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Tag: snack

  • Musang King durian moon cake prices up 10%

    Musang King durian moon cake prices up 10%

    Musang King durian moon cake prices, made with the popular durian variety originally from Malaysia, have increased by 2-10% year-on-year in Vietnam.

    Their cost ranges between VND900,000 ($37.90) to VND1.7 million per box. Last year, the most expensive product sold for around VND1.5 million.

    Hoang Anh, a moon cake vendor in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3, sold out 500 boxes of Musang King and Black Thorn moon cakes in two weeks last year.

    She has doubled her imports this year.

    “We have to order five months in advance as the manufacturer needs to prepare durian beforehand.”

    A major distributor in HCMC plans to sell nearly 30,000 cakes this year, triple the amount last year.

    The cakes are mostly imported from Malaysia. Other markets that also sell them are Singapore and Hong Kong.

    Industry insiders say prices have gone up due to rising ingredient costs.

    Moon cake is a popular type of desert in Asian countries. It is often enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival in the middle of Lunar August, which falls on Sep 29 this year.

  • Snack chain Aji Ichiban closes all Hong Kong stores

    Snack chain Aji Ichiban closes all Hong Kong stores

    Hong Kong snack food franchise Aji Ichiban has closed all of its stores in the territory after suffering significant losses as Covid-19 caused a slump in overseas visitors, The Standard reports.

    The company’s website and phone numbers were reported not to be working since Monday, which is presumed to have been the chain’s last trading day. A spokesperson told The Standard the company might resume its operations in future if circumstances change.

    Despite its Japanese name, the snack food chain was established in Hong Kong by Lai Chan Yuk Hing and Lai Hin Tai. The brand opened more than 90 stores in Hong Kong and expanded its business internationally with more than 150 franchised shops, including in the US, the Philippines and Canada. However, most of its international stores have been closed since 2013.

    Aji Ichiban is known among tourists for its wide selection of dried snacks, such as beef jerky, dried apricots, Skittles, chocolates, nonpareils, spicy dried fish, plum tablets, nuts, chilli olives, fried and shredded squid.

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  • Snickers unveils Creamy Peanut Butter bar in Australia

    Snickers unveils Creamy Peanut Butter bar in Australia

    Snickers has released its limited-edition Snickers Creamy Peanut Butter bar in Australia for the first time.

    The Snickers Creamy Peanut Butter bar is made with real peanut butter, silky smooth caramel and fresh ground peanuts, enrobed in the rich Snickers chocolate.

    Mars Wrigley Australia Marketing Director Ben Hill says the variation has been a smash hit overseas, and he’s excited for Australians to finally get their hands on the product.

    “We know how much our customers love the classic Snickers bar, with its satisfying layers of nougat, caramel, and the signature peanut crunch,” he says.

    “Now, thanks to this innovation in texture, our fans can get Snickers satisfaction in both crunchy and smooth – something that is sure to delight peanut butter fans of all kinds.”

    Snickers Creamy Peanut Butter is available in a 36g twin pack for RRP $2 from leading retailers including Woolworths, Coles, Metcash, 7 Eleven, Coles Express, BP, Ampol, ALDI and Big W.

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  • Seaweed bites launched by Pacific Harvest

    Seaweed bites launched by Pacific Harvest

    Pacific Harvest is adding a new product – Raw Nori Seaweed Snack Packs – to its seaweed products range.

    The company says the seaweed is sourced naturally, contains nutrients that are good for health, and has no additives or preservatives. Pacific Harvest said its team works only with ethical and sustainable seaweed harvesters to ensure quality as well as not harm the environment. Its packaging is all recyclable.

    Hayley Fraser-Mackenzie, MD at Pacific Harvest, said seaweed is known for its extensive nutritional and mineral value, but many consumers are not sure how to include it in their daily routines.

    “This easy, on-the-go format is a raw, healthy snack that both parents and kids will be happy to see in a lunchbox. We don’t need to eat seaweeds laden with fats, that have been processed in ways that destroy their nutrient value.”

