Nine Emperor Gods Festival and Vegetarians

By

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3rd October 2019

Kuala Lumpur, October 2, 2019 – Nine Emperor Gods Festival happens annually, a Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of the ninth Chinese lunar calendar month, and is popularly celebrated in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. A carnival like atmosphere will take place at the temple throughout the 9 days festival, with many devotees staying at the temple, having vegetarian meals and reciting continuous chants of prayer. The festival is popularly celebrated across different states, such as Selangor (Ampang and Sekinchan), Pahang (Kuantan), Kelantan (Kota Bharu), Penang (Butterworth) and Perak (Ipoh).

On the eve of the first day, a special ceremony will be held to invite the 9 Emperor Gods to come to the temple from the seas, and this will further be made merrier by the nightly Chinese operas and cultural performances. Devotees will wish and pray for good health and general well-being by making various offerings to the deities.

There is a folk lore that during these 9 days, the skies will rain in order to clean the path to welcome 9 Emperor Gods.

This festival is one of Malaysian’s key observation for vegetarians, which will last for nine days starting on 29^th September until 7^th October this year. This is the period when devotees observe strict code of behaviour and vegetarian diet to cleanse themselves.

“We see a huge spike in demand for Lee Shun Hing Vegetarian Oyster Sauce during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. It is one of the popular and traditional items that devotees use in their cooking to meet strict vegetarian diet requirements as well as offerings to the festival. Our product has been serving the festival vegetarian community for decades. We have received valuable feedbacks from our customers that only Lee Shun Hing’s Vegetarian Oyster Sauce, is their preferred choice,” Mr Siew Yun Sing, the founder of Lee Shun Hing, explains.

Lee Shun Hing Oyster Sauce meets the devotee’s strict vegetarian criteria for offerings to the deities. It is also the number one brand in vegetarian oyster sauce in Malaysia and also a top healthier food choice amongst Malaysians, through its brand promise – ‘Healthier Oyster Sauce, Tastier Flavors’.

Established in 1985, Lee Shun Hing brand received the recognition as the Healthier Choice of oyster sauce by the Ministry of Health, Singapore. Similarly, the brand also received Makanan Selamat Tanggungjawab Industri certification (MeSTI) from Ministry of Health, Malaysia. Lee Shun Hing brand is proudly Malaysian, meeting the very demanding taste buds of Malaysians who are spoilt with one of the best foods in the world.

The brand is the pioneer of vegetarian (‘zhai’) oyster sauces in Malaysia since its establishment.

Lee Shun Hing Vegetarian Oyster Sauce is made from the essence of vegetables such as celery, mushrooms and carrot. The brand understands that Malaysians are health conscious with some choosing to adopt a vegan or vegetarian diet for lifestyle or as religious reasons.

Lee Shun Hing is certified ‘Halal’ by the halal authentication from JAKIM.

The brand sauces are widely available nationwide through all leading and smaller food retailers.

Full range of Lee Shun Hing Oyster Sauces:-

Sauce	SRP
LSH Premium Oyster Sauce 765g/510g	RM10.50 /RM7.70
LSH Oyster Sauce 765g/255g	RM7.70 /RM3.50
LSH Vegetarian Oyster Sauce 765g/255g	RM7.70 /RM3.50
LSH Mushroom Oyster Sauce 765g	RM7.70

Sizzler launches plant-based Taste the Future, Green Monday debuts in Thailand

By

Tan Heng Hong

-

2nd October 2019

Sizzler, one of Thailand’s largest and most successful casual dining restaurant with 32 outlets, has introduced Taste the Future. The new menu is 100% plant based and it taps into the growing popularity of plant-based proteins or faux meat. Even KFC has rolled out its first plant-based fried ‘chicken’ with Beyond Meat in Atlanta, US in August 2019.

