Friday 17 June 2022 – Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) applies 3R approach; Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, in packaging design for its PET plastic with 80% recycled plastic to reduce virgin plastic packaging footprint and subsequently mitigate plastic waste problem. Currently, CP Foods’s all egg packaging are 100% recyclable.
The move is in line with the company’s sustainability goal that all of CP Foods’ plastic packages worldwide must be reusable or recyclable or upcycle or compostable by 2030.
CP Foods’ Assistant Vice-President Kitti Wangwiwatsilp says the company has applies “Design for Recycling” guidelines to ensure the circular transition of its plastic packaging. He explained that CP Foods’ egg trays are thoughtfully designed based on 3R approach, “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”. 0He added that the sustainable egg tray is one of many initiatives. So far, 99.9% of CP Foods plastic food packaging can be Reusable, Recyclable, Upcyclable or Compostable.
Under this concept, CP Foods is taking an action to reduce the use of virgin plastics. This can be done by increasing the proportion of recycled materials in egg packaging without compromising on food quality and safety, Also, the company supports the reuse of packaging and making recyclability one of the key design considerations. As a result, CP Foods’ egg packages are designed to allow users ease to recycle.
“Due to continuous effort, 80% of the plastic packaging used for our egg products is made of recycled plastic. We only use 20% of virgin plastic material for food safety reasons. Our recycled materials have been tested and verified by a laboratory of a trustable third-party. This ensures that the plastic material used in the production of egg packaging is safe and does not affect the quality of the food,” Mr. Kitti said.
In 2021, the recycled content help CP Foods to reduce the use of virgin plastic for its egg tray by 373 tons, enable the company to reduce CO2 emission 583 tons CO2e per year. This can be compared to switching off 65 million of 15w LED lights for an hour. Asides, the company is switching to alternative materials such as recycled paper. Packaging of the 30-Egg Tray and premium egg products such as CP Cage Free Selection and CP Omega Egg Pack 4 and Pack 10 are made from 100% recycled paper.
In the previous year, CP Foods could reduce paper use by 889 tons and plastic materials by 672 tons. The company continues to study and collaborate with partners to develop innovative packaging that is environmentally friendly to achieve the goal of reducing the use of plastic and paper in food packaging totalling 1,000 tons in 2025.
Glico Philippines Inc has announced the launch of new Pocky range in the Philippines to tap into the growing healthy eating trend in the Philippines. The upgraded Pocky range comes with added fibre to provide consumers with a guilt-free and a healthier choice. The addition of wholewheat gives the pretzel a lighter and crispier texture.
The crispier and tastier Pocky with new high-fiber and wholewheat biscuit sticks are available from 8th June 2022.
Friday 17 June 2022 – NESCAFE is shaking up Thailand’s coffee market by introducing “The best-ever coffee recipe, new NESCAFE BLEND & BREW RICH AROMA,” allocating a 800-million-baht budget to attract the new generation and coffee drinkers across the country.
The biggest product change of NESCAFE BLEND & BREW in three years, this new recipe innovation was developed to meet Thai people’s taste preferences with the perfect blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans to offer the perfect harmony of taste in every dimension and the richer aroma of finely ground roasted coffee.
Its premiere is showcased by the innovative “NESCAFE Harmony Mug,” that offers a sensorial and immersive coffee experience featuring Nadech and Yaya for the first time in Thailand for Thai consumers to enjoy. NESCAFE will also conduct the largest and most innovative sampling in its history, giving out five million sample cups of NESCAFE BLEND & BREW RICH AROMA for consumers across Thailand to try this best-ever recipe.
Ms. Sriprapha Chingprasertsuk, Business Manager – Soluble Coffee and Creamer, Nestle (Thai) Ltd., said, “To reach out to all coffee lovers and the new generation, we have prepared a well-rounded series of marketing activities to support this launch.”
The first is 30-second TV commercials titled “Perfect Harmony of Taste” that feature Nadech Kugimiya and Yaya Urassaya Sperbund, NESCAFE BLEND & BREW brand ambassadors.
