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Ichitan adapting to local Indonesian taste with two new RTD teas

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Thailand’s Ichitan is adapting to local taste with two new RTD tea for Indonesia – Teh Manis (Sweetened Tea) and Teh Hijau Melati (Jasmine Green Tea). The two beverages enriches the existing local lineup of Honey Lemon Green Tea, Lychee Green Tea and Yen Yen Herbal Tea.

What Mini Me thinks

Following the success of the Ichitan millionaire program (jutawan mendadak), Ichitan is now emboldened to dip its toes into the popular RTD tea segments – jasmine green tea and sweetened tea. This brings the brand into head on collision with market leaders – Teh Gelas, Teh Kotak, Teh Pucuk Harum and Sosro.

Captain Oats offering new convenient oat porridge, oatmeal in sachet

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Federal Oats Mills Sdn Bhd, famous for its Captain Oats instant oatmeal and quick cook oatmeal, introduced the new Eazy-Go instant oatmeal range at Thaifex 2017. The new range, likely to be launched in Malaysia in July 2017, comes in a sachet and offers convenience to busy consumers looking for something to fill up their day.

Eazy-Go range

  • Chicken Mushroom Instant Oat Porridge
  • Mixed Vegetables Instant Oat Porridge
  • Honey & Raisins Instant Oatmeal
  • Skim Milk Instant Oatmeal

This marks the first time Captain Oats is venturing into the flavoured instant oatmeal and oat porridge segment.

Ingredients

The key ingredients in the Eazy-Go Chicken Mushroom Instant Oat Porridge are oats (85%), chicken stock powder (salt, corn starch, permitted flavour enchancer [yeast extract powder, sodium guanylate, sodium inosinate], sugar, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, spice powder, chicken meat, garlic powder, onion powder, chicken fat, palm fat), whole milk powder, dried corn, dried mushroom, sugar, salt and dried spring onion. There is no added MSG.

Halal and Healthier Choice

It is certified halal by JAKIM and come with the Healthier Choice – higher in wholegrain by the Singapore Health Promotion Board.

Preparation method

The preparation method is add 220ml of hot water then stir well and wait for 3 minutes.

Sponsoring Ipoh Starwalk

The company sponsored Ipoh Starwalk with 30,000 packs of Captain Oats (including Eazy-Go) and RM 15,000 cash, which was held on 7 May 2017.

Sampling of Captain Oats Eazy-Go is also being held at selected places in the country.

New animated Captain Oats

The iconic Captain Oats is now appearing as a friendlier animated character, which will be used to drive consumer engagement with the younger generation.

Milo Nutri G, Nescafe Smoovlatte upsized to 225ml

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image from NTUC FairPrice

We have talked about the launch of Milo Peng in Singapore featuring heartthrob Nathan Hartono.

https://www.facebook.com/milosingapore/videos/10155612202494573/

Now lo and behold, Milo Nutri G has been upsized to 225ml and is given a new packaging highlighting the ingredients of oats, brown rice, wheat and barley. The packaging of the new Milo Peng, meanwhile, features a cyclist, the same cyclist that once appeared on Milo Nutri.

Following the upsizing of Nutri G to 225ml, the previous 190ml bottle for Nestle Nutri G and Nescafe Smoovlatte in Singapore will be phased out in favour of the 225ml bottle. I have yet to find the 225ml Milo Nutri G in Malaysia.

Nescafe Smoovlatte upsized

At the same time, Nescafe Smoovlatte now comes in a larger 225ml bottle in Singapore and Malaysia.

In Singapore, the price of the 225ml Nescafe Smoovlatte is the same as the Nescafe Smoovlatte in a previous smaller 190ml bottle. Both are selling at a price of SGD 1.30 on RedMart.

What Mini Me thinks

It appears Nestle is standarising its ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages to the new 225ml PET bottle without charging a higher price for the upsized version. It is very noble for Nestle to give back to consumers without imposing a higher price tag for the larger volume.

S&P Industries showcases Kerra Coconut Spread

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

S&P Industries Sdn Bhd, the pioneer in the production and manufacturing of instant coconut milk powder in Malaysia, showcased its Kerra Coconut Spread at the recent Thaifex 2017 in Bangkok.

Kerra Coconut Spread comes in 200g and 400g. It is gluten-free and is a good source of fibre. The spread is kosher friendly and is certified halal by JAKIM. The coconut spread is ideal for lamington.

S&P Industries plans to export Kerra Coconut Spread to Australia, which will make Australia the first market for Kerra. The choice of Australia seems right as there are already similar products in the market including Tablelands Coconut Spread and Mayver’s Super Spread Coconut. Coconut spread is marketed as a healthier spread offering less saturated fat than butter and rich in vitamin A and D.

Tablelands Coconut Spread contains coconut oil (31%), water, canola oil, vegetable oil, salt, emulsifiers (471, 322 from soybean), natural flavour, preservative, lactic acid, vitamins A & D. It is available in Malaysia and Singapore.