Sizzler’s Taste the Future is a collaboration with Green Monday, which is a Hong Kong-based plant-based movement leader that is actively introducing Beyond Meat and Omnipork into Asia. The Taste the Future menu contains 3 menu items made from Beyond Meat including Beyond Steak and Beyond Chili Dog as well as Omni Steak that uses Ominipork. The prices range from THB 379 to THB 479.

Interestingly, the plant-based “pork” OminiPork by Hong Kong-based Right Treat is being produced in a factory in Thailand.

Green Monday launches in Thailand

Sizzler’s Taste the Future menu coincides with Green Monday’s official launch in Thailand in September 2019 to promote plant-based diet in the largely Buddhist country. Participating in the plant-based movement are some of the top hotel dining locations including Mei Jiang at The Peninsula Bangkok and You & Mee at Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. Veganerie and Coffee Beans by Dao have also joined the movement.

Celebrities Vuthithorn “Woody” Milintachinda and Ramita Mahapreukpong “Gypso” have joined Green Monday as ambassadors in Thailand.

Retail pack of Omnipork available at Central Food Hall

From 28 September 2019, the retail pack of Omnipork will be available for consumers to purchase at Central Food Hall in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan District.

Also at the dining area at Central Food Hall in Chidlom and CentralWorld, diners can enjoy Beyond Burger that is 100% vegan with no cholesterol, no antibiotic and no GMOs.

HEINEKEN Malaysia – Star of the Night at Putra Brand Awards 2019

By

Tan Heng Hong

-

2nd October 2019

1 October 2019. Heineken Malaysia Berhad (HEINEKEN Malaysia) celebrates yet another year of success, clinching three awards at the Putra Brand Awards 2019 for the tenth consecutive year. The star of the night, Heineken® won Platinum, while Tiger Beer and Guinness both won Gold. This year’s wins have brought HEINEKEN Malaysia’s total awards won at the Putra Brand Awards to 30 since 2010.

*Heineken® received Platinum while Tiger Beer and Guinness both were awarded Gold at the recent Putra Brand Awards 2019.*

Launched in 2010, this prestigious award recognises brand-building excellence across various platforms, measured by consumer preference. This year, the Putra Brand Awards introduced for the first time its highest-ranking Platinum Award. Heineken® was awarded with the Platinum Award thanks to its exceptional position among Malaysian consumers as the beer brand of choice. In 2019, Heineken® has provided consumers with impressive experiences throughout its “Unmissable” UEFA Champions League and Live Your Music campaign. This is also the year when the brand’s iconic green label has been turned blue, the colour associated with the non-alcoholic category. Taking cues from the growing cultural trend around moderate alcohol consumption and living a more balanced lifestyle, Heineken® Master Brewers created the new non-alcoholic Heineken® 0.0 using only natural ingredients, including Heineken®’s own A-yeast.

Commenting on the company’s wins, Roland Bala, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia said, “Our wins at this year’s Putra Brand Awards demonstrate our strong efforts in engaging with our consumers through innovative commercial and marketing campaigns. We are committed to not only delivering quality and innovative brands, but also providing our consumers with exceptional experiences. We want to thank our consumers who show their great support for Heineken®, Tiger Beer, and Guinness amongst the preferred brands in Malaysia.”

Pablo Chabot, Marketing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia said, “It is a great honour to be recognised with the Platinum for Heineken® and Golds for Tiger Beer and Guinness, signifying HEINEKEN Malaysia’s successful brand-building efforts. We seek to exceed our consumers’ rising expectations with exciting brand experiences. Brands need to evolve with time: not just addressing consumer needs today, but also anticipating what they will need tomorrow. Innovation is key, and we are pleased that Heineken®, Tiger Beer, and Guinness are doing exactly that, take changing consumer preferences into account and ensure our brands stay relevant.”