The second key activity is the NESCAFE Harmony Mug, featuring Thailand’s first-ever 4D Sensory Sampling that delivers an immersive coffee experience of the perfect harmony of taste in every dimension of the new recipe of NESCAFE BLEND & BREW RICH AROMA. The cool activities at the NESCAFE Harmony Mug are being held at BTS – Siam Square One connection platform from 16 to 19 June 2022 from 10:00 to 20:00 hrs with Gulf Kanawut Traipipattanapong will participate on Saturday 18 June and Yin Anan Wong and War Wanarat Ratsameerat will join the activities on Sunday 19 June.
NESCAFE’s third key marketing activity is the largest and most innovative sampling campaign in our history, as we offer five million sample cups of NESCAFE BLEND & BREW RICH AROMA to consumers throughout Thailand so they can try the new recipe at participating supermarkets and hypermarkets
CRUST Group is making waves these days with its sustainable beer made from surplus bread. The group recently collaborated with foodpanda in Singapore to launch Pau-Pau Loaf Like A Panda Ale, a ‘sustainabeer’ to champion sustainability.
“This pale ale has citrus and floral notes with a malt finish. It has a slightly sweet taste and leaves a refreshing, toasted aftertaste. Perfect for loafing around in this blistering weather!”
With alcoholic drinks made from surplus bread, brands now have another avenue to demonstrate their commitment towards sustainability.
SHAH ALAM, 17 June 2022 – Year 2022 is Probably the Most Memorable Year for the employees and friends of Carlsberg Malaysia as one of the leading brewers in the world – Carlsberg celebrates its 175th birthday globally.
To commemorate this milestone, Carlsberg Group Chief Executive Officer Cees ‘t Hart visited the Malaysia operations to also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Carlsberg Danish Pilsner manufactured locally in the Shah Alam brewery. Carlsberg Malaysia is the first brewery built outside of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Evolving from a global flagship brand to Probably The Best Beer in the World – Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, the operations in Malaysia has also innovated its brew and drinking experience with two quality brews, namely Carlsberg Smooth Draught that is brewed longer for its signature smoothness and the strong and full-bodied malty lager, Carlsberg Special Brew, offering a perfect pint of beer for every beer lover at any occasions.
Reiterating its commitment to deliver Probably The Best drinking experience, the brewer has also refreshed the identity and upgraded the packaging of both Carlsberg Danish Pilsner and Carlsberg Smooth Draught in 2019 and 2021 respectively, making it a progressive brand that Just Keeps Getting Better – 175 years today and years ahead.
“Malaysia is one of the key growth drivers in Asia for the Group. I’m very proud that Carlsberg Malaysia is agile, resilient and safely navigated the storm and emerged stronger than ever, throughout the pandemic. The second half of the year poses three main challenges – the uncertainties of COVID-19, impact from the war in Ukraine and the growing global inflation. I have full confidence that, together with our customers, partners and employees, Carlsberg Malaysia will continue to brew for a better today and tomorrow,” said Hart, making his first visit in Asia after the travel restrictions are lifted in Malaysia.
Confidence over the growth opportunities in the country and proving the Group’s long-term commitment to invest in Malaysia, the Carlsberg Group has set aside a capital expenditure (CapEx) of RM110 million to upgrade its Shah Alam brewery, the largest investment the local brewer has made in 30 years. This investment is set to modernise its production facilities to deliver higher efficiency and enable greater flexibility in packaging options as well as sustainability performance in energy, water and waste management.
While it has been tough for Carlsberg Malaysia, given that the brewer’s operations were suspended for 122 days due to the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, it recognises and acknowledges that its People are the backbone of its success.
In Leading with Care and building a Diverse and Inclusive Culture, the brewer had placed great emphasis on safeguarding its people and the development of its talents. Some of these efforts include accelerating the vaccination programme of the entire workforce last year, mandatory weekly swab test, as well was exporting five of our local talents to three countries (Hong Kong, Singapore and Cambodia) last year, and ensuring that policies and practices are catered to support employees who had family and personal commitments.