    The Raw Nori Seaweed Snack Packs and other Pacific Harvest products are sold via the company’s website and in health food stores nationwide with an RRP of $4.30 for a box of eight 2gram packs.

  • Subway plans to start selling into Indonesia

    Subway plans to start selling into Indonesia

    Subway, the world’s largest restaurant brand, has signed an agreement with PT Sari Sandwich Indonesia, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s food & beverage retailer, PT Map Boga Adiperkasa Tbk (MBA), whose parent company is PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk (MAP). This agreement kicks off Subway’s aggressive plans to expand its international footprint. The partnership will launch Subway restaurants in Indonesia by Q4 2021, with initial locations set to open in the Greater Jakarta region.

    “The demand for Subway restaurants is unprecedented in many markets around the world, including Indonesia,” says John Chidsey, Chief Executive Officer of Subway. “MAP, Indonesia’s leading lifestyle retailer, is the ideal partner to kick off our expansion in the Asia Pacific region, where we know convenient, better-for-you options are in demand. This is just the start of our global expansion plans.”

    A major player in the Indonesian F&B market, MBA has over 590 stores across 33 Indonesian cities serving brands like Starbucks, Pizza Marzano, Krispy Kreme and others. According to the agreement, the Subway brand will be managed by PT Sari Sandwich Indonesia and expands MBA’s business portfolio to eight premium international brands. In addition, Indonesia will be the first-ever market to implement Subway’s exclusive country franchise model globally. Based on this model, MBA will solely spearhead Subway’s development in Indonesia with the goal of establishing strong and steady annual restaurant growth.

    “MBA recognizes the importance of food retailing and works with best-in-class brands, making Subway a natural choice,” says V.P. Sharma, Group CEO of PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk.

    The partnership expands growth for both companies, allowing Subway fans in Indonesia to get freshly made, craveable food with fast, friendly and convenient service closer to home.

    “Subway offers delicious, better-for-you sandwich choices that cater to the growing trend of Indonesians looking for a more balanced and healthier diet,” said Anthony Cottan, President Director of PT Map Boga Adiperkasa Tbk. “The Subway model of making every sandwich customized, in addition to its convenience and affordability, will attract many guests and position it for growth in Indonesia for many years to come.”

    The expansion into Indonesia marks the first step in Subway’s continuing plans to grow its presence in the Asia Pacific region. The brand’s restaurants and sales throughout the region, in countries such as South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Singapore, have seen significant success in recent years and Subway expects similar results in Indonesia.

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  • Pringles launches Veggie Creations snack range

    Pringles launches Veggie Creations snack range

    Pringles has launched “Veggie Creations,” a new range of vegetable and spice-inspired potato chips.

    Available in three flavors, the brand new range is said to offer “a multi-sensory snacking experience” with a colorful combination of assorted flavors.

    The three Veggie Creations flavors are Potato, Orange Sweet Potato, Paprika & Garlic; Potato & Tomato, with Mozzarella & Herbs; and Potato, Purple Sweet Potato & Sea Salt.

    Pringles Veggie Creations are available at Coles supermarkets beginning June and available nationwide in all supermarkets from August.

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  • Revolut Singapore Partners Income to Offer Insurance

    Revolut Singapore Partners Income to Offer Insurance

    Both platforms see customer empowerment and digitally-enabled collaborations as key to supporting customer needs. Snack by NTUC Income (Income) and Revolut Singapore will work together to incorporate lifestyle-based insurance offerings on Revolut’s digital banking app to provide more flexibility and boost customer empowerment in money management.

    Snack, launched in June, is a stackable, micro-insurance offering that embeds the purchase of coverage into daily activities. Its partners include Visa, EZLink, FoodPanda and more.

    The partnership with Snack layers insurance protection over our Revolut’s existing money management features and allows our customers access to micro-insurance products that are underwritten by NTUC Income. Customers will have the ability to purchase insurance products such as Term Life, Critical Illness and Personal Accident, with more products to be launched going forward, the announcement said. As part of the partnership, Revolut Singapore customers will also receive a one-time complimentary insurance coverage of S$500 ($367) when they sign up for an account on the Snack app.