Amongst Heineken®’s winning campaigns this year include the “Unmissable” UEFA Champions League campaign, which launched the Limited-Edition Heineken® Trophy Bottles & Cans nationwide. The campaign also introduced a special appearance of UEFA Champions League legend, Andrea Pirlo, in its feature video. Throughout the campaign, Heineken® also offered six of the biggest fans a once-in-alifetime experience to watch the UEFA Champions League Final live in Madrid. Staying true to the company’s consumer-inspired approach to innovation, Heineken® this year recently unveiled the nonalcoholic Heineken® 0.0, with an aim to introduce new drinking occasions; during lunch, whilst at work, after a workout or even before a drive, and provide an option for beer drinkers who enjoy the great taste of beer but not necessarily the effects of alcohol. Also, through research, we see that our consumers aspire to lead more moderate and healthy lifestyles. Heineken® 0.0 enables beer drinkers to moderate their alcohol consumption as part of a balanced lifestyle and has only 53 calories per bottle. Last August, Heineken® Live Your Music returned to push the tempo with a month of stellar line-ups. From electronica to future bass to indie, Heineken® rolled out a series of three high energy shows featuring Andrew Rayel, Flume, and Snow Patrol at KL Live, creating a month of fresh Live Your Music experiences for its fans.

Truly Malaysia’s No. 1 Beer, Tiger Beer welcomed the year with its “Uncage New Beginnings” campaign for Chinese New Year. Tiger Beer also continues encouraging Malaysians to ‘Uncage’ themselves through the Tiger ROAR Project, a new platform that celebrates emerging raw Malaysian talents. Additionally, Tiger Beer brought together football players to showcase their footie skills at the Tiger Street Football 2019 and presented the winning team an opportunity to play against football legend and Tiger Street Football Ambassador Rio Ferdinand. Last month, Tiger Beer welcomed to its iconic portfolio of brands Tiger Crystal, an ultra-refreshing, easy-to-drink pure lager with a lower bitterness. Over six thousand people attended Tiger Crystal’s launch at “Kuala Lumpur’s coolest bar” – a specially-constructed cold room with a sub-zero temperature – at The Square in Publika Mall.

Guinness, Malaysia’s favourite and the World’s No. 1 Stout, celebrated Guinness St. Patrick’s in March, which saw thousands of people get together at a two-day festival filled with amazing performances by local artistes, prizes, games, and cold, creamy Guinness Draught. Guinness continued its annual Perfect Pour contest, training bar staff around the country to master the unique two-part pour. This year, consumers also got in on the action with the touring Guinness Perfect Pour truck. As good in food as it is in a glass, Guinness collaborated with The Beer Factory to create a special Guinness-infused black snow skin mooncake, just in time for consumers to enjoy with their family and friends for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

To enjoy the latest updates on HEINEKEN Malaysia’s portfolio of iconic brands, follow us on Facebook via www.facebook.com/heinekenmalaysiaberhad and Instagram via www.instagram.com/heinekenmalaysia.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Takes Next Steps in Environmental Sustainability

By

Tan Heng Hong

-

2nd October 2019

Kuala Lumpur, 1 October 2019 – The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® Malaysia reaffirms its pledge to care for the environment, taking concrete steps to reduce single-use disposable plastic waste. From now onwards, customers will enjoy only reusable cutlery in-store while take-away orders will come with wooden, biodegradable cutlery. Furthermore, customers are encouraged to use their own tumblers for take-away beverages; and those with CB&TL tumblers will get a 10% discount off their purchased beverage. This comes on the heels of existing policies such as the introduction of paper straws and discontinuing the use of plastic bags, with the goal of eliminating plastics entirely.

“Sustainability is a key part of CB&TL’s brand purpose to ‘Craft Moments of Greater Goodness’. It begins with the way we source our coffee beans and tea leaves from verified growers and paying fair prices so communities can prosper, to engaging with customers and supporting worthy causes,” said Fiona Rodrigues, Director of Marketing & Development, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® Malaysia. “These efforts are part of an ongoing journey and we are pleased to have our growers, employees and customers travelling this road with us – it’s a testament to our belief in cultivating long-term relationships that benefit us all. Most importantly, these relationships empower us to be advocates for the environment and our new policies to reduce plastic waste reinforces our commitment to people, places and planet,” she added.

