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Wilkins Delight adds flavour to water

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines has launched Wilkins Delight,  the first water – flavored with real fruit juice, in the Philippines on 5 April 2017. Wilkins is a distilled drinking water known as the standard of purity and safety in bottled water among consumers in the Philippines.

Targeting young adults

Now, Coca-Cola has extended the brand into flavoured water for young adults (the millennials) and anyone who want more than just water.

#AddColourToLife

“Young adults hate boredom. They want their lives to be interesting and colorful,” said Stephan Czypionka, Coca-Cola Philippines Vice President for Marketing. “They want to see new places, meet new people, and taste new colorful products that are not only healthy but also hydrating and entertaining to their taste buds.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGnY2z8d93Q

Key USP

The key USP of Wilkins Delight is it is made from Wilkins pure drinking water (safety) and infused flavor from real fruits (good for you).

Available in three flavours and 2 sizes

Wilkins Delight comes in three flavors: Apple, Pomelo, and Orange—comes in a 250- and 425-ml bottles with SRPs of P10 and P15, respectively. The product is available in leading supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores, and other retail outlets nationwide.

Competitive landscape

With carbonated soft drinks struggling to keep up with consumer shifting taste for delightful yet healthier option, brands are turning to flavoured water or vitamin water to fill the gap. We have URC’s B’lue, which is described as a “surprising drink plus water,” and Nature’s Spring flavoured water, which is a water-based drink with fruity twist flavors.

The Nature’s Spring flavoured water is made by the bottled water company Philippine Spring Water Resources Inc. It contains Vitamin B1, B3, B6, and B12 and is touted as a “healthier alternative than soft drinks” by the brand owner.

What Mini Me thinks

We are seeing a shift in product innovation towards products that are seen as having the fun yet healthier proposition. Flavoured water category has room to grow as it is new and ties in well with Filipinos who generally have a sweet tooth.

It also adds an extra revenue stream for sweetened beverage brand owners in view of the expected implementation of the proposed soda tax on soft drinks, fruit drinks, sports drinks, sweetened tea and coffee drinks, energy drinks and all other non-alcoholic beverages that are ready-to-drink and in powder form.

Flavoured water is expected to be excluded as the proposed soda tax excludes natural fruit juices, natural vegetable juices, yogurt, milk products, meal replacement beverages or medical food as well as weight loss products.

 

 

Suntory goes mainstream with carbonated Lucozade Sport

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Beverage companies in Malaysia are adding a sparkling touch to their portfolio to attract millennials as well as making their beverages more appealing to a wider audience. We have seen this with Warrior energy drink, Ribena sparkling and now with Lucozade Sport.

Carbonated Lucozade coming soon

Suntory Beverage & Food Malaysia has hinted on the Lucozade Sport Malaysia Facebook page on 23 April 2017 that it would introduce something in a can.

We know what’s going on.

Image above from Lucozade Singapore Facebook

The Lucozade Sport Singapore Facebook page has already revealed the answer on 1 April 2017. The new canned and carbonated Lucozade Sport will be the third variant after the non-carbonated orange flavour, which first appeared at the end of 2015, followed by the still lemon flavour a year later in 2016.

Premium pricing

The Lucozade Sport carbonated isotonic drink is the most expensive in the category, which makes us wonder how it can compete with the more popular 100Plus and Revive.

What Mini Me thinks

The carbonated Lucozade Sport will enable the brand to stay relevant in the isotonic category where the majority of consumers are familiar with the fizzy taste of 100Plus and Revive. The move to release the fizzy Lucozade Sport can be also seen in light of Suntory’s ambition to grow its market share in the isotonic beverage market. However, the premium pricing means it will become an uphill battle to attract the ordinary consumers to switch to Lucozade Sport.

Fat burning coconut water designed for active female

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

The Indonesian packaged coconut water market has evolved into the functional space following the debut of WRP Active Coco Splash in April 2017. The new coconut water is made by PT Nutrifood Indonesia.

