COVID-19 has forced most of Malaysians to stay at home. The shutdown of points of interest, workplaces, schools, and universities has made a colossal difference in our daily lives.
Picodi.com Analysis Team investigated Google search queries and created a ranking of the activities which gained the biggest popularity in the times of pandemic.
Trapped at home
We took a closer look at the most popular hobbies and activities, such as cinema, books, games, and many others. We checked the frequency of search queries connected to these activities in March 2020 and compared them with March of the previous year.
After evaluating statistics, it turned out that all activities that require leaving home have become less popular: cinema dropped by 77 per cent, concerts â 44 per cent, theatre â 40 per cent. Malaysians also lost interest in foreign languages (decrease of 39 per cent). Probably itâs no longer such a sought-after ability in the world of closed borders.
The biggest increase of interest was noted in online games (144 per cent), PC games (133 per cent), and board games. Cooking and listening to podcasts rounded out the top five hobbies in recent days.
Workout placed sixth with a 45 per cent increase, which means that people probably look for alternatives to gyms and fitness clubs. Various creative activities and crafts, like drawing (28 per cent) or painting (11 per cent) have also gained popularity.
Among activities which increased by a relatively slow margin are origami and puzzles (1 per cent both).
Methodology
The research is based on the changes in the popularity of various keywords in March 2020 compared with March of the previous year, according to Google archival data (through Google Trends).
Shah Alam, March 26, 2020 â The Prime Minister has announced that beginning March 18, 2020 and until the end of the month, the entire country will be on a movement control order to help to curtail the spread of Covid-19.
Globally, the first line of defence for communicable diseases, Covid-19 is to wash hands frequently, or sanitise with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if hands are not visibly dirty to kill germs on hands avoid transferring these germs to the face, mouth or nose where they are more easily get into the respiratory system.
âHand washing is a crucial precaution the public have to take now. We understand the difficulty to purchase the products at this moment, as our team is working really hard to replenish the stocks at the retailers. We are encouraging the public to opt for bar soap, where liquid soap is not available as both product formats provide similar effect for hand wash, kills up to 99.9% of harmful germs,â said Francis Ng, Senior General Manager, Lam Soon Edible Oils Sdn Bhd.
Avoid Counterfeit and Understand the Flammable Risks
The brand urges the public to only purchase the products from the retailers such as Caring, Guardian, Watsons, other pharmacies nationwide. The brand has noticed counterfeit hand sanitiser with the resemble of Antabax brand, of which further action underway.
âThere was a viral post circulating on social media on danger of alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Antabax hand sanitiser spray contains 67% alcohol, whereas the hand sanitiser gel contains 65% alcohol.â added Ng.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)[1] said that many studies that sanitisers with an alcohol concentration between 60%-95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol based hand sanitisers.[2]
Konsert #WONDADiRumah will be keeping Malaysians entertained during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period
Kuala Lumpur, 26 March 2020 â One of Malaysiaâs leading ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee brands, WONDA Coffee, is bringing the first ever concert from home featuring some of Malaysiaâs hottest singers who will be performing LIVE from their very own home. This marks Malaysiaâs first ever concert-from-home, keeping everyone entertained for seven days straight during the Movement Control Order (MCO) to fight boredom. With the Konsert #WONDADiRumah, WONDA Coffee is encouraging everyone to continue staying at home, stay entertained and more importantly keeping everyone safe.
Konsert #WONDADiRumah will be featuring different Malaysian artists every day, with each session lasting up to 30 minutes on Astro Ria or ERA IG TV at 6.30pm from 25 March to 31 March. The sensational and melodious artists will take the stage daily to sing their famous songs featuring Aizat Amdan, Noh Salleh, Syamel, Zizi Kirana, Haqiem Rusli, Akim and Stacy.
