Japan: Nestle opens its first KitKat boutique in Tokyo
Nestle has opened its first KitKat store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro neighbourhood, dedicated to the chocolate-coated wafer bars. The store features special versions of the product created in collaboration with Japanese chocolatier Takagi, some of which are unavailable elsewhere. “KitKat is close to being a cult product in Japan, and it is a very special market for us,” said KitKat’s […]
Singapore: Nestle to collaborate with government research agency
Swiss food manufacturer Nestle has entered a partnership with the Singapore government Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) with the aim of establishing a global R&D platform for functional products, Just Food reports. A three year framework has been agreed for research focusing on nutrition, packaging, data analytics and biotransformation. According to Just Food, […]
China: Fonterra finds finance to support business growth
Fonterra has announced it has raised $206.6M to support business growth in China. Fonterra reports that it has raised the amount from its second bond denominated in Chinese yuan. The five year so-called “dim sum” bond will be used to finance Fonterra’s expansion across the supply chain, with the move forming part of Fonterra’s plans […]
Vietnam: Metro rejects CP Group takeover bid
German wholesaler Metro has rejected a takeover bid from CP Group, which is run by Thai Billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, for its Vietnam cash and carry business. A spokesperson for Metro on Thursday said that the Vietnam business was not for sale and that they had rejected unspecified offers, according to Reuters. The Dow Jones news […]
Japan: Suntory announces $16 billion Beam deal
Suntory Holding Ltd has announced that it is to acquire spirits company Beam Inc. in a multi-billion dollar deal. The acquisition, worth $13.6b billion, will making Suntory Holding the third largest spirit maker in Japan and the fifth largest whisky company by volume, according to International Wine and Spirit Research. With the inclusion of Beam’s […]
Malaysia: Kellogg set to establish new plant
Kellogg has announced plans to build a new snack factory in Malaysia. In an effort to up its investment in emerging markets, US food chain Kellogg is set to build a new snack factory in Malaysia. According to Kellogg, the new facility, located near the capital Kuala Lumpur, will increase capacity for the manufacture of […]
Pakistan: Leading milk brand adopts lightweight packaging
Leading Pakistani dairy producer Engro Foods has announced new lightweight packaging for its Olper’s milk products, Pack World reports. The lightweight packaging supplied by Ecolean has a unique shape with a large printing surface, it is said. The format is a 250ml aseptic plastic pack, which is substantially different from the traditional carton packaging which […]
China: Public smoking ban could be implemented by 2015
China could be set to implement a ban on smoking in public places by as early as next year, The Tobacco Journal is reporting. National Health and Family Planning Commission spokesman Mao Qunan is reported as saying that officials hope to implement a nationwide ban on smoking in public places by the end of 2015. […]
India: Lactalis to purchase dairy firm Tirumala Milk Products, industry sources say
Reuters is reporting that the French company Lactalis, one of Europe’s biggest dairy groups, has agreed to buy a 100% stake in India’s Tirumala Milk Products. The deal, disclosed to Reuters by “two sources with direct knowledge of the matter”, is reportedly valued at between $250 & $300 million. Under the terms of the deal, […]
China: Chongqing Beer to be acquired by Carlsberg Group
The Carlsberg Group has recently announced that Chongqing Beer (Group) Co. Ltd of China has accepted its offer to acquire 100% of Chongqing Beer Group Assets Management Co. Ltd, which is a holding company headquartered in Chongqing, China. With a total of eight breweries located in three provinces (3 in Jiangsu, 3 in Anhui, and […]