CB&TL has an established history of philanthropy, from local charitable efforts supporting the Malaysian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Association (PSLEM) to the recent ‘Save Bill’ fund-raising campaign in aid of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Hornbill Conservation Programme. These and other activities are collectively organised under its CSR arm, the Caring Cup initiative. Globally, Caring Cup benefits grower communities with the establishment of orphanages, sharing of sustainable business practices and providing free healthcare, financial loans, schools and daycare to these communities, amongst other efforts.

In the coming months, CB&TL will continue with the roll out of more environmental sustainability efforts. For more information and to stay updated, follow the CB&TL Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CBTLMalaysiaPage or the CB&TL Instagram account @coffeebeanMY, or visit their website www.coffeebean.com.my.

* * *
About The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® brand is a leading global roaster and retailer of specialty coffees and teas and is widely credited for driving high quality and innovation to the coffee and tea industry. The company sources the finest ingredients and flavors from around the world and hand blends coffee and tea for the freshest flavors. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® brand started the frozen coffee drink craze with the invention of The Original Ice Blended® drink and is also the first global coffee and tea retailer to offer cold brew tea. The company currently has more than 1,200 retail locations across the globe and can be found in grocery aisles as well as specialty locations including airports and hotels. For more information, visit www.coffeebean.com.my.   

APAC business leaders adopting technology to support growth driven by on-demand economy

By

Tan Heng Hong

-

1st October 2019

Over half of surveyed warehouse decision-makers plan for partial automation and augmentation by 2024

SINGAPORE – September 25, 2019 – Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today announced the results of its latest Warehousing Asia Pacific Vision Study.

The study analyzes IT and operations decision makers from manufacturing, transportation and logistics, retail, post and parcel delivery and wholesale distribution industries for their current and planned strategies to modernize warehouses, distribution centers and fulfillment centers.

“Warehousing, distribution and fulfilment operations are undergoing a modern-day makeover as they transform to meet the growing needs of the world’s on-demand economy. Warehouse leaders today are turning to technology to address business critical challenges resulting from this global phenomenon, by adopting advanced technology and empowering their workers with a performance edge,” said Aik Jin, Tan, APAC Vertical Solutions Lead, Manufacturing and Transportation & Logistics, Zebra Technologies. “Expanding space, implementing new processes and enhancing workflows are only part of the equation. By 2024, warehouse leaders will be shifting their focus to the integration of more holistic solutions to build data-powered environments that balance labor and automation in the warehouse, ultimately empowering front-line workers with a performance edge to lead the way.”

The study reports on the forward-thinking fulfillment strategies that companies are focusing on to keep up with the growth of the on-demand economy.Both automation and worker augmentation solutions will be a key focus for decision makers’ plans over the next five years. More than three-quarters (81 percent) of respondents agree that augmenting workers with technology is the best way to introduce automation in the warehouse, but only 34 percent have a clear understanding of where to start automating. Currently, up to 88 percent of decision makers are either in the process of or are planning to expand the size of their warehouses by 2024. Meanwhile, up to 85 percent anticipate an increase in the number of warehouses during this timeframe.

“The on-demand economy has fuelled that “want-it-now” mentality of consumers today, who are on the hunt for products almost 24/7. These demands have disrupted the supply chain, impacting manufacturers, retailers and the warehousing operations that serve their need,” said Fang-How Lim, Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Zebra Technologies. “Our study further revealed that 49 percent of the surveyed business leaders reported an increase in consumer demand as a top driver for growth, with almost 40 percent of respondents stating that shorter order lead times are fueling their expansion plans and causing them to reanalyze their strategies.”

“To match up to the on-demand mentality of consumers, decision makers will need to quickly train their front-line workers to fill orders more efficiently. Outdated Windows® devices running green-screen applications are not designed to match the speed and volume of today’s on-demand economy. Conversely, modern Zebra Android touch-screen devices like the MC9300, MC3330R and MC3390R are designed for faster, more flexible operation that improves warehouse performance to meet the expectations of demanding consumers today,” added Aik Jin, Tan.