âWe are truly thankful for the seamless cooperation between all parties, including Astro, performing artists and partners, to make Konsert #WONDADiRumah happen in just a few days. As we go through some trying and challenging days, we believe it is our responsibility to explore ways to encourage more people to stay at home while providing light entertainment for our consumers,â said Santharuban T. Sundaram, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Alternate Business from Etika.
The entertaining first-of-its-kind concerts are not the only treat. Etika will also be rewarding Malaysians for their stay-at-home efforts. WONDA Coffee will be running daily challenges â Cabaran #WONDADiRumah based on the theme of the day where Malaysians can be in the running to win e-vouchers worth RM14,000! Daily challenges announcement will be made every morning at ERA Instagram or on-air, and consumers to upload their submission (video or photo) by tagging @era.je with hashtag #WONDADiRumah. Throughout the campaign, there will be 4 winners a day who will walk away with RM500 Shopee e-voucher to be utilized at the Etika Flagship Store â this new online retail channel is made possible through Etikaâs partnership with Shopee and it provides consumers an easy, convenient way to shop for their favourite drinks without needing to leave their homes. Etika wants to help ensure that Malaysians can continue to enjoy their favourite drinks, such as Goodday Milk, WONDA Coffee, Pepsi, Tropicana Twister and others, even when they are home.
Fill your tummy and ears at once
With the current situation, Etika would like to minimize the amount of travel Malaysians need to do to get essentials and food. Therefore, panic buying is not required, and it is recommended to purchase via online to minimize the risk of contracting the virus. If consumers are hungry, Etika is bringing special promotions with myNEWS, Dominoâs Pizza and Shopee where orders will be delivered right at their doorsteps.
Malaysians are able to order special deals of delicious Maru Bento from myNEWS with WONDA Booster or Tropicana Twister via Grab Mart, which they may check out from the Grab app or www.mynewsdash.my from 25 to 31 March 2020.
With Dominoâs Pizza, starting from 25 March to 19 April 2020, Malaysians are able to enjoy 50% off on Pepsi 1.5L with every purchase of Buy 1 Free 2 Dominoâs pizza and experience Dominoâs âZero Contact Deliveryâ. Use the âZERO1â code at www.dominos.com.my or Dominoâs Pizza Malaysia app.
Meanwhile, Malaysians will be able to purchase WONDA 3-in-1 Premium Coffee available in Kopi Tarik, Original and Mocha variants anytime from Shopee and have these packs of coffee to be delivered to their doorsteps by ordering at shopee.com.my/etika.os.
âWe would like to continue to positively motivate and encourage everyone for their effort throughout this MCO period. We believe that in working together, we can overcome this period of hardship. At Etika, we hope to be able to serve Malaysians better in the future, bringing everyone more fun and entertainment, while also, more importantly, keeping safety our utmost priority,â added Santharuban.
Singapore, 26 March 2020: Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort, Phuket is launching a series of daily online fitness classes for people to enjoy for free at home. Available twice-daily from Friday, 27 March onwards, the classes will be led by Thanyapura coaches and include high energy HIIT sessions, Muay Thai, yoga classes and more.
Available via live stream on Thanyapura’s Facebook page, the classes require no equipment and aim keep us motivated, fit and healthy during this period when many of us are required to stay at home. Each class includes a warm-up and main exercise, before ending with a cool-down and stretches. The live videos range from 30 to 60 minutes, and weekly class schedules can be viewed via Thanyapura’s website.
Thanyapura will also launch online personal training sessions for members and non-members to enjoy. Private sessions can be booked with most Thanyapura trainers directly via the Thanyapura’s 360 portal via the website.
“We understand that Covid-19 has disrupted the daily work and exercise schedules of people around the world,” said Edgar Toral, Thanyapura’s Executive VP. “If people must stay home, then we want them staying active and healthy, and these online classes are our way of keeping people motivated and health-conscious.”
Situated on the tropical Thai island of Phuket, Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort was recently named as one of the world’s top 10 fitness retreats and is home to world-class sports facilities, an integrated health centre and expert coaching. Promoting ‘active wellness’ and offering a range of sports training, lifestyle improvement and executive health programmes and camps, the resort is designed to help individuals of all ages and abilities optimise their lives and lifestyles through exercise, nutrition and mindfulness.