Guided by its Purpose of Brewing for a Better Today and Tomorrow, Carlsberg Malaysia has evolved from its sustainability programme to implement a more inclusive environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities.
To-date, Carlsberg Malaysia remains as a counter of note within FTSE Russell’s FTSE4GOOD Bursa Malaysia (F4GBM) Index and achieved a Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) ESG ratings of “AA”.
From left to right: Lim Jin Yin, Co-Founder and COO, Phuture, Eric Wong Kuok Shen, Head of Marketing, CU Malaysia, Anabelle Co-Martinent, Co-Founder and CMO, Phuture, Blake Dang Kuok Siang, Executive Director, CU Malaysia, David Lee Ming Tee, Senior Manager Fresh Food, CU Malaysia & Jack Yap, Co-Founder and CEO, Phuture
From Grand Hyatt, to KyoChon and myNEWS partner-CU Malaysia, amongst others
Confident in growth in Malaysia & region with hero product, High Fibre “Chicken”
Anabelle Co Martinent of La Juiceria Group joins Phuture
Kuala Lumpur, 16 June 2022 – Malaysian plant-based meat company Phuture positions itself firmly in the local market through partnerships with leading brands. This comes at an apt time, as we witness spikes in food costs worldwide and the current chicken shortage in Malaysia, which have pushed restaurants and retailers to look at alternative food choices for consumers.
Founded in 2018 by Malaysian duo Jack Yap and Lim Jin Yin, Phuture’s vision is to tackle growing global issues through the manufacture of nutritious, tasty plant-based products at its factory located in Klang, Selangor. The Phuture plant proteins and fibers matrix intends to mimic the texture and taste of meat with enhanced nutrition. This is achieved through a mix of plant protein, carbohydrates, fats, natural colours and flavouring, and the use of thermal processing.
Phuture has thus far secured close to RM7 million in funding from investors in Singapore and Hong Kong as proof of concept and achievement of product development. It looks to further fundraise to scale its operations beyond Malaysia. Given the current surge in demand, Phuture projects to increase its half-year performance by 100% at the end of 2022. Currently, Phuture has its footprint across Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, and Thailand.
This 2022, the company is also looking to expand to the Philippines and Indonesia as the market potential is significant. Indonesia’s plant-based trend maturity is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33% and the Philippines at a CAGR of 8% according to research done by AI Palette, the world’s first AI platform for leading product innovation.
Jack Yap, CEO, Phuture
“In the last few months, we have witnessed a surge of buy-ins, winning over the confidence of reputable brands. From KyoChon, one of the largest Korean fried-chicken restaurants, to Grand Hyatt, a leading five star hotel and most recently Korea’s No 1 Convenience store, CU Malaysia, who are partners of the well-known myNEWS.com chain. We are now available widely, and at an affordable price,” added Yap.
David Lee Ming Tee, Senior Fresh Food manager of CU Malaysia said “We are the first convenience store in Malaysia to offer plant-based crispy Korean fried chicken in Malaysia. At RM8.99 per meal, everyone can enjoy what was previously inaccessible to many. We plan to make this available in all 90 outlets across Malaysia.”
Chef Wan, official ambassador for Phuture Foods in Malaysia
Phuture’s hero product across all markets will be its high fibre chicken, given its an important element in Asia as it is an affordable, accessible and versatile type of protein. With Malaysia chalking an all time high for obesity at 50.1%, Phuture’s nutritious high fibre “chicken” comes at an apt time as its recipe is made from a mix of plant protein, carbohydrates, fats, with natural colours and flavouring.
“Plant-based meats were previously not popular here in Malaysia but we are beginning to overcome perceptions with our ability to customise products according to the preference of our B2B clients. With our recent sign ups including KyoChon and CU Malaysia, we are strategically enabling Malaysians to experience plant-based meals affordably,” Yap further added.
As part of its aggressive regional expansion plan, the company has recently onboarded Anabelle Co-Martinent as Chief Marketing Officer. Well known for merging her passion for health food, marketing and entrepreneurship, she is synonymous with the visionary growth of La Juiceria Superfoods group, Super Saigon and Hawker Hall restaurants.
