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Tag: oceania

  • Tetra Pak Names Michael Wu Managing Director for Oceania Operations

    Tetra Pak Names Michael Wu Managing Director for Oceania Operations

    Tetra Pak appointed Michael Wu as managing director of its Oceania business, taking charge of operations across Australia and New Zealand effective September 1.

    Wu brings 18 years of executive experience across the Swiss-Swedish packaging giant, stepping into the role after serving as market operations quality and sustainability director.

    Leadership Track Across Southeast Asian Markets

    Before his latest global role, Wu led Tetra Pak businesses across Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia. His appointment shifts an executive with deep Southeast Asian operating experience into the mature Oceania dairy, beverage and liquid food packaging market.

    Food manufacturers across Australia and New Zealand face tight regulatory mandates on packaging circularity and emissions reductions. Placing a former quality and sustainability lead in charge of Oceania reflects packaging producers aligning commercial leadership directly with compliance demands from major supermarket chains and brand owners.

    Shifting Packaging Demands in Oceania

    For beverage processors and dairy co-operatives in the region, processing and packaging machinery upgrades require heavy capital expenditure. Wu inherits client relationships across Australia and New Zealand where processors are balancing automation investments against shifting retail carton consumption.

    Competition from alternative barrier packaging and local carton converters adds pressure on supply agreements. Tetra Pak has relied on integrated equipment and service contracts across Australasia to protect its volume footprint against cheaper imported carton blanks and plastic formats.

    Regional Supply Chain Realities

    Wu oversaw rapid packaging volume growth across Southeast Asian beverage markets before his transition into global sustainability and operations quality management. That background gives him direct insight into regional raw material flows and converting plant efficiency.

    His immediate focus turns to commercial execution across key Oceania accounts as dairy and beverage brand owners finalise processing equipment budgets for the coming operating cycle.

  • V Energy Unveils Retro-inspired Zero-sugar Range In Bold New Flavors

    V Energy Unveils Retro-inspired Zero-sugar Range In Bold New Flavors

    Suntory Oceania has recently expanded V Energy’s ready-to-drink assortment by introducing a new zero-sugar range. Inspired by the Y2K aesthetic, the line features three exciting flavors: Strawberries & Cream, Watermelon Candy, and Cotton Candy. Available in 250ml cans, these beverages are now being sold across supermarkets and various retail outlets in Australia and New Zealand.

    The range breaks new ground in the energy drink market, embodying the spirit and identity of modern consumers who demand bold and expressive choices that make no compromises. Ruth Muller, the interim Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Research and Development at Suntory Oceania, commented on the new product line. She emphasized that the range is a reflection of a bold and fearless mindset, invoking a sense of nostalgia while remaining fresh and unprecedented.

    The packaging of these zero-sugar drinks takes inspiration from the Y2K era, sporting bold colors and metallic finishes. With this aesthetic, the company aims to appeal to a generation that is increasingly embracing retro culture.

    This is not the first innovative step by V Energy in the beverage market. The company had previously set a precedent by launching its first slow-release energy drink.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the new range of flavors introduced by Suntory Oceania for V Energy?
    The new zero-sugar range features three flavors: Strawberries & Cream, Watermelon Candy, and Cotton Candy.

    What is the inspiration behind the packaging of the new zero-sugar range?
    The packaging is inspired by the Y2K aesthetic, featuring bold colors and metallic finishes to appeal to a generation embracing retro culture.

    Where are these new zero-sugar energy drinks available?
    The products are available across supermarkets and various retail outlets in Australia and New Zealand.

  • CJ Foods Launches Locally-sourced Bibigo Korean-style Fried Chicken In Australia

    CJ Foods Launches Locally-sourced Bibigo Korean-style Fried Chicken In Australia

    CJ Foods Oceania, a division of the international CJ Group, has introduced its Bibigo Korean-Style Fried Chicken line, produced and procured locally in Australia.

    New Korean-Inspired Chicken Range Launched

    The Bibigo Korean-Style Fried Chicken range boasts two enticing flavours: ‘Sweet & Spicy’ and ‘Soy & Honey’. Nationwide sourced whole chicken breast cuts form the heart of this product line, which are then coated with a light, crispy batter.

    Convenient and Quick Preparation

    Each product comes with a separate sauce pack for easy and quick preparation, providing options for oven-cooking or air-frying. This launch is a continuation of the company’s introduction of other frozen food items, such as Mandu (Korean dumplings), Gimbap (Seaweed rice rolls), Rice balls, Bao (Chinese steamed buns), Soup Mandu (Soup dumplings), and Seaweed Chips.