Green Monday, Hong Kong’s plant-based social enterprise, has partnered with FamilyMart Taiwan to roll out Omnipork instant meals across 3,600 locations in Taiwan. The Omnipork Instant Meal Cup under the Mom’s Cuisine series comprise Korean-style Braised Omnipork Noodlesand the Stir-fry Thai Basil Omnipork with Rice priced at TWD 49 (USD 1.63) each.
Green Monday founder and CEO David Yeung said: âIntroducing plant-based instant cup meals in partnership with FamilyMart will allow Taiwanese [residents] to enjoy healthy meals more conveniently,â adding that he believes the partnership will âbring about a new wave of healthy, convenient and eco-friendly diet trends.â
We had a chance to taste the Korean-style Braised Omnipork Noodles in Taipei. The frozen meal cup had to be microwaved before they could be consumed. Omnipork had the meat-like texture but you would notice it was pork. The overall taste was pretty good. A 4/5 from us at Mini Me Insights.
What it means for instant noodle companies? The new Omnipork Instant Meal Cup demonstrates the possibility for instant noodle makers to start considering incorporating plant-based meat into instant noodle in the near future.
March 24, 2020, Singapore â Janice Wong Singapore has launched a new monthly subscription box filled with hands-on activities and sweet treats, conveniently delivered to your doorstep. With many working remotely or now staying at home, the box service is the perfect way to connect with customers and offer something new and playful for the whole family to enjoy.
Each month, customers will receive a surprise box filled with Janice Wongâs much-loved signature products, as well as new and exclusive items not yet available in stores. Janice Wong Singapore has also partnered with Optimo Foods, who specialise in New Zealand products, to offer a range of nutritious treats to complement each monthly offering.
Also included is Janice Wongâs latest initiative, âBake at Home with Janice Wongâ. Bake at Home with Janice Wong cultivates the imagination and creativity by allowing customers to replicate Janice Wong Singapore treats such as chocolate nut spreads and cakes at home. Each box includes a recipe card and everything you need to put together your culinary creations. To inspire creativity, each subscription also includes a set of five Janice Wong chocolate paint jars, two brushes and edible paper and edible chocolate crayons.
Birthday surprises and special âfrozen delightsâ will be featured so that customers can enjoy and sample Janice Wongâs famous array of delicious ice cream flavours. Subscriptions start at a minimum sign up of six months at S$35 per month and half year subscriptions at S$210.
24 March 2020 – At HEINEKEN Malaysia, the health and safety of people is our top priority. We have responded to the outbreak of COVID-19 by ensuring our employees are kept informed regularly while implementing preventive measures on travel and personal hygiene, in line with guidance from World Health Organisation and Malaysiaâs Ministry of Health.
In accordance with the Governmentâs Movement Control Order, our employees are working from home until 31 March 2020. Our Sungei Way Brewery has suspended operations and we have received approval from the authorities to allow a minimum number of workers to be on site to ensure the safety and integrity of the brewery during the stipulated period.
As for the impact, it is expected that the mandatory closures and restrictions on movement pursuant to the Order and the overall effect that COVID-19 has on the retail sector and the market in general, among other things, will in aggregate have a significant impact on the Companyâs operations and business during this period. However, given the evolving circumstances, it is not possible for the Company to quantify or determine the extent of the impact on its business and financial position. The Company will continue to monitor the evolving situation and undertake appropriate measures to mitigate the impact from the current situation.
Roland Bala, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, said: âWe are living in unprecedented times, our first priority is the safety, health and wellbeing of our people, suppliers, customers, and consumers. At the same time, we commit to continue engaging the Government to support their efforts in addressing the COVID-19 crisis whilst ensuring we mitigate the impact to our industry.â
The Company will make the necessary announcement on any material developments relating to the above matter, as and when appropriate.
