Thailand’s Green Spot Co. Ltd. has launched V-Oat by V-Soy, a new oat milk drink, in Malaysia. V-Oat is made from Swedish oat and is high in fibre. It has a smooth taste and is suitable for vegans. V-Oat is free from lactose and soy.
Other plant-based drinks by Green Spot include V-Soy Golden Grain Soy Oats And Almond, V-Soy Soya Bean and V-Soy Multi-Grain.
Indonesian tea brand Tong Tji has unveiled the Tematik Instant Chocolate drink in Indonesia. Consumers can prepare the drink cold or hot. Tong Tji has Instant Teh Tarik and Matcha Latte under the Tematik range. We are seeing a flurry of launches in the chocolate drink segment, which reflects consumers’ interest in sweet, chocolatey drinks.
In another development, Tong Tji has collaborated with Summerspring to launch Reed Diffuser made from jasmine tea to freshen up the surroundings.
Frisian Flag has made sweetened condensed milk more flavourful and trendy with the launch of Frisian Flag Sweetened Condensed Milk Strawberry Flavour with Vitamin C (Frisian Flag Kental Manis Korean Strawberry dengan Vitamin C). The new sweetened condensed milk contains 8 vitamins and 3 minerals with nutrition that support strong energy for active days.
The new strawberry variant makes sweetened condensed milk more permissible. It also encourages consumers to be creative with sweetened condensed milk to increase usage.
Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park draws from Malaysia’s rich history and culture
to create an authentic neighbourhood-inspired stay for guests
8 December 2023, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: IHG Hotels & Resorts celebrates its 150th Hotel Indigo globally with the opening of Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park, marking the brand’s debut in Malaysia’s capital city.
Just as no two neighbourhoods are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are alike. Located in Malaysia’s prestigious Golden Triangle, the 180-room urban oasis overlooks picturesque Bukit Nanas and is flanked by KL Forest Eco Park—the only remaining patch of tropical rainforest in central Kuala Lumpur. This iconic area of the neighbourhood plays a central role in the hotel’s design. Malaysiabased designers GA Group presented nods to local cultural nuances, history and references woven around the rainforest, enriching the overall guest experience.
“Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park celebrates the people, places and experiences that make the neighbourhood one-of-a-kind. We are excited to be able to share these stories and inspire local discovery as our guests forge meaningful connections with this wonderful city and its people. The team is looking forward to creating a stay experience authentically local to our neighbourhood here in Kuala Lumpur for our guests and welcome those that live in the community into our space,” said Ashleigh Garside, General Manager, Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur.
Sustainability in design is also a big focal point of the newly opened hotel. Upon entering the lobby, guests are greeted by a living vertical garden, a distinctive central staircase constructed from old railway sleepers and reinforcement steel bars from the hotel site during construction, and a largescale installation by GA Design made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. In addition, there are feature lights created from old bottles, artwork created utilising old books and reception desks from rescued tree roots sourced within Malaysia.
Every corner of the property is filled with local character and distinctly Malaysian motifs—from the tiffin carriers and Hap Seng cracker tins as well as the rattan furniture motifs that grace the hotel guestrooms, to ornate hand-painted Peranakan tiles, and pages from the nostalgic Chinese calendar that line the interior of the wardrobes, Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park offers a fresh perspective of its neighbourhood, distilling its authenticity and charm into beautifully intimate spaces that honour the history and traditions of its locale while encouraging guests to uncover all that makes Kuala Lumpur so vibrant and unique.
With the country known for its incredible multicultural cuisine, guests at the property will not have to wander far for a taste of Malaysia. At Wok Star, guests will be able to enjoy the best of local cuisine while those on the hunt for a great steak, can dine at The Silver Monkey.
On the rooftop is a 24-hour fitness centre and an outdoor pool, offering guests a bird’s-eye view of Kuala Lumpur’s intriguing cityscape: its soaring skyscrapers interposed with heritage buildings and charming enclaves to form the lingua franca of Malaysia’s diverse culture. Additional hotel amenities include three flexible event spaces with one overlooking KL Tower.
The Library in the lobby houses a vast array of local authors whose books can be purchased as a lasting souvenir. Many of the items in the guest rooms will also be available for purchase, including hand-woven baskets which will be sold in support of the Penan community—a nomadic indigenous people from East Malaysia.