“I’m excited to come onboard Phuture at such a pivotal moment. Post pandemic, many have realised we cannot solely rely on meat, with Covid-19 highlighting personal health, sustainability and food safety issues. My interest in food, technology and my love for marketing come together under this brand, and I hope to continue my quest in making healthy eating sustainable in Malaysia and throughout the region,” added Anabelle.
Terry Goh, CEO of KyoChon Sdn Bhd said “At KyoChon, we have always believed in serving food that is enjoyable, tasty and most of all nutritious. Plant-based options offer all of the above and are also more humane and environmentally friendly than animal sources.
“We’re proud to be amongst one of the first chain restaurants in Malaysia to offer plant-based options. We’re working closely with Phuture and our research and development centre in South Korea to develop new plant-based offerings as we’re targeting plant-based to grow up to 20% of our product sales mix within the next five years.”
Phuture meat frozen products are currently available at outlets such as:
Throwing Your Tastebuds A Party With Some Tender Yet Crispy Bites
Malaysia, 15 June 2022 – If there is one thing that we, Malaysians love, it’s definitely our food! And trust us when we say an extremely crispy and flavourful fried chicken is at the top of that list. In hopes of connecting with our fellow Malaysians to celebrate our love for the local diverse food, we now have an all new im-peck-able menu that is sure to give you “just honestly good fried chicken”.
Although Jackson’s Fried Chicken may no longer be the newest chick in town, it certainly is still the finest. Satisfying cravings since 2020, Jackson’s have now moved into bringing a more localised flavour into the fast food dimension. The new and improved menu incorporates much-loved local delights such as the Nasi Lemak and other sweet tooth options that is sure to leave you wanting more.
Sayantan Das, Managing Director of foodpanda Malaysia revealed his delight in the new menu. “The concept of combining local cuisine with international flavours is the new creative fusion that is gaining popularity today. We are excited to partner with Jackson’s to deliver honestly good fried chicken and more to hungry Malaysians.
Original Popcorn Chicken Nasi Lemak
That’s right! Your eyes do not deceive you. With the intention of taking the fried chicken game to a whole new level, Jackson’s is combining their juicy fried chicken with the pride of Malaysia, the ever fragrant Nasi Lemak! Customers are now able to enjoy Nasi Lemak with Jackson’s Popcorn Chicken, may it be the scrumptious original flavour or the fiery spicy flavour. Honestly, sumpah sedap!
Crispy Cheesy Wedges
While not necessarily a local flavour but most certainly a local favourite, crispy cheesy wedges are amongst the new additions to the Jackson’s menu. Topped with a generous amount of cheesy sauce, the eating experience is comparable to hosting a party in your mouth. But that’s not all! The Chicken Porridge is another local staple which makes its entry into the Jackson Fried Chicken armoury. This hearty dish, paired with crispy chicken chunks is a wholesome meal that is comfort food for your soul.The smooth and silky delicacy too can be enjoyed with crispy chicken chunks in original or spicy flavour.
Burnt Cheese Cake
Savoury options not cutting it for you? Guilty of having a sweet tooth? Not to worry as Jackson’s has got you covered! Introducing the lusciously sinful dessert menu crafted to hit all your sweet spots!
Devour the Double Chocolate Muffin that is guaranteed to melt in your mouth. This showpiece muffin is stuffed with chocolate chips in every bite and does not get any more delicious than this. Besides that, there’s also the Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin, a classic combination that strikes the perfect balance of banana and chocolate.
Biscoff Baked Cheese Cake
We have more! The Biscoff Baked Cheesecake is a dreamy newcomer that will rock your world. It’s a biscoff lover’s dream in every sense. Finally, enjoy the delightfully light Burnt Cheesecake that is sure to leave you feeling a little bit guilty (the good kind).
What are you waiting for? Orders can be made through foodpanda so don’t forget to chick-it-out here! To find out more on Jackson’s and their latest offerings, check them out on Instagram too!
