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When brand love, passion and inspired innovation meet…

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
All 70 participants from 11 countries with CEO Barry O' Connell

Going back in time at the Coca-Cola Collectors Fair 2019

Kuala Lumpur, 4 May 2019 – Coca-Cola fans and members of the public were recently given the opportunity discover hidden treasures and get-up-close-and-personal with 76 passionate collectors from around the world, surrounded by vintage Coca-Cola collectibles dating as far as more than five decades ago at the 9th Coca-Cola Collectors Fair 2019.

The exciting one-day event saw the collectors from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Taiwan gather to exhibit their collectibles ranging from cans, limited-edition bottles, iconic posters and artwork, souvenirs to even bottle openers to fellow collectors and members of the public alike.

“The annual Coca-Cola Collectors Fair is one of the many activities conducted to bring together people from all walks of life for just one thing – their love for everything Coca-Cola. It is the perfect venue for collectors, fans and customers to catch a glimpse of Coca-Cola’s colourful history, while at the same time, buy, trade and sell their vintage Coca-Cola merchandise,” said Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer for Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei, Bottling Investments Group, The Coca-Cola Company, who officiated the event.

Aptly themed “Celebrating Festivities”, this year’s Fair was held just before the upcoming fasting month, leading up to the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities. In addition to getting a head-start in shopping for the upcoming festivities, Malaysians were transported back in time as they admired the quality craftmanship and innovation behind this iconic brand that has endured over the years. Many were left dazzled and in awe at the carefully curated Coca-Cola memorabilia of every shape, size and colour exhibited by the collectors.

“The Coca-Cola Collectors Fair is also conducted to increase awareness and understanding about the different facets of Coca-Cola, the deep level of thought, creativity and inspired innovation that goes behind our incredibly unique assortment of merchandise, ranging from every day and pop culture items to rare, commemorative pieces from all over the world. Some are even exclusively custom-made for a specific country for a limited time-frame and is therefore not found anywhere else in the world,” explained Barry on the rationale behind the Collectors Fair.

Always ready to give back to those in need, the collectors also participated in the Coca-Cola Collectors Fair Charitable Auction which raised funds for the Malaysian Association for the Blind. Some of the sought-after items included a limited-edition Coca-Cola bottle as well as montage poster of the collectors.

Fuelling the passion and brand love for the Coca-Cola brand is more than 40 local chapters of collectors’ clubs currently in existence all over the world. Some of these collectors have travelled the world over to seek rare and unique items to add their Coca-Cola collection. Through global collectors’ network, these collectors have built long-lasting relationships and gained unique experiences in their quest for that ultimate, one-of-a-kind Coca-Cola collectible. In fact, the Collectors Fairs throughout the world are essentially venues for them to strengthen their own connections, apart from trading items.

“At Coca-Cola, it’s all about passion and brand love. Everything we do starts with our passion for what people want and make life’s everyday moments more enjoyable. As a total beverage company, we ignite and unlock growth by turning our passion into a brand that people love. The Coca-Cola Collectors Fair is an example of how we make real, meaningful difference in the lives of people globally,” added Barry in closing.

The Coca-Cola Collectors Fair is an annual event organised by Coca-Cola Malaysia to encourage its avid fans to buy, trade and sell vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia, ranging from locally produced items to some of Coca-Cola most sought-after iconic items. It has been held annually since 2011, in conjunction with Coca-Cola Founder’s Day on 8 May – the day when Coca-Cola drink was first sold. Apart from bringing together passionate collectors, the Coca-Cola Collectors Fair also raises awareness on the high quality of inspired innovation and creativity behind Coca-Cola’s merchandising and branding over the last 133 years.

Gardenia disrupts the yellow noodle segment in Malaysia

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Gardenia, the top packaged bread company in Singapore and Malaysia, has diversified into noodles in Malaysia and into snacks in Singapore.

In Malaysia, Gardenia has introduced NuMee Gardenia, a halal-certified yellow noodle. NuMee is also the first pasteurised yellow noodle in Malaysia. The pasteurised process eliminates bacteria and harmful microorganisms. The noodles are free from added colouring.

Gardenia has access to wheat, which is a major ingredient in bread making. Diversifying into wheat-based yellow noodle therefore makes perfect sense for Gardenia.

Moreover, the yellow noodle segment, dominated by numerous small brands, is ripe for disruption. The new NuMee Gardenia addresses consumer concern about the halal status of yellow noodles and the bitter taste found in some of the poorer quality yellow noodles in the market.

Malaysian love for fast food fuels McDonald’s strong double-digit growth

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image from McDonald's Malaysia

McDonald’s Malaysia has done it again with a reported double-digit growth in revenue in 2018, said its managing director and local operating partner Azmir Jaafar. the fast food giant is looking at a strong double-digit growth of 19% in 2018 with a projected growth of 15% for 2019, which will still be a stellar performance considering McDonald’s is not a new player in town.

