Suntory Pepsico Beverage Thailand has unveiled the new Lipton Ice Tea Strawberry Melon Flavor offering 49% less sugar and it certified with the Healthier Choice logo. The new RTD tea combines the taste of black tea with the fruitiness aroma of strawberry and melon.
The PET plastic bottle also lowers the use of plastics by 30%. Lipton Ice Tea Strawberry Melon is sold in a 445ml bottle and is retailed for THB 20.
BCM Alliance Berhad, a Bursa Malaysia listed company engaged in medical diagnostic imaging and related consumables and accessories, has announced on 3 September 2019 that it has entered into a letter of intent to purchase a 51% stake in Foodict Maker Sdn Bhd.
Foodict is the main distributor of Yili’s products in Malaysia including Ambrosial Greek Yogurt Milk. Yili is China’s largest dairy company. In recent years, Yili has embarked on an aggressive expansion overseas particularly into Southeast Asia.
“Yili will provide the full support for the products’ market entry and marketing efforts in Malaysia. Essentially, the more Yili grows, the more Foodict will grow as well,” said BCM managing director Liaw Chong Lin.
Immensely popular in 2017, Yili Ambrosial Greek Yogurt Milk seems to have lost its lustre in Malaysia in recent months. The Chinese dairy company should start introducing other yogurt drinks into Malaysia including the JoyDay chilled yogurt drink with crispy chocolate balls. The texture from crispy chocolate balls can appeal to consumers who want something fun and flavourful.
In Malaysia, Fraser & Neave Holdings Berhad (F&N) has recently launched a new affordable 100Plus isotonic drink in 250ml PET bottle with a per unit price of RM 1. The flavoured isotonic drink in limited-edition pack is primarily sold in the traditional channel to compete with Coca-Cola’s RM 1 range (330ml).
F&N previously launched its 100Plus in the 400ml format in 2017 with a price of RM 1.50, equivalent to RM 0.375 per 100ml. The latest 250ml 100Plus priced at RM 1.00 (RM 0.40/100ml) is around 6.7% more expensive than the previous 400ml pack.
Returning to the RM 1.00 price range gives 100Plus a competitive edge in the traditional trade channel.
KOTA KINABALU, 11 September 2019 – Following its successful and buzzworthy launch in Kuala Lumpur recently, WONDA Coffee has also launched its WONDA 3-in-1 Premium Coffee in Sabah, exclusively at Bataras. They come in three favourite variants namely, Original, Mocha and Kopi Tarik. This extension into the 3-in-1 category is the perfect answer to consumers’ demands for a complete WONDA Coffee experience, being able to make their very own cup of coffee whenever and wherever they like.
This exciting launch is in partnership with Bataras, one of Sabah’s leading produce and grocery hypermarkets. “We know our fellow Sabahan consumers have been great fans of WONDA Coffee and we are very happy to be launching the WONDA 3-in-1 Premium Coffee at one of Sabah’s most recognized and well-established hypermarkets, Bataras. This way, we will be making WONDA Coffee more accessible to everyone in Sabah and many more consumers will get to savour the “taste-like-just-brewed” experience,” stated Santharuban T. Sundaram, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Alternate Business at Etika Sdn Bhd.
WONDA Coffee has also taken the product online providing consumers in Sabah with greater convenience and ease-of-purchase. WONDA 3-in-1 Premium Coffee was officially launched in Sabah at a press conference officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Starting from early October onwards, the WONDA 3-in-1 Premium Coffee will be available at all Bataras outlets in Sabah. “We’re very happy to mark our launch here in Sabah especially since this is a state that has so many coffee drinkers and lovers. The new WONDA 3-in-1 Premium Coffee will certainly meet the expectations that our consumers have of the WONDA Coffee brand.”
“The burst of premium coffee taste that make up the WONDA 3-in-1 Premium Coffee is sure to maximize the enjoyment of coffee lovers, whether they are watching their favourite movie, catching up some on reading or just need a pick me up,” added Santharuban.
For more information on WONDA Coffee’s future activities, please visit https://www.facebook.com/WondaCoffeeMalaysia.
16 September 2019, Singapore – Following the continued success of retro arcade bar and discotheque, NINETEEN80, A Phat Cat Collective is excited to announce the launch of its second bar and club concept, Pinball Wizard. Opening its doors from 18 September 2019, the new space draws inspiration from the vintage glory days of the popular arcade machine, the pinball, with imaginative drinks and music of the 90s mixed with 00s and current hits.
Located in the basement of Sim Lim Square, Pinball Wizard breathes fresh life into the iconic building, in which after opening in the late 80s, has become known as the largest hub for gadgets and tech in Singapore. Pinball Wizard is the first concept bar to open in Sim Lim Square, following the rejuvenation of offerings within the IT mall with hip cafes and retail spaces. Combining timeless pinball games with a great entertainment line-up and bar programme, Pinball Wizard will open throughout the evening before transitioning into club mode at night.