Bangkok, Thailand, 31 May 2022 – One of Thailand’s leading supermarket retailers, Lotus’s, has partnered with logistics provider Kuehne+Nagel Thailand to become the first supermarket retailer in the country to use electric vehicles (EVs) in their distribution operations for bakery delivery. Through this partnership, the two companies will mark a first for the retail industry in Thailand, and pave the way towards greater sustainability for the nation.
The first stage of the bakery distributions using EVs has been rolled out recently in Bangkok, with further plans to increase the number of vehicles and cities to 5 Bangkok routes and 21 regional routes in the coming months. Prior, Lotus’s distributions used standard diesel vans. The replacement of these vans with EVs is expected to result in a reduction of 24.7 tonnes of CO2 emissions per truck each year, greatly reducing the company’s overall carbon footprint.
“Lotus’s is committed to ensuring its operations are sustainable, and we are delighted to work with Kuehne+Nagel Thailand to achieve this milestone and towards Charoen Pokphand Group’s ambition to become a net zero organisation by 2030. As one of the leading supermarket retailers in Thailand, we hope the positive impact we are making will inspire other companies to follow suit,” said Mr. Ekachai Phoosanabhongs, Distribution Director, Lotus’s Thailand.
Bjoern Schoon, Managing Director for Kuehne+Nagel Thailand says: “We are proud to be a part of this initiative, and help pave the way for more similar projects in Thailand and around the world. The EV project is a key development in making logistics more sustainable, and Kuehne+Nagel is committed to helping customers achieve their sustainability goals.”
Rebates Platform Proves Itself a Digital Native With Value-Added Solutions
13 June 2022 – GETBATS, Malaysia’s largest anchor company for merchant data markets and Malaysia’s number one instant rebates shopping platform, has been taking the country by storm with its irresistible deals and activations. With the brands’ most recent collaboration with the iFood Expo in Penang, they have demonstrated their dedication to pioneering technology advancement in the field, paving the way for accessible marketing techniques.
Entitled the ‘iFood Hunter’ campaign, the mechanics saw iFood Expo visitors scanning a QR code at the entrance of the fair in order to stand a chance to win up to RM5,000 in cash daily. The allure of such a grand prize enticed the visitors to register with GETBATS via the QR code, resulting in over 3,000 app downloads for the brand, and the redemption of over 1,000 prizes.
Alvin Lee, Chief Marketing Officer of GETBATS, said “Technological integration is becoming more and more vital to ensure an event is a roaring success. By incorporating creative approaches to attract consumers, we managed to consolidate a vast network of data while raising awareness for the GETBATS platform. A targeted approach to this campaign that considered generational tech preference was the key to locking in further activations, and we’re glad to say that we succeeded in engaging with over 30,000 visitors in just a span of 3 days.”
Brands are constantly challenged to be proactive in coming up with creative ways to influence consumers. In order to stay ahead of the competition, many are incorporating existing and emerging technologies to respond to consumer preferences and boost the industry’s growth. GETBATS’ goal of testing data consolidation with the iFood partnership simultaneously allowed them to measure attendee behaviour and consumption with the usage of QR codes, while split-testing live-marketing tactics to make data-driven decisions.
“Tech innovations have fuelled our desire to promote creative projects – but ultimately, all we want to do is provide a better experience for the user,” shared Alvin further. “A seamless digital experience will encourage greater adoption of our platform, and by enticing them with attractive offerings and creative tech-based approaches, they are more likely to experience GETBATS to the fullest.”
The iFood Hunter campaign saw other attractive prizes up for grabs, such as a Vivo Y17 phone, Canon printers, and F&B vouchers from Starbucks and KFC. Visitors were required to register as a GEBATS user via the provided QR code, and from there, began a treasure hunt which led them to different booths scattered throughout the expo. Users then scanned QR codes at the multiple ‘checkpoints’ and visited the GETBATS counter to complete the treasure hunt, and be eligible for the grand prize.