The WRP brand helps women achieve goals of weight loss, maintain ideal weight, and improve body shape. The new WRP Active Coco Splash continues with the brand mission to reduce fat with L-Carnitine, also known as a fat burner. It is aimed at women to help them to get the right body shape.

For active women

The WRP Active Coco Splash claims coconut water is the best friend for women. Not only it has the detox benefit, coconut water also makes you look good and feel young. The drink is best consumed while doing sporting activities to replace lost ion. Apart from that, the functional coconut water can be consumed while travelling or on-the-go because it has the protection and maintenance function.

The product was first conceived from the needs of women who are undergoing intense sporting activities and require a drink that only helps them with physical activities but also a drink that can protect their appearance, said WRP general brand manager Nofa Sumawarti.

Even though WRP Active Coco Splash is aimed at women, it can also be consumed by men.

Key ingredients

WRP Active Coco Splash does not contain artificial sweetener. Here are the key ingredients.

Water, coconut water (40%), grape sugar concentrate, creatine, vitamin C, L-Carnitine, calcium lactate, natural identical coconut flavour, acidity regulator (citric acid, sodium citrate), soybean powder, Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.

The serving size per bottle is 350ml. The total energy is 80 kcal. The sodium level is 160mg per 350ml and potassium is 400mg.

5K Run

The brand is organising a 5km run in Jakarta on 7 May 2017 to reinforce WRP’s active lifestyle positioning.

What Mini Me thinks

The introduction of WRP Active Coco Splash is a game changer in the coconut water scene. It elevates coconut water from a simple hydration drink into a functional beverage. It also brings the category closer to females of all ages by demonstrating coconut water as a platform for wellness and beauty through the inclusion of the fat burning ingredient L-Carnitine.

100Plus awarded Healthier Choice logo in Malaysia

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

F&N’s 100Plus has received the Healthier Choice logo by the Ministry of Health of Malaysia (but is it true? see bottom of the page). This would make Malaysia the third country where 100Plus has received a similar Healthier Choice logo after Singapore and Thailand. In Thailand, the isotonic drink was given the Healthier Choice logo in 2016.

New Healthier Choice logo criteria released

The Nutrition Division of the Ministry of Health Malaysia has released the nutrient criteria for the Healthier Choice logo in April 2017. Click here to download the document.

The nutrient criteria covers five eight food and drink categories:

  • Cereals
  • Fruit & Vegetables
  • Meat & Poultry
  • Fish & Fish Products
  • Dairy & Dairy Products
  • Beverages
  • Soup, Sauces and Recipe Mixes
  • Fats & Oil

Here are some examples:

As of 21 April 2017, 18 companies with 42 products received HCL recognition, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.

What Mini Me thinks

The introduction of the Healthier Choice logo (HCL) in Malaysia is in line with the initiatives of regional governments to provide their population with dietary guidance to combat rising obesity rates in the region. The debut of HCL will no doubt set the tone for local manufacturers to embrace healthier choices. This will ensure their products are perceived as healthier than their competitors and in line with consumer’s search for healthy eating option.

Does 100Plus qualify for HCL?

A reader has asked does 100Plus qualify for HCL since its total sugar (jumlah gula) is 6.6g per 100ml. The nutrient criteria clearly states the total sugar of isotonic electrolyte drink must be less or equal to 6g per 100ml.

Lucozade Sport (carbonated) is the only isotonic drink that meets the criteria as it has the lowest total sugar of 6g per 100ml among the four popular brands.

The author has finally received clarification from F&N on 5 May 2017. Here is the official reply:

Hydro Coco Bits taps into fun and healthy positioning

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Competitive chewable nata de coco beverage category

The chewable drink category is a highly competitive category in Indonesia. Beverages with nata de coco include Mogu Mogu from Thailand’s Sappe, Fruitamin CocoBit from Indofood Asahi, Nutrijell Jelly Shake from PT Aloe Vera Indonesia and I’m Coco from PT Niramas Utama (Inaco).

