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Marriott International Signs Agreement with TSM Global to Bring Marriott Hotels to Petaling Jaya

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Representatives of Marriott International and TSM Group at the hotel management agreement signing ceremony (from left to right) Melissa, Director, TSM Global, Lim Tze Thean, Chief Executive Officer, TSM Global, Andree Susilo, Vice President, Hotel Development, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International and Wee Jonn Leow, Director, TSM Global.

Following a strategic conversion, Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel is set to strengthen Marriott’s presence in Greater Kuala Lumpur

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – July 17, 2025 – Marriott International, Inc. today announced a signed agreement with TSM Global to convert the 393-room Eastin Hotel Kuala Lumpur into the Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel. The property is located strategically between Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, and is anticipated to join the Marriott Hotels brand portfolio in December 2025, following a phased renovation program.

This agreement marks a strategic step forward in Marriott’s continued expansion in Malaysia and underscores the growing demand for global hospitality brands in key urban markets.

“We are pleased to collaborate with TSM Global on this strategic conversion project that will introduce the trusted Marriott Hotels brand to the dynamic commercial corridor of Petaling Jaya,” said Andree Susilo, Vice President, Hotel Development – Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International. “The conversion-friendly platform of our flagship brand continues to resonate with owners and investors, and this agreement reflects our shared confidence in the future of Malaysia’s hospitality landscape.”

Originally opened in 1998, the property will undergo a phased transition, with the first phase set to include a full transformation of the lobby area and a complete redesign of some guest rooms, in line with Marriott Hotels’ contemporary design ethos and brand standards.  Renovation plans include new facilities such as the exclusive M Club Lounge- an exclusive area reserved for Elite and Club members, a restaurant featuring Chinese cuisine, and Kids Club, enhancing the overall appeal for families, business travellers and culinary enthusiasts alike. The fully renovated hotel is expected to be unveiled by December 2026. Once the property officially joins the Marriott Hotels brand, Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel will offer guests elevated accommodations, heartfelt service with the brand’s signature Wonderful Hospitality, and convenient access to both business and leisure destinations.

Strategically located along the SPRINT Highway and adjacent to the prestigious Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC), the hotel offers exceptional visibility and accessibility. It is within walking distance of the Phileo Damansara MRT station and just a 15-minute drive from KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur’s main transportation hub with direct rail links to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The hotel also enjoys convenient access to the North–South Expressway (NSE), providing seamless connectivity to key destinations such as Johor, Melaka, Perak, Penang, and KLIA. The hotel is also well-positioned with proximity to major corporate and leisure demand generators, including Mid Valley Megamall, The Gardens Mall, and 1 Utama Shopping Centre.

“We are excited to collaborate with Marriott International and introduce the Marriott Hotels brand to this strategic location,” said Lim Tze Thean, Director, TSM Global. “This signing represents our commitment to elevating hospitality standards in Malaysia, and we look forward to creating a compelling destination that delivers quality, consistency, and global recognition.”

Marriott currently operates more than 60 properties in Malaysia across 20 brands and continues to explore opportunities to grow its presence in strategic markets across the country.

Capital A and Food Empire brew up deal to deliver Vietnamese coffee across Southeast Asia

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Vietnamese coffee, particularly Vietnamese RTD coffee continues to show tremendous untapped potential, a point we have highlighted previously. The recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Capital A Berhad’s subsidiary Santan Food Services Sdn Bhd and Empire International Sdn Bhd, the unit of Singapore’s instant beverage specialist, Food Empire Holdings, further validates our view that Vietnamese RTD coffee is poised to become the next big trend in the Southeast Asia beverage scene.

According to the press release:

The initial product rollout will span both in-flight and on-ground touchpoints:

  • Inflight: Passengers flying with AirAsia can look forward to a co-branded Vietnamese iced coffee experience onboard, combining regional authenticity with convenience and quality.
  • On-ground FMCG: The same product line will also be made available at selected retail outlets under the Santan brand, offering a consistent and accessible consumer experience beyond AirAsia flights.

In Vietnam, Food Empire has built a strong reputation with its CaféPHỐ line of instant Vietnamese coffee, as well as its ready-to-drink (RTD) offerings under the MacCoffee brand—both showcasing the rich and distinctive flavours of Vietnam’s coffee culture.

While we have previously highlighted the rising potential of RTD Vietnamese coffee, the lion’s share of the market is expected to be driven by 3-in-1 instant Vietnamese coffee—thanks to its affordability and ease of access for everyday consumers.