GETBATS has been consistently expanding its touch points throughout the years, and focusing on conceptualising both online and offline programmes designed to not only attract, but retain customers. This strategy has paid off well, assisting GETBATS in expanding their market reach, while bridging offline marketing to online conversions.
Make sure to experience GETBATS’ innovations at the upcoming iFood Expo at Pavilion Exhibition Hall Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, from the 1st to 3rd July. To find out more, please visit getbats.com. GETBATS is a brand owned by Starbox Rebates Sdn Bhd, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Starbox Holdings Berhad.
Kaspersky experts saw cybercriminals consolidated their efforts to focus on more dangerous and profitable threats instead
14 June 2022 – Kaspersky observed a downward trend in the number of attacks on mobile users in 2021. However, there is no reason to celebrate as the attacks are becoming more sophisticated in terms of both malware functionality and vectors. Monitoring from the global cybersecurity company also shows cybercriminals have shifted their focus to banking and gaming.
Malaysia was ranked 10th in the top 10 countries in the world with 27.36% share of users targeted by mobile malware in 2019. The number dropped to 19.68% in 2020, and further reduced to 12.43% in 2021. Kaspersky’s annual analysis of mobile threats demonstrated a positive trend, where the number of attacks on mobile users worldwide has been declining but experts believe it is too early to relax.
“Let’s talk about the good news. There have been fewer mobile attacks in 2021. Now the bad news, where the attacks are becoming more complex and harder to spot. The malicious apps are masked under the guise of legitimate apps, that can be downloaded from the official app stores. Deleting apps from official stores does not always lead to victory over the malware, as we see the developers upload new modified versions to the store, under different names and different developer accounts. So, it is quite hard to notice, but our team will continue to monitor and report these malicious apps,” says Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager of Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.
Android maintains its position as the leading mobile operating system worldwide, thus it will remain as the target of the cybercriminals dur to the high number of users. Cybercriminals often go after a larger pool of victims.
“Our money and essential data are currently in our mobile devices, so it is important for every Android devices to install reliable security app to guard their privacy, identity and be protected from common malware and advanced hacking tricks,” adds Yeo.
Central Bank of Malaysia announced that Malaysia saw 1.87 billion electronic money transactions worth RM45.2 billion from January to November 2021. There were also victims reported to have lost their monies in the e-money.
Kaspersky experts see cybercriminals would focus on doing advanced scam and social engineering attempts, using non-technology focused attacks, and exploiting human vulnerabilities on mobile users in Southeast Asia.
“Our experts also expect an even more significant wave of attacks on cryptocurrency businesses and even against the rising non-fungible token (NFT), as Malaysia in particular is leading in terms of NFT ownership, at 23.9% across the region. So please remain vigilant,” elaborates Yeo.
Kaspersky experts has the following advices for mobile users to protect their data from mobile threats:-
Download your apps from official stores only.
Check the permissions of apps that you use and think carefully before permitting an app, especially when it comes to high-risk permissions such as accessibility services. The only permission that a flashlight app needs is the flashlight, which does not involve camera access.
Install a reliable security app that helps you detect malicious apps and adware before they start behaving badly on your devices.
iPhone users have some privacy controls provided by Apple, and users can block app access to photos, contacts and GPS features if they think these permissions are unnecessary.
Update your operating system and important apps as updates become available. Many safety issues can be solved by installing updated versions of software.
On distinguishing between a real bank personnel or a banking Trojan, Kaspersky experts have the following advices:
If one received a call or email from your bank that you weren’t expecting, treat it with suspicion and never disclose personal details in emails or unless you have called the bank yourself.
Only access your bank account from a secure wireless network.
Never post personal information that could reveal your banking details on social network sites.
Check your account and credit card statements regularly for suspicious transactions. If you see something strange, report it to your bank immediately.
Use common sense and be cautious. Do not click links that say they are from your bank. Double check if a message is genuine, and call your bank.
Your mobile devices need robust security app to protect it against malicious programs and cyberattacks.
Read Kaspersky’s full 2021 Threat Landscape report for Southeast Asia here.
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