KEY SURVEY FINDINGS

By 2024, automation will enhance worker performance rather than replace workers.

57 percent of decision makers plan to enable partial automation or labor augmentation with technology in the warehouse.
70 percent of respondents believe human interaction is part of their optimal balance in warehousing, with 43 percent citing partial automation (some human involvement) and 27 percent citing augmentation (equipping workers with devices) as their preference.
Decision makers anticipate using robotics for inbound inventory management (27 percent), packing (24 percent) and goods in/receiving (21 percent) by 2024.

Rethinking fulfillment strategies and operations to meet emerging challenges across the warehouse remains a top priority.

68 percent of respondents cited capacity utilization as one of their top expected challenges over the next five years.
68 percent of organizations cited labor recruitment and/or labor efficiency and productivity among their top challenges, with 62 percent of respondents wanting to improve individual worker or team productivity today while also achieving workflow conformity.
IT/technology utilization was identified both as the biggest operational challenge (68 percent) within the next five years and a desired long-term outcome for increased asset visibility, real-time guidance and data-driven performance.
As warehouses expand, so will the volume of stock keeping units (SKUs) and the speed items need to be shipped. Decision makers will seek increased visibility and productivity by implementing more robust returns management operations (85 percent), task interleaving (85 percent), value-added services (84 percent) and third-party logistics (88 percent).

The investment and implementation of new technologies is critical for remaining competitive in the on-demand economy.

Almost half (48 percent) of surveyed respondents cited faster delivery to end-customers as the primary factor driving their warehouse growth plans.
Three-quarters (75 percent) of decision makers agree that they need to modernize warehouse operations to remain competitive in the on-demand economy but are admittedly slow to implement new mobile devices and technology.
73 percent of companies are currently modernizing their warehouses by equipping workers with mobile devices. By 2024, modernization will be driven by Android-based mobile computing solutions (90 percent), real-time location systems (RTLS) (60 percent) and full-featured warehouse management systems (WMS) (55 percent).
66 percent of respondents cited mobile barcode label or thermal printers as a key area of investment as part of their plans to add, expand or upgrade devices in the next three years.

KEY REGIONAL SURVEY FINDINGS

Asia-Pacific

By 2024, 87 percent of respondents plan to implement a mobile execution system to better manage workers on the warehouse floor.
73 percent of decision makers plan to invest in smart watches, smart glasses and hip-mounted wearables in the next three years.

SURVEY BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY

The 2024 Warehousing Vision Study included 1,403 (of which 352 were from APAC) IT and operational decision makers in the manufacturing, transportation & logistics, retail, post and parcel delivery and wholesale distribution markets in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Europe who were interviewed by Qualtrics.

ABOUT ZEBRA 

Zebra (NASDAQ: ZBRA) empowers the front line of business in retail/ecommerce, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare and other industries to achieve a performance edge. With more than 10,000 partners across 100 countries, we deliver industry-tailored, end-to-end solutions that intelligently connect people, assets and data to help our customers make business-critical decisions. Our market-leading solutions elevate the shopping experience, track and manage inventory as well as improve supply chain efficiency and patient care. Ranked on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for the last four years, Zebra helps our customers capture their edge. For more information, visit www.zebra.com or sign up for news alerts. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. 

Children’s Favourite Sky High Circus Returns to CÉ LA VI

By

Tan Heng Hong

-

1st October 2019

Singapore 27 September 2019 – Singapore’s iconic Restaurant and SkyBar CÉ LA VI presents its newest event: Sky High Circus, a whimsical themed brunch series in collaboration with Evolve Arts to offer families with an entertaining and memorable experience. Sky High Circus was launched on Sunday, 8 September 2019, with its next edition on Sunday, 13 October 2019 from 12 – 3 pm and the final edition for the year on Sunday, 10 November 2019. Sky High Circus is the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon with loved ones as families can delight in themed performances and games while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Singapore Strait and Bay with exceptional cuisine and drinks. For this edition of Sky High Circus, children will be taken through an exciting Superheroes themed journey led by a talented group from Evolve Arts.