A selection of nata de coco beverages in Indonesia. Image by the author

Hydro Coco Bits

PT Kalbe Farma Tbk, the company behind the Hydro Coco coconut drink, has extended the brand into the chewable segment with the new Hydro Coco Bits. Launched in the first quarter of 2017, Hydro Coco Bits does not have artificial sweetener and no preservatives.

Key ingredients

The key ingredients are water, coconut water, fructose, nata de coco (5%), cane sugar, nature identical coconut water flavour, lemon puree (0.1%), acidity regulator (malic acid, citric acid), sodium chloride, nature identical lemon flavour, vitamin C and vegetable stabilisers (gellan gum, xanthan gum).

Hydro Coco Bits is available only in one variant and is in a 300ml PET bottle.

Lower potassium content

Compared with Hydro Coco (real coconut water), Hydro Coco Bits is positioned as a coconut water with nata de coco, which means the focus is largely on the fun aspect from the chewable nata de coco but still healthy from the use of coconut water.

As a result of that, the potassium content in Hydro Coco Bits is much lower at 150mg per 300ml compared to Hydro Coco with 360mg per 250ml.

Mizone China crosses into energy drink segment

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Danone has introduced a new Mizone with taurine and green tea plus ginseng extract in China in March 2017. The new range is known as 炽能量 (chi neng liang) or literally translated as “burning energy”. On the packaging, it is called Mi-Pro.

Two variants

The range comprises two variants – pomelo (雪柚) (image above) and orange peach (蜜桃橙子) (image below). The pomelo flavour contains taurine, while the orange peach flavour comes with ginseng and green tea extracts.

Now with added sodium

Unlike the existing Mizone range, which is free from sodium, the new 500ml Mi-Pro in PET bottle comes with sodium with a content of 16mg per 100ml. The addition of sodium is seen as a deliberate move to narrow the focus on two groups of consumers – those with an active lifestyle and those who engage in sporting activities. The underlying theme for Mi-Pro is the drink is good for those who sweat.

The addition of taurine, green tea extract and ginseng extract in Mi-Pro also means Mizone has crossed into the energy drink category.

Mizone gets a new flavour and packaging

The existing Mizone range has been given a slight makeover to the brand logo. In addition to the new logo, the range has also been added with the pineapple and coconut flavour, which was introduced in March 2017.

New Mizone with pineapple and coconut flavour. Image above from the web

This is how the old Mizone packaging looks like.

Mizone sales fell

Mizone experienced its first sales decline in 2016 due to destocking as heated competition sees consumers migrating to other beverages.

Danone CEO Emmanuel Faber speaking about Q4 2015 results hinted the strong growth of Mizone in China had come to an end.

 

In China, as you know, we have hit the point where the secular growth of Mizone of about 20%, 30% growth over the last several years has now come to an end. That’s the end of the phase one story of Mizone in China after seven, eight years of very high growth.

A year later during the Q4 2016 result announcement, he stated that Mizone was currently in a transition period.

Just one word on China where we continue the transition of Mizone and we are focusing on two things, the first one which is to protect our market share in an environment that is more and more competitive and the second one is to protect the profitability of these brand.

What Mini Me thinks

In China, we are seeing the same shift that is happening in Indonesia with the introduction of Mizone Activ in mid-2016. See the post here. To stay relevant, Mizone is moving beyond a broad positioning from a lifestyle drink to something more niche that targets special need occasion such as sports. The year 2017 will continue to be a transition period for Mizone in China as the brand is facing massive headwinds.

Huiyuan’s Yami fruit juice beverage to be launched in Malaysia in May 2017

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

China Huiyuan Juice Group has announced in a press release on 13 April 2017 it would launch its first fruit juice beverage product in Malaysia in May 2017 under the YAMI brand. The largest juice producer in China first made public news of a plan to set up a local 50-50 joint venture with a subsidiary of Singapore’s Yeo Hiap Seng Limited in March 2016. The joint venture was officially set up in January 2017.

