Malaysia: Nestle opens new facilities for beverages and instant noodles
Nestle has announced that it has invested 87 million CHF ($88 million) in new food and drink production facilities in Malaysia to cater for rising demand. The firm’s new beverage plant cost 66 million CHF ($67 million) and is Nestle’s eighth plant in Malaysia. Over 40,000 sq m in size, it will produce ready-to-drink products including Milo chocolate […]
Australia: Abe’s Bagel Bakery launches Vegemite variety
Abe’s Bagel Bakery has partnered with Kraft to offer consumers Vegemite flavoured Bagel Crisps. According to Australian Food News, Abe’s Bagel Bakery Vegemite Bagel Crisps are thinly sliced oven baked bagels, with the Vegemite flavour “offering a hint of the spread.” The new flavour joins existing varieties Marlborough Sea Salt, Roasted Garlic, and Caramelised Onion […]
Thailand: Nutrina Interfoods launches “healthy” soy powder
Nutrina Interfood has launched a new instant soy powder for the Thai market that is claimed to offer “genius nutrition”. Advertised as “good for the heart and the brain, and disease” by manufacturer Nutrina Interfoods, Nutrina Instant Soy Powder is claimed to be organic, rich in amino acids, calcium (960mg per stick) and dietary fibre […]
China: Tsingtao to acquire remaining Suntory stake
Beer firm Tsingtao has announced that it will acquire its remaining stake in its Suntory joint venture, according to a report in the Want China Times. In a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the company said that it woul buy a 50% stake in both the beer manufacturing and sales companies in its […]
India: Nestle to return Maggi instant noodles to shelves
Nestle is to bring its Maggi brand of instant noodles back to the Indian market having cleared the mandatory quality tests as directed by the Bombay High Court. The company is now eyeing a comeback in time for the Hindu festival of Diwali. Earlier this year, Maggi noodles were banned in India after the Food […]
Japan: Japan Tobacco strengthens presence in Iran
Japan Tobacco has bolstered its presence in the Iranian tobacco industry through the acquisition of a local cigarette manufacturer, according to a report in the Financial Times. Through its Iranian subsidiary JTI Pars, the company is said to have purchased tobacco firm Arian Tobacco Industry (ATI) for an undisclosed sum. Japan Tobacco currently produces cigarette […]
Japan: Lotte launches lactic acid bacteria chocolate
Confectionery giant Lotte has announced the launch of a new milk chocolate product in Japan that is claimed to be especially rich in lactic acid bacteria. According to information, Sweets Days Lactic Acid Bacteria Chocolate contains 100 times as much beneficial bacteria as conventional chocolate, enabling consumers to “take a piece of wellness” with them […]
Australia: Diageo sells wine business to Treasury Wine Estates
Australian wine giant Treasury Wine Estates has announced that it is to acquire the majority of assets from Diageo’s wine operations in the UK and the USA in a cash deal worth $600 million. As a result of the acquistion, the company behind brands such as Penfolds, Rosemount Estate and Wolf Blass will now also add Blossom […]
India: Tata launches “nourishing” Tata Sampann brand
Tata Chemicals , a subsidiary of Tata Group, has added a new “nourishing” brand called Tata Sampann to its food portfolio, according to reports in the Times of India and AFAQs.com. Sampann, which means “enriched”, “prosperous”, or “complete” in Hindi, aims at providing extra nourishment within everyday foods. The new brand will initially include a […]
Japan: Japan Tobacco buys Natural American Spirit outside US for $5 billion
Japan Tobacco has announced that it is to buy $5 billion of cigarette assets from rival tobacco firm Reynolds American to acquire the Natural American Spirit business outside the US. The company said that the deal included the trademarks and all outstanding shares of Reynolds American’s subsidiaries outside the US which sell the brand. Japan […]