  • 2019: 15% (forecast)
  • 2018: 19%
  • 2017: 23%
  • 2016: 16%
  • 2015: 12%

“The drive-thru business has become a critical component of McDonald’s business strategy to elevate its market leadership,” said Azmir.

In fact, drive-thru stores account for 60% of the existing 278 outlets in Malaysia. The company plans to open another 20 new drive-thru outlets in 2019 to add to the existing 167 drive-thrus.

On 27 April 2019 (Saturday), McDonald’s Malaysia set a new record in the Malaysian Book of Records for the “Largest Participation for a Drive-Thru Challenge in 24 Hours” with a total of 164,235 cars participated.

Setting a new record. Image from McDonald’s Malaysia

Mobile app is another growth driver for McDonald’s Malaysia. The app, launched in early 2018, was updated around August 2018 offering
personalized promotions based on user history and demographics. In addition to that, the McDelivery app was made available 24/7.

Domino’s Pizza charging ahead

Domino’s Pizza Malaysia is in the same league as McDonald’s Malaysia with a reported double-digit growth in revenues for several years.

Domino’s Pizza Malaysia operations senior GM Shamsul Amree Ab Rahman said in July 2018 that “our revenue every year has been experiencing a double-digit growth. In the last three years, we have opened 90 stores, and at least 40% of our growth come from the new outlets.”

Mister Potato introduces limited edition Raya flavours

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image from Mister Potato

Mamee-Double Decker is back with another limited-edition offer and this time for the celebration of Hari Raya 2019. Without the need to “stir” (rendang) and “fan” (satay), consumers can get their favourite taste of Raya in Mister Potato Rendang flavour and Satay flavour chips.

In the past, Mamee has not really come up with limited edition Raya flavours. The recent launch is set to change how the brand approaches Raya and we expect there will be more interesting limited-edition Hari Raya flavours in the coming years.

Dydo Mamee jumps into chilled premium yogurt segment with NYU Hokkaido

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image credit: NYU Hokkaido

Dydo Mamee has introduced a new chilled premium yogurt series called NYU Hokkaido in Malaysia around March 2019. The range comprises yogurt drink and spoonable yogurt and is sold in premium supermarkets such as B.I.G., Mercato, Village Grocer, Cold Storage, Jasons Food Hall and Oliver Gourmet as well as myNews.com convenience store.

The company describes the Hokkaido milk as:

“The finest prepared milk under the best environment.

Our cattle treated equally like our family. They roam the pastures freely, grazing at will at the foot of Hokkaido’s scenic mountains. The unadulterated air – crisp in winter, cool even in summer – complements the natural alkaline water they feed on.

Rich in taste, with a dreamy texture that glides across the tongue, this is the beginning of a new level of dairy enjoyment.“

Hokkaido milk. Image from NYU Hokkaido Milk

NYU Hokkaido Spoonable Yogurt is available in 135g and Yogurt Drink in 200g and 600g. The flavours are plain and strawberry.

The protein count for the yogurt drink (plain) is 1.6g per 100g and spoonable yogurt (plain) is 5.5g. The yogurt drink (plain) has a total sugar of 7.2g per 100g, spoonable yogurt (plain) has 8.2g and spoonable yogurt (strawberry) has 11.1g.

The NYU yogurt drink has a thicker texture compared with other yogurt drinks in the market. We believe the thicker texture is influenced by the popularity of Yili Ambrosial ambient yogurt drink, which offers satiety through its rich and thick texture.

Dark coloured packaging exudes premiumness but the black and white colour scheme is rarely used in yogurt. Consumers might overlook this product. The packaging design could be an issue going forward.

Price wise, the premium pricing, comparable with imported yogurt, might make it less attractive to consumers. The key reason is even though Hokkaido milk is mention on pack but there is no assurance that this made-in-Malaysia yogurt actually contains milk from Hokkaido, Japan.

New Attraction ‘The Peranakan Gallery’ Opens at Orchard

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Discover The Peranakan Gallery at Orchard Road:
A Newly-Launched Attraction Tracing 500 Years of Straits Chinese Heritage through
Peranakan Artefacts, Art, Fashion and Culinary Traditions

This newest Place Of Interest, situated in Singapore’s famed Orchard Road retail and hotels district, is a must-visit, visually immersive experience depicting the grandest traditions of the extraordinary Baba and Nyonya culture from Singapore and Southeast Asia.

SINGAPORE, MAY 2019: Phoenix in flight, dancing dragons and peonies in full bloom; visitors to The Peranakan Gallery at Orchard Road will be enthralled by artful depictions of these colourful and iconic Peranakan symbols throughout a gallery space that focuses on tracing the 500-year-old story of the Straits Chinese population in Southeast Asia.

