term, as will dependence on online grocery shopping and, possibly, even the habit of at-home cooking.”

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  • Coca-Cola North America pilots subscription service to test new products

    Coca-Cola North America pilots subscription service to test new products

    Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola has launched a new subscription service in North America to test out over 20 new drinks.

    The Coca-Cola Insiders Club invites subscribers to sign up for a monthly shipment of three category-spanning beverages to be released in early 2020. A thousand memberships sold out in three hours following the announcement.

    “We’re absolutely thrilled to see how quickly the spots went, which shows just how passionate consumers are about our brands and innovations. It proves there is an opportunity to scale the concept and allow more people to participate,” said Alex Powell, a digital experiences manager, Coca-Cola North America.

    The soft drinks giant said the move was prompted by the phenomenal growth in the e-commerce subscription market which has doubled annually over the last five years.

    Subscribers can choose from two payment options for the six-month membership, US$10 per month or US$50 prepaid (one month free).

    “As a total beverage company, we’re constantly looking for ways to innovate not only in our products – but also in the consumer-centric experiences we offer,” said McCrea O’Haire, digital experiences manager, Coca-Cola North America.

    “People want choice, convenience and customization. The Insiders Club will allow us to showcase the diversity of the drinks we offer and get some of our newest innovations into the hands of fans who want to be among the first to enjoy them.”

    The launch of the limited-edition Coke Cinnamon in the region prompted a big response from consumers and provided valuable insights to the beverage giant.

    Coca-Cola North America said it will monitor sales, feedback and social media buzz and may consider expanding beyond the six-month trial period.

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  • Fore to ramps up network in Indonesia

    Fore to ramps up network in Indonesia

    Indonesian coffee chain Fore Coffee is plotting an aggressive expansion plan that will make it the largest coffee operator in the country.

    Fore Coffee says it has partnered with hotel operator Airy to open 1000 new locations at the latter’s hotels across Indonesia.

    The new outlets will add to its current network of more than 100, making it the largest player in Indonesia’s coffee chain market, currently dominated by Starbucks, which has around 450 outlets.

    The expansion comes after Fore Coffee secured fresh funding from venture capital firm East Ventures earlier this year.

    Launched in August 2018, Fore Coffee offers a seamless customer experience with its mobile app allowing customers to order coffee via the app and have it delivered to them or pick it up in-store. It says it is inspired by Chinese coffee chain Luckin, which embraced digital commerce by offering in-app purchases.

    Indonesian coffee chain Fore’s app has added 70,000 registered users since its launch in December last year. It has collaborated with digital wallet companies Ovo and Go-Pay, and plans to team up with many more to expand its mobile payment options.

    Fore is not the only coffee chain vying for the biggest slice of Indonesia ́s coffee chain market. Rival Kopi Kenangan plans to grow its network from around 80 outlets currently to 1000 by 2021, having raised US$20 million from Sequoia India.

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  • Heineken no longer a major shareholder of Sabeco

    Heineken no longer a major shareholder of Sabeco

    Dutch brewer Heineken sold over 5 million Sabeco shares Friday, bringing its stake in Vietnam’s biggest brewer Sabeco down to 4.32 percent.

    The shares, equivalent to an approximate 0.81 percent stake, were sold to buyers whose identities have not been disclosed via an agreement, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) reported.

    The sale was worth over VND1.2 trillion ($51.79 million), at VND234,000 ($10.1) per share (ticker: SAB), VND18,000 ($0.78) lower than its stock opening price Friday, according to HoSE.

    On the stock market, the Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation’s SAB shares have been falling or stalling for the last 12 consecutive sessions.

    The remaining 4.32 percent stake in the Vietnamese brewer is held by Heineken, its regional subsidiary Heineken Asia Pacific, and related companies.

    Sabeco is owned 53.59 percent by Vietnam Beverage, a subsidiary of Thai beverage company ThaiBev. The Vietnamese government, represented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, owns a 36 percent stake in the company.