Describing their latest venture, Joshua Pillai, Managing Director of A Phat Cat Collective says, “Sim Lim Square is an unsuspecting yet exciting choice for our newest concept. Fueled by the offbeat charm of Sim Lim Square, we wanted to create a hidden intimate space that is unexpected but stylish with lots of character.” Yafith A. Hamid, A Phat Cat Collective’s Operations Director, adds, “Pinballs have become a rare find in Singapore, and we are thrilled to introduce a bar and club that puts a spotlight on it. We had requests for pinballs in NINETEEN80, and we thought that it was something that we could build an entire theme around. It is simple and accessible for anyone to play with just two buttons, but it’s a game that comes alive and has inspired a massive culture surrounding it.”
A Phat Cat Collective is made up of co-founders Joshua Pillai, Yafith A. Hamid (YA5TH) and Francesca Aurora Way, who are known for their curated concepts and events within the F&B and nightlife scene in Singapore. In June 2018, they launched their first concept, NINETEEN80, which is located in the heart of Tanjong Pagar, provides a nostalgic throwback to all things 80s.
As Singapore’s only dedicated pinball bar, Pinball Wizard, which is also the name of the classic rock anthem by British rock band, The Who, is an endearing moniker for pinball enthusiasts. Playful creativity abounds in this imaginarium of the past and present, through an out-of-the-box and groovy perspective on music, games, design, innovation and popular culture.
Bar
Pinball Wizard’s bar programme is ingenious, cheeky and engaging, with original cocktail creations split into two categories – Signature Cocktails and Cocktail Remixes (all $18 nett). The Signature Cocktails have an element of surprise, from the psychedelic colour-changing Flower Power that uses the blue hue of butterfly pea-infused gin to interact with the elderflower, apple, ginger and lemongrass concoction, to the Berry Poppins with strawberry caviar that literally bursts with flavour to transform the palate.
Meanwhile, the Cocktail Remixes feature fun renditions of well-loved classic cocktails. The Salty White Russian is a salted caramel version of a White Russian with a douse of coffee and cacao spiced rum, while the Negroni Spritzer adds a light and bubbly twist to the otherwise bold and serious aperitif. The Banana Julius Flip, an elevated and adult departure from an Orange Julius, is a vodka-based cocktail with roasted and full-bodied notes from crème de banana, maple syrup and buttermilk.
Shooters are the name of the game at Pinball Wizard, and there are certainly some tricks up its sleeve. Be enchanted by the Glitter Shooters (S$80 nett for ten shots), with two shimmering magic potions available: Crouching Tiger,with a mesmerising mix of tequila, lychee liqueur and chrysanthemum tea; and Peanut Butter & Jelly, a sparkly swirl of black raspberry liqueur, hazelnut liqueur, vodka and cranberry juice. The equally quirky Signature Shooters (S$15 nett each) have the Mango Mojo containing a hidden surprise waiting at the bottom, while the Free Willy is visually stunning with a plasma jellyfish effect in a shooter.
Pinball Wizard is also among the first bars in Singapore to offer eco-spirits as house pours. They include the winter wheat Tried & True vodka from Cognac, citrus-based Widges London dry gin and the Caribbean award-winning Plantation 3 Stars white rum. These boutique and artisanal spirits are not only handcrafted but established an ongoing reusable bottle system with the bar directly to drastically reduce glass wastage. Along with a quality yet affordably priced collection of spirits, a curated range of craft beers and ciders are also available.
Music
A Phat Cat Collective was established for its entertainment curation, and music is definitely one of Pinball Wizard’s main attractions. Rooted in the 90s and layered with hits from the 00s to present, it is an undeniable haven for anyone who has lived and breathed through the era of boomboxes to Discmans.
As Pinball Wizard transforms into club mode, a stable of stellar DJs make up the roster with names such as ex-Zouk resident and Eatmepoptart stalwart, Weelikeme; Nicolette (Canvas/Empire); ex-Hard Rock Café resident, Bucko; as well as NINETEEN80’s big guns, Ollie’des, YA5TH and Bobos. The resident DJs pump out a unique mix of 90s to current hits ranging from Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B and Alternative and Dance. Weekly themed nights pay tribute to cherished genres of the 90s’ heydays. Wednesdays celebrate rock and alternative nights with Rock n’ Rolla, and on Thursday ladies’ nights, Tilt, Hip Hop veterans Ollie’des and YA5TH churn out tunes from the golden ages of Hip Hop.