    Snack’s modular approach to bite-sized insurance reimagines how people obtain and consume insurance. This provides tremendous flexibility in tailoring solutions based on the needs of customers and integrating it with partners’ platforms to create a unique experience, Peter Tay, Income chief digital officer, said.

    Revolut has reached over 70,000 signups in the republic since its launch one year ago. It has expanded its footprint this year with launches in the U.S., Australia and Japan. In the coming weeks, Revolut will be introducing fast and free top-ups using bank accounts and a prepaid debit card for children aged 7-17 to teach children to better manage money digitally.

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  • Paris Baguette opening outlets in Canada

    Paris Baguette opening outlets in Canada

    South Korean food-and-beverage company SPC Group says it will launch its bakery-cafe chain Paris Baguette into Canada next year.

    The Canadian operation of Paris Baguette will be set up by the first half of the year, with stores to be launched in the country’s major cities including Toronto and Vancouver, the group said in a statement.

    Paris Baguette’s goal is to establish at least 100 bakery branches in Canada by 2030.

    SPC Group has so far expanded into China, the US, Vietnam, Singapore, France and Cambodia.

    The company runs about 400 Paris Baguette stores globally, with stores in heavily populated areas such as Manhattan, San Francisco, Paris, Ho Chi Minh City and Boston.

  • South Korea’s Crispy Chicken n’ Tomato expands in Japan

    South Korea’s Crispy Chicken n’ Tomato expands in Japan

    South Korean chicken chain Crispy Chicken n’ Tomato has expanded its retail network into Tokyo, opening 10 stores in the city this month.

    Besides selling at stores, Crispy Chicken n’ Tomato has also partnered with UberEats to offer “sharing brand service” which allows one store on UberEats to bear two brands at the same time.

    The company introduces this type of business as unlike franchises, owners do not need to change interiors, uniforms, equipment or their existing menu.

    Crispy Chicken n’ Tomato’s operator, E-mate Co, said food-delivery sales are increasing significantly in a local restaurant market that has traditionally suffered slow sales growth for various reasons.

    “We are looking for restaurant partners and agencies that want to secure new profits”, said a spokesperson.

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  • Shake Shack Singapore opens second store

    Shake Shack Singapore opens second store

    Burger chain Shake Shack has opened its second store in Singapore, in the city’s CBD.

    Taking over the Tiger Balm factory on Neil Road, the new Shake Shack Singapore store design was inspired by its vibrant Chinatown neighborhood and colorful Peranakan architecture.

    Designed by Singaporean artist Sam Lo, the store’s interior features a tiger mural inspired by the history of Tiger Balm factory.

    To mark the opening, Shake Shack has launched The Chick’n Shack, an antibiotic-free slow-cooked chicken breast crisp fried.

    “The Chick’n Shack embodies our modern approach to fine-casual American cooking,” said Mark Rosati, culinary director at Shake Shack. “It’s about providing a simple, pleasurable, uncomplicated experience, but with high-quality, responsibly sourced ingredients.”

    The burger chain also introduces two new local dishes, Eye of the Tiger and Open Sesame, based on local flavors.

    To support the local art community, 5 percent from sales of the local products will be contributed to Very Special Arts Singapore (VSA), a non-profit organization providing opportunities for the disabled through arts.

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  • Indian debut for Make-your-own Magnum retail concept

    Indian debut for Make-your-own Magnum retail concept

    Magnum has launched its first two pop-up stores in India, offering customers Make Your Own Magnum experience.

    The stores have opened at Phoenix Market City malls in Mumbai and Chennai.

    Like consumers before them in Bangkok Kuala Lumpur and many other cities across Asia-Pacific, customers now can design and assemble their own ice creams with their favorite flavors and toppings.