Press Pause and Spend a Day of Self-Care with Marriott Bonvoy

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Mandi Bunga at The Ritz-Carlton Spa

Amid the rush of meetings, messages, and everyday demands, many of us are craving a moment of calm (and a decent night’s sleep). If you’ve been needing a reset, this is your sign! From spa pods floating over the sea to rainforest massages and personalised sleep rituals, these Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts elevate self-care!

Grab your robe, cancel your plans, and get ready to treat yourself.

The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi

Spa pods over the sea, ancient rituals and lush rainforest views — The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi takes self-care to new heights. Soak in the Mandi Bunga Ritual, a traditional floral bath and massage to reset your energy. Ease tight knots in your muscles with the Mystical Ocean & Earth massage, which uses marine mud and hot stones. If you’re looking for a classic relaxation experience, try the traditional Malay Urut Melayu Massage and Hot Stone Massage. 

Trails of Wonder

Want to clear your mind before the ultimate spa day? Reconnect with nature through guided jungle walks with UNESCO-certified naturalists or kayak to a hidden beach for a picnic in paradise. 

The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur

The Art of Wellness Spa

At The Iridium Spa at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, self-care becomes art. Gaze at the tranquil Perdana Botanical Gardens while you experience an award-winning sanctuary that blends elegant rituals with results-driven treatments. Soothe tense muscles with the Revival Touch and Summer Serenity Express massage. For a full retreat, The Art of Wellness stay package includes a signature massage, vegetarian dining and late check-out for a whole day’s worth of self-love.

The St. Regis Langkawi

The St Regis Langkawi

At The St. Regis Langkawi, self-care is a sensory journey shaped by nature’s rhythm and refined rituals. Overlooking the Andaman Sea and enveloped by rainforest, The St. Regis Spa offers deeply restorative experiences, such as the Lang Mary treatment—a detoxifying body scrub inspired by local botanicals—and the Sound Bath Opulence, a deeply meditative experience designed to restore balance through the therapeutic power of sound. 

The St Regis Spa

Perhentian Marriott Resort & Spa

Ranked #2 for the Best Hotel Spa in Southeast Asia by Travel + Leisure, Perhentian Marriott Resort & Spa offers the perfect island retreat to help you unwind. The Qi Forest Spa & Wellness beachfront spa pavilions offer time-honoured techniques alongside modern wellness rituals like the floral-infused Mandi Bunga bath and Qi Forest Signature Massage, which begins and ends with the calming vibrations of a Tibetan Singing Bowl.

Restore your skin with Elemis Pro-Glow Smooth Facial, designed to target fine lines and improve texture for a clearer, healthier complexion. Then, slow down island-style with yoga at the yoga deck with breathtaking views of the South China Sea, batik painting and relaxing bath rituals. With ocean waves as your soundtrack and rainforest stillness all around, this is island self-care in its purest form.

The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa

Surrounded by rainforest and sea, The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa’s award-winning Heavenly Spa combines traditional treatments with natural serenity. Signature treatments like the Urutan Malaysia Massage and Sonic Serenity Fusion restore calm and clarity. Guests seeking active healing can explore Mindful Movement experiences, from sunrise yoga to aqua aerobics and guided nature walks. For a deeper reset, join the resident Yoga Master, a healer with years of experience, who leads sessions in breathwork, alignment and inner healing.

Aqua Yoga

The Westin Desaru Coast Resort

Couple Treatment Room

Sleep is the ultimate luxury at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort. Their dreamy Sleep Well treatments and hydrotherapy rituals, along with the Signature Westin Heavenly Beds and pillow menus, are all designed to lull you into restful slumber. At Heavenly Spa by Westin™, ocean-inspired therapies and mindful spaces offer a sanctuary for the body and soul. Guests can enjoy special seasonal spa experiences made for groups, whether you’re visiting as a couple, with friends, or with family. Every moment here feels like a deep, healing exhale.

No matter where you are — wrapped in a spa robe or halfway through a floral soak — these Marriott Bonvoy hotels prove that self-care isn’t selfish, it’s essential (and seriously luxurious). So book that massage, sip that ginger tea and let your stress melt faster than a candle in a hot stone room. Your glow-up getaway awaits.

Celebrating SG60 the McDonald’s way

By
Tan Heng Hong
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McDonald’s is celebrating the spirit of Singapore with a delicious tribute to local flavours in honour of SG60, the country’s 60th National Day, in collaboration with seafood restaurant JUMBO Seafood. Introducing the Chilli Crab Sauce Chicken Burger and Prawn Burger—each featuring a juicy chicken patty or crispy prawn, generously coated in a rich, locally-inspired chilli crab sauce.