Décor
Pinball Wizard’s interior is vintage fun meets a pop of modernity. Drawing inspiration from deconstructed elements of a pinball machine playfield, its soul lies in a time capsule of 70s aesthetics, a nod to the pinball’s years of inception and rise to its iconic status. From the commanding multi-colour arch entrance symbolising the start of the plunger tunnel to launch off the evening, be catapulted into an immersive world of technicolour funk through vibrant hues, playful lighting, funky textures, and lively patterns and shapes.
While having tipples by the bar, spot the back-bottle display encased in wavy lava lamp bubble forms. The DJ console replicates a vintage record store, with vinyl records proudly on display from various eras as DJs pay their salute to music. Not forgetting the most defining feature of the bar, it’s time to play ball. Get those flippers moving at the rows of pinball machines, as guests are able to choose from games such as Dracula, Avengers, Family Guy, Star Wars, The Simpsons, Jurassic Park and Meteor.
Open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, flip, bump, shimmy and roll into fun at Singapore’s newest drinking den.
Polar’s bottled Bubble Milk series with konjac pearls has just got more interesting with the launch of the Roasted Oolong flavour. The Polar’s bottled Bubble Milk is described as “Singapore’s favourite bubble tea in a bottle” by 7-Eleven Singapore. This new Roasted Oolong flavour is exclusively available at 7-Eleven.
Polar has previously made available Brown Sugar Bubble Tea in July 2019 and Peach Bubble Tea in January 2019. Both products contain konjac pearls.
Apart from Polar’s bubble milk range, the convenience store chain has also launched other bottled bubble milk teas imported from Taiwan including Wan Wan Bubble Milk Tea with Konjac Pearls, available in original and brown sugar.
The interest in bottled bubble milk tea in Singapore shows packaged drinks can offer consumers with a competitive option that is also available 24 hours a day.
Petaling Jaya, 12 September 2019 – Malaysia’s leading chocolate confectionery brand – KITKAT and its flagship store KITKATChocolatory, the first ever customised chocolate experience in South East Asia celebrates its 3rd year anniversary with the launch of KITKAT Roti Canai & Curry as well as other specially curated Malaysian-inspired flavours in conjunction with Merdeka and Malaysia Day!
During this season, KITKAT Chocolatory is introducing a unique twist to Malaysians’ favourite breakfast treats made the KITKAT way; KITKAT Roti Canai & Curry, Kopi & Kaya Crunch, Nasi Lemak; along with the favourite king of fruits inspired KITKAT – the Cendol Durian. These limited edition KITKATs make up the Chef’s Creation and are freshly produced exclusively at the Sunway Pyramid Pop-Up store from now till 6 October 2019.
Sachin Goel, Business Executive Officer of Confectionery Business Unit, ASEAN, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad, said, “KITKAT is always pushing the boundaries when it comes to innovating and introducing new flavours that Malaysian’s love such as the Nasi Lemak and Ice Kacang flavours. Naturally, we want to create something uniquely Malaysian that has never been done before to celebrate two iconic national days – Merdeka and Malaysia Day. That’s how we came up with KITKAT Roti Canai & Curry and other locally inspired Malaysian flavours that are artisanally handcrafted with the finest ingredients which can only be found at our KITKAT Chocolatory store.”
Juan Aranols, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad added, “Malaysia is a country that embodies diversity and its best represented in its food that are influenced by many different cultures and traditions. Hence, what better way to introduce the limited edition local favourites that Malaysians’ can take pride off. We believe that our consumers will definitely enjoy these Malaysian inspired KITKAT flavours created for them.”
Aside to the limited edition Chef’s Creation, KITKAT Chocolatory has also introduced a variety of other Malaysian flavours like the Traditional Onde-Onde, Rose Bandung, Apam Balik and Ice Kacang. A special range of mooncake inspired flavours are also available such as the Redbean, Pandan Salted Egg, Tiramisu and Snowskin Durian. In addition to that, these KITKATs can be customized to their choice of gift boxes for any celebration.
Over the years, KITKAT has created more than 40,000 Create-Your-Own-KITKATs and introduced over 100 unique KITKAT creations in just over 3 years. All of these unique KITKATs have been inspired from local to international flavours to Malaysians. KITKAT Chocolatory is also the perfect place to find unique gifts and custom-made creations for every occasion; from Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali to Christmas or even special anniversaries, birthdays and more.
Each unique flavoured KITKATs are artisanally handcrafted and is freshly produced at the KITKAT Chocolatory located at MidValley Megamall as well as the new Sunway Pyramid Pop-Up store (from now until 6 October). Customers can also purchase these flavours at the KITKAT official online store on Lazada and Shopee.