Part of the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, Hotel Indigo is the world’s neighbourhood hotel, and celebrates how guests can discover, or rediscover, some of the most inspiring and culturally rich neighbourhoods across the world. With 278 hotels open or in the pipeline globally, each hotel draws on the local neighbourhood, culture and popular trends in food, drink and design to create a warm and vibrant atmosphere. New hotel openings for Hotel Indigo in 2024 include Hotel Indigo Saigon The City, Hotel Indigo Bandung Dago Pakar, Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach, Hotel Indigo Jabal Al-Akhdar and Hotel Indigo Palau.
The best-in-class loyalty programme, IHG One Rewards, provides guests of Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park—and the wider IHG Hotels & Resorts’ family of brands—with more ways to earn than ever before, including richer benefits tailored to their needs, all powered by leading technology on its new mobile app.
For enquiries and reservations, please visit the hotel’s website, call +60 03 26303888 or email hotelindigo.kualalumpur@ihg.com.
Nabati Group has added Mi Goreng to its instant noodle offering in Indonesia. The new extra-large portion noodle (85g) adds to the existing Nabati Soto Mi launched in 2023.
Nabati has launched instant noodles with different levels of spiciness under the Richeese brand in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia to tap into the meal and snacking occasions. The latest addition by Nabati with the new Mi Goreng brings the brand into the mainstream Mi Goreng segment, which is the most popular style of instant noodle in the country.
PT Akasha Wira International, which operates brands under Nestle Pure Life, Mujigae and Wonhae, has launched Japanese instant noodles under the Omoide brand. The range comprises Omoide Carbonara Udon and Omoide Kake Udon.
Both products are certified halal. They are udon-based noodles in Japanese dashi soup and Western carbonara sauce targeting consumers who want affordable, easy-to-cook Japanese udon noodles.
Thursday 07 December 2023 – Herbalife, a global health and wellness company, today announced that during the year to date it has launched 20 unique products (43 product SKUs) in Asia Pacific markets, including formulations specially tailored to the needs of local consumers.
The launch of these new products underscores Herbalife’s focus on science-based innovation, and diversifying the existing range targeting weight management, daily nutrition supplementation, fitness and performance, and skin and body care, to meet shifting consumer demands.
According to Herbalife’s recent Asia Pacific Health Priority Survey, 77% of consumers in the Asia Pacific region became more health conscious as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and are increasingly prioritizing a healthy, active lifestyle, which includes healthier food choices in tandem with consuming dietary supplements.
“Our deep roots in Asia Pacific, combined with the close connections with our distributor community, ensure we can understand and respond to the evolving needs of consumers in the region,” said Stephen Conchie, Regional President for Asia Pacific and China at Herbalife. “Hence, we are continuously innovating to create new products with flavors suiting local palates or targeting specific health needs, to help consumers achieve their unique wellness goals.”
New Product Highlights
Meal Replacement and Protein Supplements
Around the world, more than five million Formula 1 protein shakes are consumed every day – helping make Herbalife the #1 brand in the world in meal replacement and protein supplements combined[1]. Adding to the robust flavor profile of Formula 1 protein shake is Red Bean and Coix Seed, launched in Hong Kong and Macau to suit the flavor preference of local people. Meanwhile, Formula 1 Select was launched in Singapore; this plant-based protein shake caters to vegetarians or people with specific dietary requirements.
Nutritional Supplements
Herbalife also offers a vast portfolio of dietary supplements, encompassing solutions for heart health, digestive health, immunity, relaxation and more. Products launched this year include:
Sports Nutrition
Herbalife24 is a comprehensive performance nutrition line dedicated to helping active people and athletes achieve their goals. Launched in Japan, Herbalife24 BCAAs is formulated with branched-chain amino acids and leucine to support sports performance, while the green apple flavor especially appeals to local consumers.
Awards and Certifications Testify to Product Quality
Herbalife products are grounded in science and backed by a global network of more than 300 doctors and experts in nutrition, science and health. Attesting its commitment to product excellence, Herbalife has won numerous awards and certifications reflecting consumer trust in its products, coupled with recognition of product quality and efficacy. Among notable awards won by the company in Asia Pacific this year are:
“Our commitment to quality is a continuous journey; this commitment enables us to support millions of distributors and their customers with the very best nutrition products every single day,” added Conchie.
[1]Source Euromonitor International Limited; per Consumer Health 2023ed, meal replacement and protein supplements definitions; combined % RSP share GBO, 2022 data.
Nestlé Malaysia has launched a new “add-on” or “Tambah-Je” multi-grain cereal drink Nestum in Malaysia. Nestlé has been communicating the merits of adding Nestum to beverages to elevate the drink in terms of its nutritional content.
According to Nestlé, adding Nestum into drinks can increase vitamin C and D levels, protein, iron, calcium and fibre for a more nutritious and wholesome drink.