Kerra Coconut Spread is made from coconut (38%), inulin, vegetable oil, sugar, skim milk, emulsifier (E471, E492, E476 and E451i), citric acid (E330) and antioxidant (E307a).

Final design

Here is the look of the product with the final design as seen at Taipei International Food Show in June 2017.

*Kerra Coconut Spread at Thaifex 2017. Images were taken by the author

Boosting breast milk Thailand style

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image from Iron Mom

Milk booster has become a trend and a big business in Malaysia and Indonesia as breastfeeding is back in vogue again. At Thaifex 2017, I come across Iron Mom, the maker of breast milk booster made using homemade recipe and 100% natural. Click here for the Iron Mom Facebook page.

From milk boosting to preventing clogged milk duct

The unique thing about Iron Mom is that it has three products – Yummy Plee, Hot Mama and Flow. Flow is the one that prevents clogged milk duct and is made from Thai eggplants juice and date palms.

Hot Mama is made with ginger, fingerroot and basil to help boost breast milk, digestion, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol.

Yummy Plee is made from banana blossom juice and high quality honey for pregnant and breastfeeding moms.

Local, trusted ingredients

In Malaysia, kurma or date palm and honey are commonly used in breastmilk booster. For the Chinese in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, green papaya soup with fish is a traditional lactation booster. In Thailand, mothers turn to banana flower soup to nurture breastfeeding. Each country has a different recipe. So long as it works then it should be fine but it will be harder to export such products to consumers who are not familiar with the benefits of banana flower.

The idea of preventing clogged milk duct is something that Malaysian and Indonesian companies should explore.

Organic milk from Vinamilk coming to Thailand

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image from Vinamilk Thailand Facebook page

Vinamilk organic milk set for debut

Vinamilk organic milk will enter Thailand in probably around September 2017, according to Topmost Enterprise Co., Ltd when contacted at Thaifex 2017. Topmost is the exclusive distributor of Vinamilk in Thailand.

The organic milk will come from the EU-certified organic dairy farm in Da Lat, Vietnam. The price of the organic milk will likely to be more premium than the domestic non-organic UHT milk as seen in the example in Vietnam. The debut in Thailand will make Vinamilk likely the only organic milk in the UHT format in the country.

Click here for more information about the earlier launch of the organic UHT milk in Vietnam.

100% UHT fresh milk entered the market

Topmost said it has introduced the 100% UHT fresh milk from Vinamilk in Thailand in May 2017. According to Topmost, there is room to grow in the 100% UHT fresh milk category as there are only a handful of players in the market. Vinamilk product is priced slightly higher than local producers as it imported.

Low sugar, aloe vera popular

Vinamilk yoghurt entered Thailand in 2016 and is available at Tesco Lotus, Big C, Tops, Foodland, MaxValu, The Mall, Lawson 108 and Family Mart. The most popular variants are low sugar and aloe vera, said the company. This shows Thai consumers are opting for a healthier choice.

Solving brand visibility issue

One of the executives of Topmost alluded to me that that packaging, how the brand stands out at the point of purchase, is a main challenge for Vinamilk at the moment

The original Vinamilk yoghurt comes in a pack of four. There is no product description on the side of the cup. When displayed on the shelf, unless the four-pack format is tilted or wrapped with another set of packaging, the Vinamilk yoghurt will not be able to catch the attention of shoppers. The issue of not having the side wrapping is made worse when it comes to the display of individual cup.

Malaysia example

In Malaysia, Vinamilk was available for a short period of time. This was how the yoghurt was displayed on the shelf at Giant supermarket.

Thailand example

Below is an example of Vinamilk Susu yoghurt at Tesco Lotus Rama 1 outlet. The Susu yoghurt was given a packaging to ensure it is more visible to consumers.

The Susu yoghurt at Tesco Lotus (image above) was given a markdown price of THB 13, down from THB 65 since they were close to the expiry date.

Thai consumers are known for reading the label. Vinamilk yogurt does not come with nutritional information on the side unlike their Thai peers. This is something that needs to be addressed since Vinamilk yoghurt comes with a more premium pricing compared to domestic brands.

What Mini Me thinks

Simple things like all-rounded packaging plays an important role in the success of a product and cannot be neglected.

*All the Images were taken by the author.

New low or no calorie beverages from Zummer, DJPoom at Thaifex 2017

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Thai consumers are notorious for their preoccupation with slimming and dieting. Slashing the carbo and sugar with low or no calorie beverages remain a major theme in the beverage category in Thailand. This is reflected in the new launches at Thaifex 2017.

DJPoom clean beverage

 

Poomjai Tansanga, the owner of the renowned health food restaurant DJ Poom Menu offering clean food, showcased its zero calorie beverages. The 330ml range comprises Green Tea, Peach Tea, Pandan and Chrysanthemum Tea.

The tea is sweetened with Magic Taste, lauded as the new sweetener blend.

Zummer sweetened with stevia

Zummer, the beverage brand of Food and Drinks Public Company under BJC, unveiled the Zummer Aloe Vera Juice with Stevia at Thaifex 2017. The Zummer brand was first launched in 2013 with two products – plum juice with plum and aloe vera juice with aloe vera bits.