A timely addition to the attractions scene given the two-year closure of Singapore’s main peranakan museum for renovations, The Peranakan Gallery brings to life this remarkable heritage within a setting that is accessible and intriguing to visitors with all levels of understanding of the Straits Chinese culture.

At the entrance, guests are greeted by a typical Peranakan shophouse façade complete with an ornately-carvedPintu Pagar (fence door), a traditional privacy screen placed in front of the home’s main entrance. A table set-up for a game of Cherki (a olden card game similar to gin rummy) beckons within, while a large section is dedicated to the art of embroidering and wearing the iconic Sarong Kebaya and Kasut Manek (beaded slippers) traditionally worn by Peranakan women.

Authentic Peranakan Flavour

The Peranakan Gallery’s main exhibit centers around an elaborate 20-seater Tok Panjang table set with exquisitely-crafted Nyonya ceramics, Chinese porcelain and Waterford crystalware; a nod to the Malay, Mandarin and European influences beloved by the Peranakans and assimilated into their aesthetic.  Visitors will be heartened to know that this Tok Panjang table isn’t merely a museum display, as the gallery’s adjoining restaurant,The Peranakan, is able to serve up an authentic Tok Panjang feast comprising over 12 signature items at the table.

Baba Raymond Khoo, founder of The Peranakan Gallery and also executive chef of The Peranakan shares, “The Peranakan Gallery is a celebration of our Straits Chinese way of life, created to transport visitors to the golden age of Peranakan heritage through an experience that is visually captivating and highly-immersive. We hope the gallery inspires each visitor to discover more about our unique hybrid culture that embraces East and West, and to be an active advocate for all things Peranakan. Our efforts in encouraging people to participate in and promote Singapore’s Peranakan culture stems from a passion to preserve our ancestral heritage for generations to come.”

Sharing more on the Orchard district’s Peranakan history, Baba Raymond explains, “Orchard Road was home to one of Singapore’s original Peranakan enclaves in the 1800s. We hope this exciting project both celebrates the heritage of Orchard Road whilst transforming the typical mall visit with an enriching insight into Peranakan culture.”

The Peranakan Gallery is open daily from 11am to 10pm and is conveniently located at Level 2 of Claymore Connect Mall, 442 Orchard Road Singapore 238879.  The admission fee of S$15nett per person is waived for all visitors who present a hotel key card or a receipt from any outlet located at Claymore Connect.

The Peranakan Gallery offers docent-accompanied experiences, as well as dining packages with authentic Peranakan cuisine by The Peranakan restaurant. For  enquiries and bookings,  kindly tel: +65 6262 4428 or email:friends@theperanakan.com.

Kirin Latte Coffee & Caramel offers the sweet taste of caramel

By
Tan Heng Hong
-
Image from Kirin

Kirin has introduced a new RTD coffee in Vietnam. Known as Kirin Latte Coffee & Caramel, the drink contains 100% Robusta and the sweet taste of caramel. It is designed for office workers and young people to enjoy after a busy and hectic day at work and study.

The most interesting thing about the TVC is it starts by showing how the protagonist does not get what they wanted when drinking the coffee in a cup bought from the coffee shop/kiosk. It is only when they start drinking drinking Kirin Latte Coffee & Caramel in PET before all the good things start to happen.

The 345ml drink is sold at a price of VND 10,000.

URC unveils performance of individual brands/units

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Universal Robina Corporation (URC), one of the largest branded consumer food and beverage product companies in the Philippines, has revealed interesting figures on the performance of its individual brands. The data came to light, thanks to Thomson StreetEvents’ Q4 2018 Universal Robina Corp Earnings Call (28 February 2019) published on 30 April 2019. URC fiscal year ends on 31 December.

We now know the following:

  • “Noodles, our Nissin joint venture, completed a very strong year, in total growing by plus 10% versus year ago. And this was mainly driven by our Payless brand in both pouch and cups segments.”
  • “Ready-to-drink tea recovered growth in quarter 4 to plus 8%, ending the year at plus 6% growth. For the full year, volumes were negatively impacted by the sugar tax. But given the pass-through of the sugar tax, overall net sales was still positive. “
  • “Coffee declined by 16% for the full year. Steady sales was posted in the previous months, which continued into quarter 4″
  • ” Our joint venture with Danone grew sales by 24% versus last year in the fourth quarter. The entire year, though, was down about 15% as the B’lue brand was — suffered from the sugar tax implementation. “
  • “Vitasoy also grew strongly, plus 72% for the full year, plus 14% for quarter 4, and was driven by strong campaigns into introduction of our soy milk products. “
  • ” On Calbee, which is our premium potato snack brand, we posted a very strong growth of plus 24% for the full year. And this was driven mainly by a very successful honey butter flavor, which tripled its size from — since its launch in 2017. “

New Foremost Rocky Road and Strawberry Biscuit flavoured milk

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

FrieslandCampina Thailand’s main brand Foremost has added two more dessert-type flavoured milk. The two flavours are Rocky Road and Strawberry Biscuit. Both are exclusively available at 7-Eleven.