    “The concept has been an international hit and as we approach the festive season here, we saw so better way to make our loyalists dive into pure indulgence by creating their own delectable version,” said Himanshu Kanwar, head of Ice-creams India.

    The customized Magnum store will feature Make Your Own Magnum campaign until late November.

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  • Fumihiko Sano Studio creates cedar-lined Dandelion Chocolate cafe

    Fumihiko Sano Studio creates cedar-lined Dandelion Chocolate cafe

    A Dandelion Chocolate boutique has launched in a century-old house in Kyoto, Japan.

    Dandelion Chocolate is a bean-to-bar craft chocolatier that operates small-scale locations throughout the US and Japan.

    The San Francisco brand hired Fumihiko Sano Studio to create the 200sqm outlet’s design, which was shortlisted for this year’s Dezeen Awards. The two-storey interior in the heritage timber-framed property features a cacao bar serving alcoholic drinks paired with chocolate, a retail store and a traditional courtyard.

    “Considering the parallels between craft chocolate and cedar, both require authentic craftsmanship and carefully selected natural ingredients – so I made the decision to place cedar at the centre of materials used for this project,” said Tokyo architect Fumihiko Sano in an interview with Dezeen. “Cedarwood is also one of the main materials of Japanese architecture.”

    “It is my pleasure to give a new purpose to a building that has stood there for more than one hundred years. May it thrive for another hundred, full of new memories.”

  • Subway under investigation for underpaying work force

    Subway under investigation for underpaying work force

    Subway has said it could terminate franchisees that fail to meet their financial responsibilities amid an investigation launched by the Fair Work Ombudsman into the underpayment of its workers.

    The sandwich retailer said franchisees are required to meet regulatory, financial, workplace and employment requirements, and failure to do so could lead to disciplinary action.

    “Failing in their commitment to uphold these will result in enforcement action and continued non-compliance may lead to termination,” a Subway spokesperson said, which reported the underpayment investigation on Monday.

    “All Subway restaurant employees are entitled to payment for hours worked, including for training. Any employee who believes they have been paid incorrectly by a franchise owner is encouraged to report this to Subway for investigation, through a dedicated employee hotline.”

    Local newspapers spoke to several Subway employees, who had seen thousands of dollars paid incorrectly over the years, as well as mentioning a general laissez-faire attitude adopted by the Subway head office.

    “The only things Subway head office care about is your name badge, your uniform, it is all about the image,” one employee said.

    A Subway spokesperson said these statements have not been reported to it, and that it takes matters such as these very seriously.

    “More than 10,000 employees are hired by franchise operators and work at the 1353 individually-owned Subway restaurants across Australia,” the spokesperson said.

    “While restaurant employees are hired by franchise owners, any concerns raised by employees are investigated by Subway immediately.”

    Subway is not the only retailer grappling with underpayment issues. Wage theft has been uncovered at Michael Hill, Domino’s, Super Retail Group and Chatime over the past year, though most said it was a result of the complexity of modern awards.

    However, an informal poll revealed almost 60 percent of more than 200 respondents believe underpayment is mostly intentional, due to businesses trying to cut costs.

    A recent report by the Australian Payroll Association found that almost a third of payroll managers admitted to making employee payment or entitlement mistakes at least once a month, and claimed that the larger the business, the more likely mistakes are to occur.

    However, the report claimed only 16 percent of businesses with fewer than 50 staff said they made such mistakes each month – a position most franchisees likely fall into.

  • Burger Fuel New Zealand Restaurants performing well

    Burger Fuel New Zealand Restaurants performing well

    Burger Fuel said its stores in New Zealand have been performing well, posting a 2.6 per cent increase in sales on the previous year.

    Burger Fuel, which has 56 restaurants in New Zealand, said sales have increased from last year but growth was less than what the company would have liked for the period.

    Company chair Peter Brook and group CEO Josef Roberts said in a statement they will continue to focus on the opening of new restaurants in NZ for FY19 and update the market as the year progresses.

    They said, however, that they will only undertake new openings if they can achieve both the right locations as well as the accompanying franchisees.