YAMI has up to 10% juice content

According to the press release, “Huiyuan and Yeo Hiap Seng will launch their first beverage product under the “YAMI” brand. With the content of juice up to 10%, the beverage will have apple, pear, orange and white grape flavors, available in 250 ml Tetra Pak packages and 350 ml bottles.”

Functional juice beverage in the pipeline

The joint venture will also introduce another functional juice beverage that comes “with the addition of iron, calcium, dietary fiber and collagen and other nutrients, which will be available in four flavors – orange, red grape, mango and grapefruit.”

Taking advantage of Malaysia’ strong halal certification

As mentioned in the earlier post, Huiyuan’s joint venture in Malaysia leverages on the country’s “perfect local halal product regulations.” With Jakim’s internationally recognised halal logo, Huiyuan can export its locally-manufactured juice products to the international market particularly in ASEAN. The press release also mentions the preferential tariffs, which make investing in the country worthwhile.

YAMI’s halal certification is registered under Yeo Hiap Seng (Malaysia) Bhd (Shah Alam) and will expire on 31 January 2019.

Myanmar and Cambodia next

Malaysia and Singapore represent the first two markets. Huiyuan and Yeo Hiap Seng will expand the business to Cambodia and Myanmar in the future. The Indochina market presents green pasture for food and beverage companies.

What Mini Me thinks

YAMI taps into the strong distribution network of Yeo Hiap Seng in Malaysia as well as in Singapore. With the local halal logo, it helps to improve product assurance among the largely Muslim population. Ultimately, it is taste and marketing that matter.

Heavenly blush Greek yoghurt now with granola

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

PT Heavenly Nutrition Indonesia, famous for its Heavenly Blush yoghurt, has showcased its Greek yoghurt with granola at FHI 2017 (Food and Hotel Indonesia). The premium Heavenly Blush Greek yoghurt was first introduced in 2015. Now it comes with granola and is available at selected retail outlets.

Granola

The Heavenly Blush yoghurt with granola (100g) is the first of its kind made by an Indonesian dairy company. The granola comprises peanut, dried cranberry, cashew, corn flake, oat and raisin. 

Heavenly Nutrition Indonesia also plans to introduce Greek yoghurt in bucket for the foodservice or HoReCa channel.

In Malaysia, Greek yoghurt is available in large packaging size and is marketed as an alternative to coconut milk (santan) in cooking.

 

D24 durian featured in Mengniu yoghurt in China

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

The Chinese dairy company Mengniu has recently unveiled the new Deluxe Milk (特仑苏) spoonable yoghurt in China. This also marks the brand extension of Deluxe Milk from high-end UHT liquid milk to the spoonable yoghurt segment.

The 115g Deluxe spoonable yoghurt comes in two variants – plain and durian. The high quality milk is sourced from China and the yogurt contains the Streptococcus thermophilus strain CNCM I-2980. The durian comes from the D24 variant (苏丹王榴莲) from Malaysia.

What Mini Me thinks

Pizza Hut durian pizza made from imported durian. Image above from the web

In China, consumers are already eating yogurt and pizza added with durian as a topping. What is significant about the new Deluxe spoonable yoghurt with durian flavour is that durian can potentially become a new flavour for packaged yoghurt going forward.

 

Press Release: Coca-Cola Malaysia unveils new designs and new Coca-Cola Zero Sugar

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Coca-Cola Malaysia unveils new designs in one of the biggest changes in brand’s 130-year history

 And introduces NEW AND IMPROVED Coca-Cola Zero Sugar

19 April 2017, MALAYSIA – Coca-Cola today announced significant changes; firstly the introduction of a new design across all of its Coke range in Malaysia, where for the first time ever, the entire Coke range will be marketed under one brand – Coca-Cola. The change will mean that all of Coca-Cola’s varieties including Coca-Cola Classic, Coca-Cola Zero, Coca-Cola Light and Vanilla Coke, will be unified under the one design using the iconic Red Disc. Consumers will soon see the new One Brand design on everything – from cans and bottles to billboards and television ads.

