Mars Wrigley on plans for affordable premiumisation and local flavour focus across AMEAConfectionery giant Mars Wrigley has highlighted key business strategies including affordable premiumisation, holistic wellness and local flavour focus across the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region.
According to Mars Wrigley Global Emerging Markets (GEM) President Gabriel Fernandez, the role of snacking in this region is evolving at a rapid pace alongside consumer lifestyles here.
“Our data shows that some 41% of consumers are eating fewer traditional meals, and 81% are snacking differently [including a] greater focus on holistic wellbeing,” he said.
“This is in line with ageing populations across Asia as well as in the MEA region where , health and wellbeing is becoming as significant as economic stability.
Kewpie looks to apply elderly-friendly food development expertise from Japan to China marketJapan’s Kewpie hopes to apply the expertise it has developed in producing elderly friendly foods in Japan to the China market in light of the latter’s rapidly increasing elderly population size.
Japan currently has the largest ageing population in Asia, but data shows that China’s massive population, as well as its previous one-child policy, mean that it is set to take the number one spot in this regard not far into the future.
“Japan’s overall population size reached its peak in 2008, after which it was the elderly population size that grew rapidly – the same is happening in China, which saw a peak in 2021 but decrease starting in 2022, along with an increase in the elderly demographic,” Kewpie China General Manager of Health Care, Business Department Sato Kenji told FoodNavigator-Asia.
“We have already seen the impact of this elderly population on public health costs in Japan – since 2009 the public health costs have been continuously increasing despite the population size shrinking, and the top reason has been this demographic which makes up 29% of the population but 61% of the public health costs.
Thai Union cautiously optimistic of ‘better’ FY2025 led by ambient and RTD categoriesSeafood giant Thai Union has expressed optimism for a better business environment in FY2025,but has urged continued caution over existing macroeconomic challenges.
Thai Union recently announced its FY2024 full year financial results, reporting a 1.7% year-on-year growth in sales to THB138.4bn (US$4.11bn) and a 7.2% year-on-year increase in net profit to THB5bn (US$148.3mn).
“2024 was a challenging year [due to] global pressures including trade war tensions, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, uncertainty around the US elections and more [but] Thai Union’s Ambient, PetCare, and Value-added businesses demonstrated remarkable resilience,” Thai Union Group CEO Thirapong Chansiri told the floor during the firm’s most recent investors’ meeting.
“This was in the face of weak global economic growth and more cautious spending among consumers around the world; [and moving forward] we expect a better macroeconomic outlook in 2025.
Unilever India turns to small pack, Korean inspiration to survive ‘slowed’ consumer demandHindustan Unilever India (HUL) is hedging its bets on small retail packs and Korean Hallyu wave inspiration for its food business amid subdued FMCG demand in the country.
HUL CEO Rohit Jawa warned of negative signs in the FMCG consumer market due to the current economy.
“Total FMCG volume growth has slowed down over the last six months, indicating subdued demand,” he told the floor at the firm’s most recent investors’ meeting.
“In the current macroeconomic scenario, consumers are titrating consumption and market data has shown a step-up in the pace of growth for small packs across our portfolio, [including for] foods and beverages.
“This seems to be a shift in consumer patterns due to current macroeconomic conditions and a moderation in growth amongst urban consumers [and we will react accordingly], but we believe this shift to smaller pack sizes is a transitory phenomenon.
Pulmuone Green Juice to develop new low-sugar functional drinks as demand soarsSouth Korea’s Pulmuone Green Juice intends to expand its range of low-sugar health functional foods, on the back of strong sales of its sugar management product and growing demand.
The brand is owned by South Korean food giant, Pulmuone, which manufactures a variety of products, including tofu, noodles, dumplings and kimchi.
Pulmuone Green Juice specialises in dual-format products, specifically tablet supplements in the bottle lid and a functional beverage in the bottle body.
This dual-format has been gaining prominence in the dietary supplements space, particularly in the country, over the past year.
Noting the continuous increase in demand for products that “help consumers manage blood sugar easily in their daily lives”, especially among young people, the brand introduced Dangslim X2 in late August last year.
The product claims to provide blood sugar care and support intestinal health simultaneously.
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