New Version of NESCAFE BLEND BREW Launches the First-ever Finely Ground Roasted Coffee Mix Made from Two Types of Beans Features Two Magnet Superstars Representing the Intense and Smooth Coffee Experience

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Bangkok–23 Apr NESCAFÉ is taking the lead to elevate Thailand’s 16-billion-baht coffee mixes market to the next level with the launch of a new version of NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW. It’s the first-ever finely ground roasted coffee mix innovation made from Arabica and Robusta, two types of coffee beans. New NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW uses a proprietary encapsulation technology that captures and protects the full-bodied flavor and aroma of genuine roasted coffee.

Reformulated to meet the changing preferences of Thai consumers, new NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW delivers a perfect cup that combines the complementary flavors of smooth Arabica and intense Robusta coffee beans offering a better and irresistible aroma and improved taste.

NESCAFÉ also introduced Thai superstars Pope and James Ji as its new NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW co-brand ambassadors who represent the perfect bonding of the intense and smooth flavor of the two beans, based on new NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW’s “Bond to be the Best” concept.

Ms. Naritta Vipulyasekha, Business Manager – NESCAFÉ Coffee Mixes, Nestle (Thai) Ltd., said, “NESCAFÉ continues to lead the Thai coffee market with innovation. The world of coffee is changing, with more diversified choices, and Thai consumer trends are evolving. Drinking coffee is more than just stimulation – it’s also about enjoying a pleasurable moment of irresistible aroma from good-quality coffee. NESCAFÉ, as the coffee mix market leader, is putting our full effort into exceeding the demands of Thai consumers. We see an opportunity in the mainstream coffee mix market, as most products use only one type of coffee bean, mainly whole Robusta. This is the first time in Thailand that we are bonding two types of finely-ground roasted coffee beans together using a proprietary encapsulation technology that captures and protects the full-bodied flavor and aroma of genuine roasted coffee.”

“This is why we created a new milestone for coffee mix in Thailand by introducing new NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW. It offers a perfect cup from two types of coffee beans. We bring the strength of the two coffee beans together. Robusta offers an intense, full-bodied, full flavor, while Arabica offers a smooth taste and unique aroma. This perfect bonding of Robusta and Arabica delivers a more irresistible aroma and a better taste with an intense yet smoother taste profile that Thai people will love.”

“Our research showed that Thai consumers prefer new NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW over the previous version. It’s the third generation of our coffee mix product range that reflects evolving trends, with a better aroma and taste profile that fits today’s consumer preferences. This is our biggest coffee mix launch in three years,” she added.The first generation of NESCAFÉ coffee mix, NESCAFÉ RICH AROMA 3in1, was introduced in 1996. Loved by millions of Thai coffee drinkers, it became the country’s number one coffee brand.

In 2016, NESCAFÉ introduced the second generation of its coffee mix, renamed NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW, still made from 100% Robusta. Described as “Pa Som Kafe Kwua Bod La-iad,” it was the first finely-ground roasted coffee to use NESCAFÉ’s patented Aroma Encapsulation technology that captures and protects the full-bodied flavor and aroma of genuine roasted coffee. It was also a tremendous success, achieving a market share of 52.9%. Thai people consume around 1,500 million cups of NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW every year.

To promote the new version of NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW, NESCAFÉ has allocated 1.2 billion baht for an integrated marketing communications campaign. New co-brand ambassadors Thanawat (Pope) Wattanaputi, who represents the intense taste of Robusta coffee, and Jirayu (James Ji) Tangsrisuk, who represents the smooth taste of Arabica coffee, will together convey the “Bond to be the Best” concept of the new product range through a TV commercial and web films directed by Nithiwat (Ton) Tharatorn, the famous movie director and featuring the popular song “Aow Pai Loey,” covered by the band “Slot Machine.”

As part of the official launch of new NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW, Pope will lead a Robusta Team including Isariya (Hunz) Pattaramanop in a Battle to be the Best with James Ji, who will lead the Arabica Team including Thassapak (Bie) Hsu. The battle will take place on Friday, 26 April, 2019, at Parc Paragon starting at 18:00, with an aim to reach 10,000 consumers. Ten million sample cups of new NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW will also be handed out to Thai consumers nationwide.

“We are putting a huge effort into making new NESCAFÉ BLEND & BREW a phenomenal success, as it offers Thai consumers a superior coffee experience. We are confident that our ‘Bond to be the Best’ concept of a perfect cup of coffee from two highly-complementary types of beans, Arabica and Robusta, will sustain NESCAFÉ’s position as Thailand’s number one coffee brand,” concluded Ms. Naritta.

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