    A Taste for Authentic International Flavours

    Eugene Cha-Navarro, Managing Director and CEO of CJ Foods Oceania, noted Australia’s well-developed taste for bold, internationally influenced flavours and its ongoing preference for traditional Korean cuisine. “Our focus is not solely on packaging, but also on sourcing local ingredients, understanding local tastes, and cultivating relationships with Australian farmers and producers,” he added.

    The Bibigo Korean-Style Fried Chicken range is now available nationally across Woolworths and will be available from IGA starting from mid-August.

    Questions & Answers

    What flavours does the Bibigo Korean-Style Fried Chicken range offer?
    The range currently offers two flavours, ‘Sweet & Spicy’ and ‘Soy & Honey’.

    How can the product be prepared?
    The product comes with a separate sauce pack for quick and easy preparation, including options for oven-cooking or air-frying.

    Where can the Bibigo Korean-Style Fried Chicken range be purchased?
    The range is available nationally across Woolworths outlets and will be available in IGA stores from mid-August.

  • Wexco to represent DHL Aviation in Oceania

    Wexco to represent DHL Aviation in Oceania

    DHL Aviation has tapped ECS Group subsidiaries Wexco Group and Wexco NZ to provide GSSA services in Australia and New Zealand starting 1 December 2023.

    The four-year contracts were finalised in end-September, which will see Wexco sell the capacity on board 45 weekly flights, with 550 tonnes of capacity to be filled each week. DHL operates 26 flights from Australia and 19 flights from New Zealand transporting perishable commodities alongside regular horse shipments.

    “The wide variety of perishable commodities alongside regular horse shipments, make DHL Aviation an exciting airline partner and we are therefore all the more delighted to enter into this partnership,” stated Wexco general manager, Richard Valenzuela.

    DHL Aviation connects to many international destinations out of Australia and New Zealand, including Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Bahrain, US, and various European locations. Its Australian flight schedule offers a Melbourne (MEL) to SIN connection, 5 times per week; Sydney (SYD) to SIN operations, 7 times per week; MEL to Auckland (AKL) to Christchurch (CHC), 5 times per week; and SYD–AKL–CHC, 6 times per week. Weekly uplift consists of meat, chilled salmon and other perishable produce to Asia, whilst exports to New Zealand include general cargo, e-commerce, regular horse movements, and perishables, which are predominantly stone fruits.

    Out of New Zealand, DHL flies from CHC via AKL to SYD, 6 times per week, and CHC–AKL–MEL, 5 times per week, connecting with intra-Australian road feeder services where necessary. Main commodities include fish, dairy, general cargo and horses to Australia, and meat, fruit, and seafood to destinations in Asia.

    “DHL operates a fleet of more than 20 Asia Pacific dedicated aircrafts and is committed to ensuring reliable and efficient service performance, in particular when it comes to supporting trans-Tasman trade. We have invested heavily in Oceania over the past five years and partnering with equally driven partners is essential to the success of our challenging growth strategy,” says Nathan Vellasamy, Vice President at DHL Aviation, Air Capacity Sales, Asia Pacific.

    Parent GSSA company ECS Group now represents DHL in more than 20 countries across the globe.

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  • Lotte Duty Free expands, Australia and New Zealand are next

    Lotte Duty Free expands, Australia and New Zealand are next

    South Korean travel retailer Lotte Duty Free is expanding into Oceania with the ambition to be the leading operator in Australia and New Zealand by 2023.

    The firm’s entry into the territory began with a grand opening ceremony at one of its new Australian stores at Brisbane Airport. The second biggest travel retailer in the world, Lotte Duty Free is targeting sales of US$200 million in the region during its first year.

    “Successfully entering Oceania is the next step in Lotte Duty Free becoming the world’s number one travel retailer and the most influential in the region,” said Lotte Duty Free CEO Kap Lee. “We have almost 40 years of retail excellence that is being introduced to Australia and New Zealand, working side-by-side with our local colleagues to better understand the unique wants and needs of people travelling through the region from all nationalities.”

    Australia has demonstrated significant growth of more than 10 per cent in incoming Chinese tourists – representing some of the biggest spenders globally – in recent years. The 2019 Spring Tourism Trend Forecast published by Ctrip, the largest online travel agency in China, states Australia is one of the most favorable international travel destinations for Chinese tourists during the New Year period.

    In response, Lotte Duty Free is acquiring five JR/Duty Free stores in the region; four in Australia and one in New Zealand.

    With this launch, Lotte Duty Free now operates in seven countries outside of Korea.

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