Nestum is trying to position itself as a beverage add-on to expand the usage occasions in addition to being a stand-alone drink.
Buy Nestum now on Nestle Malaysia’s official Shopee store.
Farm Fresh, a Malaysian dairy company, has launched Farm Fresh Grow Powder, aiming to disrupt the growing up milk category in Malaysia. This latest offering follows the successful launch of Farm Fresh Grow UHT Formulated Milk in 2022 and caters specifically to children between 1 and 6 years of age.
Packed with essential nutrients like BB-12 probiotic, DHA (algae), FOS prebiotic, and 22 vitamins and minerals, Farm Fresh Grow Powder supports happy and healthy development for children. No added sugar ensures a healthier choice for parents.
The key ingredients are cow’s, milk, inulin fibre, DHA (algae), choline, taurine, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin C, vitamin D3, antioxidants & permitted stabiliser as food conditioner.
Leveraging their bold strategy of highlighting naturalness and superior nutritional quality, Farm Fresh compares Farm Fresh Grow Powder with competing brands to differentiate itself in the market.
For added convenience, Farm Fresh Grow Powder is also available in pre-measured stick format, alongside 500g and 800g pouch packs.
In partnership with Early Autism Project Malaysia to support and empower people with disabilities
December 7, 2023, Kuala Lumpur – Recognising the importance of supporting people with disabilities in the community, global apparel retailer UNIQLO has collaborated with Early Autism Project Malaysia (EAP) to create fresh designs for its latest UTme! Collection. These new designs, conceptualised based on the theme “Be Kind’ and contributed by children with autism, offer unique and meaningful perspectives, showcasing the children’s interpretations and creative expressions.
To coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in December, UNIQLO has joined hands with EAP, an educational center that focuses on autism rehabilitation within the local community, to raise awareness and shine a spotlight on the artistic talents of young Malaysians with autism. The UTme! and EAP Collection, encompassing seven designs, is exclusively offered starting today at UNIQLO stores at DA Square, Fahrenheit88 and Sunway Pyramid.
UNIQLO, in collaboration with EAP through UTme!, funded the new designs, contributing support towards EAP’s The Hope Project, which is an initiative to raise awareness, inclusivity, and set national standards in the field of autism. This commitment reflects UNIQLO’s dedication to inclusivity and empowerment of individuals with autism, aiming to increase awareness and access to accurate diagnosis and treatment for individuals on the autism spectrum.
“Social acceptance remains one of the key factors in cultivating an inclusive and safe environment for autistic individuals within the Malaysian community. It’s heartening to see organisations like UNIQLO introducing initiatives that raise awareness of our autistic community,” said Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia.
“UTme! is a service offered by UNIQLO that allows customers to choose custom designs created by our collaborating artists and designers for T-shirts or tote bags. Our collaboration with EAP showcases artwork created by children with autism, providing them a platform to express their creativity and raise awareness about Malaysia’s autistic community through the UTme! service. Autism awareness is a cause that resonate deeply with us, as we not only hire 30 individuals with disabilities, but among them, six incredible individuals are on the autism spectrum,” said Evelyn Tan, Legal, Sustainability and Corporate PR, Director of UNIQLO Malaysia. (中文：UNIQLO马来西亚可持续发展总监 – 陈钻晶)
“Our nonprofit initiative, The Hope Project, is committed to raising awareness and acceptance of individuals with autism as well as other disabilities, providing subsidised services and accessible resources. We truly commend UNIQLO’s efforts in supporting inclusion, diversity and ultimately standing as a beacon of hope for individuals with autism and their families,” said Jochebed Isaacs, Director of Early Autism Project Malaysia.
In addition to the partnership with EAP, UNIQLO is further improving its DA Square store to create a more accessible environment for all. The store currently offers universal fitting rooms, wheelchair-accessible disability toilets, and designated parking spaces for people with disabilities. Moreover, UNIQLO will introduce exclusive quiet shopping hours on Thursday mornings throughout December, from 9.30am to 10.30am featuring no in-store music, with UNIQLO staff available to assist shoppers with disabilities during their visit.
UNIQLO is also organising a workshop aimed at equipping its employees with awareness and knowledge to support colleagues with disabilities. This initiative is part of the company’s commitment to cultivating an inclusive mindset among all employees, fostering an accepting workplace environment, and extending these values to effectively serve UNIQLO’s diverse customer base. Currently, UNIQLO employs 30 staff who have a disability across its Malaysian stores.
For more information about UNIQLO and its sustainability initiatives, please visit www.uniqlo.com/my.