The key product attributes are made from real aloe vera, sugar free, low calorie suitable for all ages (9kcal), no artificial colour and no preservatives.

Zummer Aloe Vera Juice with Stevia is currently not available in the market.

*Photos were taken by the author at Thaifex 2017

 

Alcoholic version of Blanc Coco debuts at Thaifex 2017

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Alcoholic version of Blanc Coco unveiled 

Thai Coconut Public Company Limited, which makes the world’s first sparkling coconut water Blanc Coco, has unveiled the alcoholic version of Blanc Coco at Thaifex 2017. Thaifex is being held from 31 May 2017 to 4 June 2017.

With 5% alcohol

The new Blanc Coco – Natural Flavour with a 5% alcohol content brings the coconut water to a new category – ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverage. At the time of writing, the Blanc Coco with 5% alcohol is still not available in the market not even in Thailand. The eventual debut will make it the first of its kind in the country.

Western alcoholic companies maximising coconut potential

Even before the debut of Blanc Coco with 5% ABV, alcohol-infused coconut water is already prevalent in new product innovation in the US and the UK. Barcardi has the Barcardi Rock Coconut, launched in 2010. It is a coconut rum infused with rock melon and coconut water. US-based VO|CO, meanwhile, claims to be the world’s first RTD cocktail of coconut water and vodka.

Twisted Halo from the UK was launched in 2016. It is a gently sparkling blend of coconut water mixed with ginger and premium vodka.

Blanc Coco in PET and can

Another interesting development, which I have talked about in an earlier post, is the availability of Blanc Coco in PET bottle and can packaging. The two new packaging option was first seen at SIAL China 2017 and was showcased at the recent Thaifex 2017. They appear to be the same product but are likely to be aimed at the different occasion with varying price point.

The key ingredients stated in the can and PET formats are coconut water, malic acid (E 296), natural sweetener (E 698, 960), cellulose gum (E 466) and natural coconut flavour. The ingredients listed on the glass packaging are slightly simpler only showing coconut water and natural coconut flavour.

What Mini Me thinks

The evolution of Blanc Coco demonstrates the versatility of sparkling coconut water and shows the coconut water trend still has legs.

*Images of Blanc Coco taken by the author at Thaifex 2017

Tipco Foods enters premium sports drink category

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image fr om the web

Tipco Foods Plc launched a new sport drinks Tipco Wave at the end of April 2017. The drink features BluBio containing nutritive minerals from New Zealand’s Pacific Ocean.

The author finally had a chance to try it yesterday (1 June 2017). Tipco Wave tastes like a diluted energy drink without the strong ‘medicinal’ taste often associated with energy drink. When asked about Tipco Wave, the person in charge described the beverage as a “natural Gatorade.”

Key ingredients

White grape juice from white grape juice concentrate 10%, fructose syrup 5.8%, magnesium lactate dihydrate (0.1%), sodium chloride (BluBio) 0.07%, potassium choloride 0.03%, acidity regulator, natural identical flavour and no preservatives.

It comes in the original and orange flavours. The introduction of Blue Wave shows Tipco is diversifying into a new category – premium sports drink. This ties in well with the company’s focus on the healthy drink segment. Blue Wave has an energy of 60kcal per serving of 250ml.

Targeting 20-50-years-old

Kittichet Sathitnoppachai, Tipco marketing director, said Tipco Wave is aimed at 20-50-years-old who like sports and are conscious of their health and concerned about organic, reported The Nation on 26 April 2017.

100Plus dominates sports drink market

According to Kittichet, Thailand’s sports drink market in 2017 is expected to reach THB 6 billion in 2017, up 10-15% over the same period ago. ThaiBev’s 100Plus is the market leader in sprots drink in PET bottle with a 45% market share, followed by Coca-Cola’s Aquarius with 28-29% and Gatorade with 15%. In the glass bottle format, Sponsor has a clear lead with an 85% market share, according to the article in Brand Buffet.

Tipco to sell consumer pack homsuwan pineapple

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Tipco Foods Plc, Thailand’s leading exporter of processed pineapple and market leader in the fruit juice market, has unveiled the Slice Homsuwan Pineapple with Chilli Salt Dip at Thaifex 2017 (image below was taken by the author). Homsuwan, also known as aromatic gold pineapple, was developed by Tipco Biotech, a unit that focuses on fresh fruit and ingredients.

Homsuwan has outstanding fragrance, golden firm pulp, and higher Vitamin C. Homsuwan won the iTQi Superior Taste Award 2016 in the fresh food category.

The company plans to start selling this consumer pack homsuwan each with an individual stick around September 2017 mainly via convenience stores.

There were no sliced pineapple in stick at 7-Eleven Thailand (image below).

At the moment, Tipco Foods operates a Homsuwan Pina Pina by Tipco outlet selling desserts made with the aromatic gold pineapple.

What Mini Me thinks

With the processed canned fruit industry a sunset industry, it is timely for the company to sell fresh pineapple to earn a higher margin.

 

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