Crafted entirely in Halal-certified facilities with approved ingredients and processes. Do note: the sauce contains shellfish and nuts.

The festive menu also includes:

  • Kampung Drumlets — infused with chilli, turmeric, cumin, and ginger, then fried until irresistibly crispy
  • Pulut Hitam Pie — a twist on the traditional dessert, with sweet black glutinous rice wrapped in a crispy pie shell
  • Iced Dinosaur — a cool and chocolaty treat that Milo fans won’t want to miss

 

New MARIGOLD HL Advance targets sarcopenia

By
Tan Heng Hong
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MARIGOLD HL Advance has officially launched in Malaysia, offering a superior milk option designed to elevate everyday nutrition.

Compared to regular milk, MARIGOLD HL Advance features a noticeably creamier taste and smoother texture, making it both indulgent and nourishing. What sets it apart is its nutrient-rich formulation, boasting 56% more protein and 38% more calcium than standard cow’s milk—based on the Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Malaysia 2017—to better support strength and bone health.

Marketed as a nutritional aid for muscle maintenance and healthy aging, this upgraded milk supports efforts to combat sarcopenia—the age-related, gradual decline of muscle mass and strength that can impact mobility and overall health in later years.

Catch MARIGOLD HL Advance at IOI City Mall, Putrajaya (LG Concourse, East Wing) from 23–27 July 2025 for a health-focused showcase dedicated to raising awareness about sarcopenia, an age-related condition involving muscle loss and weakness.

Attendees can enjoy a range of wellness services, including:

  • Free Muscle Strength Tests
  • Free Body Mass Index (BMI) Assessments
  • Free One-on-One Consultations with Registered Dietitians

Kimball expands its range with launch of Keju-nara and Ayam-nara Carbonara Pasta Sauces in Malaysia

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Campbell Cheong Chan (Malaysia), the manufacturer behind the well-known Kimball brand, has recently introduced two new canned pasta sauces to its product range:

  • Keju-nara (Kimball Cheesy Carbonara Pasta Sauce)
  • Ayam-nara (Kimball Chicken Carbonara Pasta Sauce)

As the names suggest, these new carbonara-style sauces are enriched with cheese powder derived from milk (0.5%) and chicken meat (1%), offering a flavorful twist on classic pasta preparations in a convenient, ready-to-use format.

Grusonn Wellness unveils Malaysia’s first functional mushroom bars

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Image credit: Minimeinsights.com

Grusonn Wellness Sdn Bhd has unveiled Malaysia’s first-ever functional mushroom chocolate bars, crafted from rich 80% dark chocolate using Malaysian cocoa.

These plant-powered delights, showcased at Food & Drinks Malaysia by SIAL 2025, feature a unique fusion of wellness and indulgence—offered in the following variants:

ImmunoLux Blend 

Formulated with Tiger’s milk mushroom for respiratory and joint health and reishi mushroom for calm energy and immunity support.

SmartFuel Blend

Infused with Lion’s mane mushroom for memory and cognitive support and cordyceps for stamina and vitality.

ShroomGuard Blend

A blend of five functional mushrooms:

  • Brazil mushroom for immunity
  • White oyster mushroom for energy and liver support
  • Lion’s mane for brain power
  • Tiger’s milk mushroom for lung and joint health
  • Black fungus for detox and cardiovascular health
Image credit: Minimeinsights.com

Grusonn Wellness Sdn Bhd, headquartered in Malaysia, is a dedicated mushroom research enterprise specialising in the cultivation, development, manufacturing, and marketing of both edible and medicinal mushrooms. The company also offers an extensive range of mushroom-derived products designed to support and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Its functional mushroom chocolate bars, which are enriched with postbiotics and calcium alongside premium mushroom extracts for added wellness benefits.

One effective approach to increase the popularity of functional mushroom chocolate bars is by introducing a bite-sized format—making them more convenient and accessible for on-the-go consumption. Equally important is to communicate how these functional treats seamlessly fit into diverse moments, such as wellness routines, quick energy pick-me-ups, or mindful snacking occasions that resonate with modern consumer habits.