    Thaibev had bought its stake in Sabeco when the government publicly auctioned them in December 2017. At the time, Heineken, who had held shares in Sabeco since 2008, also submitted a bid but lost to Thaibev.

    According to a report by securities firm FPTS Securities, Heineken’s share of the Vietnam beer market at the end of 2018 was 23 percent, second to Sabeco at 40.9 percent.

    In its latest financial report, Sabeco reported revenues of over VND28.3 trillion ($1.22 billion) in nine months, up 10 percent year-on-year. Revenue from beer in the period accounted for 86 percent of total, or VND24.3 trillion ($1.05 billion).

    In the third quarter alone, post-tax profit was highest among all brewers in Vietnam at almost VND1.46 trillion ($63 million), up over 40 percent year-on-year.

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  • Countdown cuts off kids’ access to energy drinks

    Countdown cuts off kids’ access to energy drinks

    Countdown’s implemented its energy drink age-restrictions on Tuesday, in an effort to curb the growing obesity rate in New Zealand.

    Customers will now need to produce ID to prove they are over the age of 16 in order to purchase energy drinks across Countdown’s 180 stores.

    According to Countdown general manager of corporate affairs, safety and sustainability Kiri Hannifin, support for the initiative has been overwhelmingly positive since it was announced in June.

    “We have had incredible feedback from parents, teachers, health workers and our customers about our decision. I think New Zealanders were ready for this discussion around energy drinks,” Hannifin said.

    “We made our decision after engaging with health and education leaders, but also in talking with our team, many of whom are parents themselves.

    “Across the board, we found communities of people who are seeking help to address New Zealand’s high child obesity rates.”

    New Zealand’s has the third-highest obesity rate in the OECD.

    Public health advocate Dr Lance O’Sullivan said reducing children’s access to energy drinks is a step in the right direction.

    “Children don’t understand either the short or longer-term consequences of consuming drinks with high amounts of sugar and caffeine, and sometimes we need to step in until they are old enough to make that decision for themselves,” O’Sullivan said.

    The New Zealand Beverage Council spokesperson Stephen Jones said in June while he respected the right of Countdown to make this decision, New Zealand already has some of the strongest energy drink regulations in the world.

    “This is really a case of a solution looking for a problem,” Jones said.

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  • Changi Airport and DFS launching online liquor initiative

    Changi Airport and DFS launching online liquor initiative

    Changi Airport Group and DFS Group have launched the first luxury-focused Singapore online liquor store.

    Called iShopChangiWines.com, the store will offer duty- and GST-absorbed premium-priced wines, Champagnes, and sakes.

    Consumers can now purchase up to 30 liters of tax and duty-absorbed wines, Champagnes, and sakes even if they are not traveling. The new Singapore online liquor store offers more than 140 quality products from some of the world’s most sought-after brands, as well as DFS travel exclusives.

    “The launch of the new iShopChangiWines.com e-shopping site marks Changi Airport’s latest move in making shopping accessible to consumers even if they do not have a boarding pass to fly,” said airside concessions at Changi Airport Group senior VP Teo Chew Hoon. “Not only do they get to pick from a wide selection of premium products specially curated by DFS, they will also enjoy the privileges presented by Changi Rewards, the airport’s loyalty rewards program.”

    The new website and service kicks off with a series of on-ground activations around Singapore through a novel pre-teaser campaign titled #BestKeptSecretSG to spark curiosity. The campaign kicked off with a branded truck carrying empty wine bottles traveling around Singapore. Members of the public are encouraged to capture a photo of the truck and upload it on social media along with the hashtag: #BestKeptSecretSG. They can also participate in an ongoing contest on www.bestkeptsecret.sg to guess the number of empty wine bottles housed in the truck.

    “At DFS, we recognize that our consumers’ needs and shopping behavior continue to evolve and we are always seeking new ways to satisfy them,” said DFS Group GM Singapore Prashant Mahboobani. “The launch of iShopChangiWines.com is a significant milestone for DFS at Changi Airport as we bring our standards of quality and value, with added convenience to consumers.”

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