Based in Singapore, Evolve Arts is an entertainment group who is known for its expertise in producing unique parties for kids, offering the little ones a fun and educational experience through their drama and entertainment. The group also provides classes for kids such as theatre, arts, and music.

The rooftop party isn’t complete without an extensive array of contemporary Asian dishes curated by Group Executive Chef Joey Sergentakis. With a changing menu for each event, guests can enjoy a vast brunch spread showcasing Chef Joey’s flair for innovative cuisine made to appeal to parents and kids alike. For adults attending the October event, highlights include the Crispy Prawn Tempura Roll served with puffed Japanese rice, wasabi aioli, and bonito flakes and Pan-Seared Snapper with green mango, kalamansi and a refreshing lemongrass salad. For a sweet finish, enjoy the Mango Cheesecake complete with yogurt sorbet, caramelized almonds, and pistachio crumble. Kids can choose from the juicy Beef Burger Sliders, French Fries, andfinish their mealwith mouth-watering dessert Whipped Chocolate Pudding.

Set against the picturesque view at the top, this spectacular brunch is filled with groovy and alluring beats, making it an excellent source of fun.

Brunch is available at S$98++ for adults, while kids can dine for free with an Entertainment charge of S$30++. With the inaugural event sold out, reservations are recommended and can be made at +65 6508 2188 or via email at reservation-sg@celavi.com.

CÉ LA VI Sky High Circus Event Details

Date: Sunday, 13 October 2019

Time: 12 noon to 3 pm

Ticket prices: $98++ for adult / $30++ for children (entertainment charge)

Reservation: Call +65 6508 2188 or email at reservation-sg@celavi.com

Coconut water as a platform for fibre

By

Tan Heng Hong

-

1st October 2019

cocomax fiber — Cocomax Fibre. Image by Minimeinsights.com

Thailand’s Asiatic Agro Industry Co., Ltd., the maker of Cocomax, has introduced Cocomax Coconut Water with Fibre (Cocomax Fibre) to tap into consumer interest in digestive health. Each 350ml bottle contains 99% coconut water and 1% fibre (3,500mg) from inulin.

The coconut water has no added preservatives and no added sugar. The sweetness comes from coconut, not sugar. Cocomax Fibre has the Healthier Choice logo on the packaging.

Coconut water naturally contains fibre but consumers rarely associate coconut water with digestive health. Adding fibre into the coconut water helps make consumers aware they can also supplement their fibre need by consuming coconut water as an alternative to fiber-enriched juices or water.

New Aquafina Bio with antioxidants for beauty

By

Tan Heng Hong

-

30th September 2019

PepsiCo’s Aquafina water brand has unveiled the Aquafina Bio flavoured water in Thailand. The flavoured water contains vitamin E, an antioxidant, that protects the cells against oxidative damage from free radicals.

Aquafina Bio has three flavours and each comes with different ingredients:

Pink guava – 1,000mg of collagen and vitamin E
Lemon lavender – vitamin E, biotic and zinc
Orange rose – vitamin C (helps with the production of collagen), vitamin E and zinc

Aquafina Bio is associating itself with the functional beauty segment by providing Thai consumers with another option, this time flavoured water, to achieve better skin complexion.

What we think about Yili Ambrosial official entry into Southeast Asia

By

Tan Heng Hong

-

28th September 2019

China’s largest dairy producer Yili held an event in Singapore on 19 September 2019 to announce the official launch of its sub-brand Ambrosial in Southeast Asia. The launch event also saw the appointment of Alfa Romeo Racing as the partner of Ambrosial.

As part of the partnership, Ambrosial, Yili’s rich and creamy Greek-style drinking yoghurt, will feature on the Alfa Romeo Racing cars from the Singapore Grand Prix onwards.