Everyday Cholesterol Care, Blended Seamlessly into Modern Routines

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Photo Credits: F&N Foods

2g of plant stanols in just two cups of MAGNOLIA Cholest Care daily

Singapore, 17 July 2025  –   Singaporeans love their food, and many of the popular dishes are so flavourful due to the high fat content and ingredients that may contribute to elevated cholesterol levels. High blood cholesterol causes heart disease when cholesterol starts building up in the coronary arteries of the heart. According to the Singapore Heart Foundation, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally1. In Singapore, it accounted for 30.9% of all deaths in 2023 – which means that almost one in three deaths in Singapore is due to heart diseases or stroke.1  

By consuming just 2 to 3 grams of plant stanols a day can help manage cholesterol levels by reducing its absorption in the intestines, leading to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol by 7.5-12%, according to the National Lipid Association and the British Dietetic Association2,3. While plant stanols are found naturally in grains, fruits, and veggies, they occur only in trace amounts. For instance, consume 250kg of tomatoes or nearly 2,000 tomatoes a day to achieve the recommended intake of 2 grams of plant stanols.  

Photo Credits: F&N Foods

MAGNOLIA Cholest Care is the only milk in Singapore that delivers 2 grams of plant stanols from Benecol®, a globally well-known cholesterol-lowering functional food brand owned by the Raisio Group of Finland, in just two cups. Benecol® products with added plant stanols have a history of safe use since 1995. This is backed by over 80 clinical studies, conducted over 12 months and 18 months durations, that studied the long-term effects of plant stanol esters.  

By incorporating two cups of MAGNOLIA Cholest Care to a daily routine, individuals can take a simple, delicious step toward lowering blood cholesterol and supporting heart health.  

MAGNOLIA Cholest Care is dairy product, preservative free and halal certified. It does not have any added sugar. The product should be stored in the fridge between 2 and 5 degrees Celsius and should not be frozen. MAGNOLIA Cholest Care is made with fresh milk, rated Nutri-Grade B, trans fat-free, and low in saturated fat, making it a smarter, natural option for everyday cholesterol management. Available in a convenient pack size of 946ml (Recommended Selling Price: S$3.95) at major supermarkets, hypermarkets islandwide and F&N Life. 

F&N Life Milk Subscription Plans 

Consistent daily intake is crucial for measurable health benefits. Through F&N Life’s milk subscription plans that delivers directly to doorsteps, it ensures that MAGNOLIA Cholest Care is always stocked in the fridge. The subscription service reinforces a routine to consume and integrate the functional milk as part of a daily lifestyle. For more information, please visit https://sg.fnlife.com/index.php/magnolia-cholestcare-milk

1.     “Heart Disease Statistics”, Singapore Heart Foundation, https://www.myheart.org.sg/health/heart-disease-statistics/

2.     “Plant Sterols and Stanols in Foods and Supplements, National Lipid Association, https://www.lipid.org/sites/default/files/plant_sterols_im_food_sterol_supplements.pdf

3.     “Stanols and Sterols”, British Dietetic Association, https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/food-facts-plant-stanols-and-sterols.html

Yeo’s releases Orchid Chrysanthemum, Herbal and Peach Teas for Singapore’s 60th

By
Tan Heng Hong
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To mark Singapore’s 60th year of independence, Yeo’s is launching three limited-edition drinks—including the nostalgic return of Orchid Chrysanthemum Tea. This floral-infused brew pays homage to Singapore’s heritage and harmony, blending Yeo’s iconic, time-honoured recipe with a delicate touch of orchid essence for a refreshed yet familiar taste.

Yeo’s is also releasing Cheng Bou Leong, a local favourite herbal tea, now wrapped in a brand-new SG60 limited edition design that captures the essence of home, culture and history. The SG60 Cheng Bou Leong is available exclusively at Sheng Siong.

As part of the SG60 celebration, the beverage company has also introduced a limited-edition Peach Flavoured Green Tea, created in partnership with NTUC FairPrice. The packaging showcases a playful twist on the iconic Merlion—decked out in tropical style with peach-hued sunglasses and a whimsical tea garland, perfectly capturing the spirit of summer and national pride.

Key takeways: celebrating Independence Day through locally-inspired flavours and culturally rooted packaging designs

FairPrice Group releases SG60 limited-edition potato chips to mark Singapore’s 60th Independence Day

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Image credit: FairPrice Group

In celebration of Singapore’s 60th year of independence, FairPrice Group has launched the SG60 FairPrice potato chips—a limited-edition range featuring bold local flavors like Black Pepper Crab, Laksa, and Kopi. Designed as a flavorful tribute to the nation’s culinary heritage, the chips will be available at all FairPrice supermarkets and Cheers outlets from July through September 2025.

 

Key takeaways: locally-inspired potato chip flavours

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