Second, the company launched Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, a new and improved sugar-free Coca-Cola, which will replace Coca-Cola Zero. The new recipe tastes even more like the original Coca-Cola, but without sugar.  Coca-Cola Malaysia will support the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar launch with a marketing campaign that encourages more people to try and choose the zero sugar option.

New One Brand Packaging Design

Tish Condeno, Marketing Director for Coca-Cola Malaysia, said that one of the reasons behind the new design and the global One Brand strategy was the brand’s iconic colour – Coca-Cola red.

“Over the years with the launch of Coke Light and other varieties like Coke Zero we have drifted away from ‘Coca-Cola red’. It’s our signature colour that is synonymous with great taste and refreshment,” said Condeno.

“We realised we were in danger of losing our iconic colour in a sea of other colours like silver and black, and we knew we needed to reclaim it as an icon of our brand.

“That’s one of the primary ideas behind the new design and the global One Brand strategy,” she said.

From May, Coca-Cola’s four colas will be marketed under the Coca-Cola master brand instead of being marketed as separate products, to allow Coca-Cola Zero, Coca-Cola Light and Coca-Cola Vanilla to benefit from the closer association with Coca-Cola Classic.  The company will also feature all Coca-Cola variants in its advertising, to make clear to more people the full choice offered.

From this month, Coke’s range of beverages will feature the ‘rising’ red disc and a splash of their signature colours our consumers know so well – black for Zero, silver for Light and yellow for Vanilla.

“The unification of the brands through this design marks the first time in our 130-year history that the iconic Coca-Cola visual identity has been shared across products in such a prominent way,” added Condeno.

The launch of the One Brand strategy also reinforces Coca-Cola’s commitment to encourage more choice for consumers with the company committed to ensuring all of the varieties feature prominently in advertising, including its low and no sugar varieties.

“As consumers’ tastes evolve so does our portfolio of beverages. We believe one of the best ways we can support the growth of low and no sugar varieties of Coca-Cola is for them to sit under our iconic Coca-Cola red so all our Coke products share the limelight” said Condeno.

“Under One Brand you will no longer see distinct brand campaigns for each of the variants. Rather, all advertising will feature the Coca-Cola products equally enabling consumers to an informed choice on the Coca-Cola that suits their taste, lifestyle and diet,” she said.

The New and Improved Coca-Cola Zero Sugar

Coca-Cola Malaysia has also launched a new and improved sugar-free variant, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar to encourage more people to taste and choose a no sugar option. The new recipe, which will replace Coca-Cola Zero, tastes even more like the original Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola Classic), but without sugar.

Condeno said, “We know that many people love the taste of the original Coca-Cola. We also know that some of them want to reduce their sugar intake but have been reluctant to try a no sugar option because they don’t think they taste as good as the original. That’s why we are excited to unveil the new Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which matches the taste of the original Coca-Cola, but without the sugar.”

As well as the improved taste and the new name – Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, packaging in line with the company’s ‘One Brand’ marketing strategy will make it even clearer to consumers that the drink is sugar-free.

The new packaging and the new Coca-Cola Zero Sugar will be available in-store from May onwards.

 

About Coca-Cola Malaysia 

In addition to Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable brands, the Coca-Cola system in Malaysia manufactures, markets and distributes over 40 products including sparkling beverages (Fanta, Sprite, A&W, Schweppes), zero-calorie sparkling beverages (Coke Light, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Sprite Zero), juice drinks (Minute Maid Pulpy, Qoo), isotonic drinks (Aquarius), teas (Heaven and Earth), coffee (Georgia) and waters (Dasani, glacéau vitaminwater).  Coca-Cola has been refreshing Malaysians for more than 80 years and is committed to making a lasting, positive difference in the local community.

For more information about Coca-Cola Malaysia visit: www.coca-cola.com.my

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