Ambrosial is produced with signature yoghurt cultures developed by the Agricultural University of Athens in Greece to provide a unique Greek-style drinking experience of rich and creamy indulgence.

Ambrosial launched in Southeast Asia is available in three types of packaging for convenience, namely Tetra-Pak, Tetra-Top and PET Bottle, as well as five flavors – original, blueberry, strawberry, yellow peach & oats and mango & passion fruit.

What we think

Mini Me Insights has been tracking the development of Ambrosial in Southeast Asia for the past few years. The initial euphoria for Ambrosial was largely driven by the ethnic Chinese communities in Southeast Asia especially in Malaysia and to a lesser extent Singapore. It was the independent distributors that sourced the products from China and sold them through online and in brick-and-mortar stores in Southeast Asia.

Now, it appears Yili has officially appointed local distributors in the respective countries in Southeast Asia as the company deepens its engagement in the local market.

The problem with Ambrosial is the existing range of products may not be attractive enough to generate buzz among consumers who are already accustomed to Ambrosial.

*Ambrosial at 7-Eleven in Singapore, September 2019*. Image credit: Minimeinsights.com

Stronger marketing, better pricing and newer flavours would potentially renew consumer interest in Ambrosial.

Chinese dairy companies have an image issue in Southeast Asia. In the minds of Southeast Asian consumers, Chinese dairy products would most likely score low in perceived quality compared to Australian or New Zealand dairy products. Moreover, consumer image of Chinese dairy is still largely shaped by the melamine-laced baby formula tragedy more than 10 years ago.

The strategy of Mengniu in Indonesia is to stress how its YoyiC brand is widely consumed in more developed markets like Singapore and Hong Kong. Plus, the YoyiC brand is regarded as a Superbrand in Singapore, which taps into Indonesians’ high regard for Singapore quality.

Yili does not have the privilege of having a head start in Southeast Asia unlike Mengniu where it has the chance to develop the YoyiC brand in Singapore for several years. Associating the Ambrosial brand with F1 seems to be an interesting approach but does it resonate with millennial who would be the potential consumer? Ambrosial needs to project a youthful image in Southeast Asia.

*Ambrosial and its youthful endorsers in China*

Chinese dairy players should maximise their strength in texture and flavour innovation plus making their products millennial-friendly (eg Yili Joy Day) and this should be the route Chinese dairy companies should take in Southeast Asia.

Mengniu Monmilk Just Pure Grapefruit flavour newly launched in Singapore

New thick, creamy chilled drinking yogurt from TH

By

Tan Heng Hong

-

28th September 2019

Vietnam’s TH Group has added a new range of chilled drinking yogurt with a unique thick and creamy texture under the TH true Yogurt range. The new product has to be kept at a temperature of 4˚C -8˚C and has an expiry date of 60 days from the date of production.

TH true Yogurt Think and Creamy is available in peach and caramel. The fresh milk comes from TH’s dairy farms. The protein on a per 100ml basis is 2.3g.

The price for a pack of 4x170ml is VND 42,000 (USD 1.8), which is 40% more expensive than the existing TH true Yogurt UHT at VND 30,000.

Thicker and creamier yogurt is the way forward for the drinking yogurt category as it helps to satisfy consumer growing interest in texture. Thicker yogurt also offers satiety benefit for those who want a quick grab-and-go breakfast or snack in-between meals.

Mini Me Insights

Nine Emperor Gods Festival and Vegetarians

Sizzler launches plant-based Taste the Future, Green Monday debuts in Thailand

HEINEKEN Malaysia – Star of the Night at Putra Brand Awards 2019

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Takes Next Steps in Environmental Sustainability

APAC business leaders adopting technology to support growth driven by on-demand economy

Children’s Favourite Sky High Circus Returns to CÉ LA VI

Coconut water as a platform for fibre

New Aquafina Bio with antioxidants for beauty

What we think about Yili Ambrosial official entry into Southeast Asia

New thick, creamy chilled drinking yogurt from TH

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