To celebrate the arrival of summer, Wall’s Thailand has made available the new Calippo Mocktail ice lolly in squeeze pack. The mocktail comes in Margarita flavour. We expect this mocktail flavoured ice lolly to be introdroduced in other markets in Southeast Asia soon.
Carabao Group, the worldâs leader in the beverage industry, teams up with Vuthithorn âWoodyâ Militajinda, Thailandâs A-list TV personality and trendsetter in healthy living, and revolutionizes vitamin C drink with the launch of a new joint venture, A Woody Drink, that produces healthy drink with world class technology. The firm is launching its first product, Woody C+ Lock, that comes in lemon flavor and C+ Lock innovation to help lock 200% vitamin C in the bottle. The specially designed green tinted bottle with screw cap is proven to help preserve the vitamin C and prevent it from breaking down by light and air. Woody C+ Lock aims to make consumers feel good and look good with the companyâs belief in a huge success of Woody C+ Lock.
Mr. Sathien Setthasit, Chief Executive Officer of Carabao Group Public Co. Ltd or CBG, reveals that, âHealthy living is a big trend, and that inspires the exponential growth of healthy food and beverage industry. Woody and I had the chance to meet and discuss the opportunity of creating a beverage that benefits everyone and at the same time reflects Woodyâ unique character. We both agreed that it should be a functional healthy drink that caters to the healthy living trend that is currently a big movement worldwide. Woody C+ Lock also appeals to Woodyâs image as the trendsetter in healthy lifestyle.
âCarabao admires Woodyâs determination to always do the best and introduce an alternative choice for healthy living for the consumers. We believe in Woodyâs potential to represent Woody C+ Lock that he carefully created and as a public figure whose healthy lifestyle interests the majority of the consumers.â
Vuthithorn Militajinda or Woody, Thailandâs top TV personality and producer, says that, âI never had the chance to own a product before, and deep down Iâve always wanted to launch something that benefits a lot of the people for once in my life. And I want this product to be of the best quality. It has always been my commitment that if I set my mind on something, I will give it my best. I then met with Sathien Setthasit who ignited this idea which led to this functional healthy vitamin C drink, Woody C+ Lock, that is suitable for consumers of all ages. Especially now that we are facing the threat of flu pandemic and virus infection that affects respiratory system, we should drink more functional healthy drink, particularly vitamin C drink that boosts immune system.â
Mr. Sathien Setthasit and Woody together developed functional healthy drink, Woody C+ Lock, with Thailandâs first innovation of green tinted bottle that locks the properties of vitamin C in the bottle away from the light that accelerates the breaking down process of the vitamin. The bottle is also filled with nitrogen then locked with special cap to secure the vitamin from exposure to the air. We believe that Woody C+ Lock will refresh, nourish and bring good health to our consumers every day.
Woody C+ Lock will be available from convenient stores such as CJ Supermarket, 7-Eleven and others nationwide at 15 baht per bottle by the end of March. With marketing strategies, full online and offline promotion campaigns on both product and Woody channels and promotional activities, the company firmly believes in a huge success of Woody C+ Lock.
PepsiCo Thailand has rolled out two new flavours to celebrate Lay’s 25th anniversary in the country. The two new intense flavours are Mala Barbeque and Seaweed Gochujang Sauce. Each pack is priced at THB 30.
We have seen new variations of mala flavour including mala + salted egg and mala xiangguo (stir-fry mala). The launch of Lay’s potato chips in mala barbeque flavour showcases how mala flavour can be combined with barbeque flavour to create a new flavour profile.
Expanding customer convenience with a drive-in cafĂŠ at Caltex Batu Maung, Penang, offering premium handcrafted beverages with comfort and ease
Penang, 23rd December 2024 â...
Full year performance above pre-pandemic levels.
Revenue increased by 44% to RM2.86 billion (FY21: RM1.98 billion)
Profit Before Tax (PBT) increased by 85% to...