    At this stage, the company said they are not undertaking third party home delivery, as over time they believe it will negatively affect both the brand and individual store profitability.

    “This decision may have impacted our growth numbers, however we remain committed to a no delivery policy at this stage,” Brook said.

    The company is in the process of changing from a single-brand international company to a multi-brand New Zealand company. The move was announced last year.

    “This transition is going well and we are pleased that we have managed to absorb all the costs associated with this transition, as well as the costs to develop the new brands and provide an acceptable profit for FY19,” Brook said.

    “We will continue to focus on the opening of new restaurants in NZ and we look forward to updating the market with these new openings as the year progresses.”

    Burger Fuel Worldwide posted a $1.2 million net profit for the year ending March 31, a turnaround from the previous year’s $463,000 net loss, as it transitions to a new business model.

    Sales decreased 15 per cent to $21 million, mostly reflecting the sale of the company-owned store in the United States to founding director Chris Mason in March last year, while expenses dropped 22.7 per cent to $19.2 million.

    “This internal change lowers revenue from our proprietary product manufacturing operation but will ensure that this business unit becomes more financially efficient,” the company says.

    Total system sales, including both company-owned and franchised stores, fell 2.9 per cent to $102 million.

    There were 78 Burger Fuel stores operating worldwide and two new outlets in New Zealand, one for each of the company’s new concepts, Shake Out, a new burger concept developed in-house, and Winner Winner, the chicken concept purchased by BurgerFuel Worldwide in December 2017.

    Of the BurgerFuel stores, 56 are in New Zealand.

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  • Godiva sells Asia business to South Korea’s MBK for $1bn

    Godiva sells Asia business to South Korea’s MBK for $1bn

    Belgian chocolatier Godiva has sold select assets to MBK Partners as part of a global strategy to grow the business fivefold. Under the terms of the transaction, MBK will purchase the retail and distribution operations in four of Godiva’s more than 100 markets: Japan, South Korea, Australia and the future rights to develop New Zealand. The transaction, anticipated to close mid year, includes consumer packaged goods (CPG), digital commerce, travel retail (for Japan and South Korea) and more than 300 retail stores, as well as the Godiva production facility in Brussels that supplies product to these markets. All remaining 100-plus markets will continue to be owned and operated by Godiva.

    While the terms of the deal were not disclosed and completion is conditional on the necessary approvals, once settled Godiva Chocolatier will retain exclusive brand ownership in all global markets, granting a perpetual license to MBK Partners. Godiva will continue to source its products from the Belgian facility together with the production facility it owns in the US, and its affiliate facilities in Istanbul, Turkey.

    “Since 2008, we have been very pleased with the performance of Godiva, having nearly doubled its revenue and the number of stores operating globally, and we continue to see tremendous upside for this brand moving forward,” said Murat Ulker, chairman of Godiva’s owner Yildiz Holding.

    “Realising the potential ahead, together with Godiva leadership, we conducted a strategic review to explore new ways for generating the necessary cash flow to fuel the robust growth. This transaction is an ideal solution that provides the momentum to fuel expansion in other high potential areas of our portfolio.”

    “We believe this deal is a win-win for everyone,” added Godiva CEO Annie Young-Scrivner. “It gives us the financial flexibility we need to execute our fivefold growth strategy by accelerating efforts in new and existing markets and supporting the plan of opening of more than 2000 cafes globally, while preserving our Belgian legacy, quality, and craftsmanship that have helped to make our brand iconic.”

    Among Godiva’s various markets, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand collectively have some of the strongest brand equity and include more than 300 retail stores, making these regions the most compelling areas for monetisation. In Japan, Godiva has almost 90 per cent aided brand awareness and is the number one retail brand in the country, with the highest premium time spent in stores, according to 2017 research by the Nikkei Marketing Journal.

    At the same time, Yildiz sees significant unrealised opportunity for the brand that, when coupled with the infusion of capital, infrastructure and capabilities from MBK Partners, is expected to deliver a strong return on investment.

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