For more information on these limited edition Malaysian flavoured KITKAT visit us at https://www.nestle.com.my or https://www.facebook.com/KITKATMalaysia/
Coca-Cola Vietnam has introduced yet another innovative product from The Coca-Cola Company into the country. This time, they have officially rolled out Coca-Cola Energy in August 2019. The new beverage claims to be the “only energy drink with the great Coca-Cola taste”.
Coca-Cola Energy contains guarana and serves as a product to introduce consumers to the natural energy-giving property of guarana. The amount of caffeine in the 250ml can of Coca-Cola Energy is 80mg, which is equivalent to the amount of espresso double shot.
First launched in April 2019, Coca-Cola Energy is available in the UK, Spain, Hungary and in selected countries in Western Europe. In the Asia-Pacific region, Coca-Cola Energy is currently available in Japan and Australia.
In Southeast Asia, The Coca-Cola Company once again chose Vietnam among the first destinations to roll out Coca-Cola Energy. Cambodia is the first location for the debut of Coca-Cola Energy in the region. The company previously made Vietnam the first port of call in Southeast Asia for the new Coca-Cola Plus, which is a functional drink with dietary fibre that helps prevent the absorption of fat from meal.
Looking at the recent Coca-Cola launches in Vietnam ranging from Coca-Cola Plus to Coca-Cola Energy as well as the Nutriboost drink for children, we noticed Vietnam has become the centre of innovation for new product launches in the Southeast Asia region.
Perhaps the regulation in Vietnam is less well developed compared to Thailand, which is traditionally Southeast Asia’s innovation hub for packaged food and drinks. Vietnam’s accelerated pace of innovation serves as a wake-up call to Thai companies to return to their roots and start to innovate more.
Thailand’s Ichitan Group PLC has recently aired commercials that strengthened the Japanese heritage of its Shizuoka premium RTD tea range in the minds of Thai consumers.
Launched in 2018, Shizuoka RTD tea is a product developed between Ichitan and the Shizuoka prefecture in Japan, also known as the Japanese tea capital. This RTD tea taps into the healthy drinking trend in Thailand.
Shizuoka RTD tea is a success story
Shizuoka RTD tea has been a success for Ichitan. Sales of Shizuoka RTD tea jumped 286.2% year to date June 2019 to reach THB 206 million, according to the Ichitan Opportunity Day Quarter 2/2019 citing Nielsen Retail Audit.
Within RTD tea, Shizuoka RTD has been instrumental to the strong growth of the premium tea segment (+33.4% YTD June 2019) in Thailand. As a comparison, the overall RTD tea market only grew by 5.5%. Premium tea still accounts for a small share of the market at 10.5% but this was up from 8.3%.
Positioning Shizuoka RTD tea
The tea leaves used in the Shizuoka RTD tea comes from a tea plantation with over 400 years of history and was first established by Somon Ohashi in 1600. The Kawane Tea Plantation is now managed by the 13rd generation.
Ichitan has in the past created commercials that described the high quality of the tea from Shizuoka. These commercials also depicted Japanese tea masters carefully selecting the finest tea to produce Shizuoka RTD tea. Such an approach is commonly being used by brands to describe the provenance of their products.
Home-made video improves authenticity
In a departure from the norm, this time Ichitan recruited the tea farmers from Shizhuoka to produce their own “home-made” videos with an objective of attracting the interest of Thai consumers to their tea. The videos were carefully shot to include images of the tea plantation and Mount Fuji serving as the backdrop.
Such a creative approach of using locals to make their own promotional videos that are not just plain funny but also ‘real’ serves as an alternative approach that marketers can use to craft the authentic message for their brands.
Kuching, Sarawak, 6 September 2019 – WONDA Coffee, one of Malaysia’s leading ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee brands today launched a new WONDA Coffee can design that represents one of the most culturally rich states in Malaysia. In a launch officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, the WONDA Coffee Sarawak Edition features the iconic Malaysian hornbill and has intricate drawings that represent the artwork of different local tribes.
This truly unique representation of Sarawakian heritage was introduced during a showing of famed musical Ola Bola Merdeka in Kuching. The Chief Minister acknowledged the new design and complimented its localization as it also showed the diversity and harmony that make up the true Sarawakian spirit. Speaking at the event, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Alternate Business from Etika Sdn Bhd, Santharuban T. Sundaram said that they felt this was a special time for all Malaysians celebrating the twin patriotic days of Merdeka on 31 August and Malaysia Day on 16 September.
“The large variety of sights, sounds, tastes and cultures here in East Malaysia and in particular, Sarawak, are simply beautiful. It helped inspire our new WONDA Coffee Can design and we are proud to be able to share them with our fellow consumers and fans of Sarawak today. Indeed, we have so much to celebrate during this time as a nation,” he adds.
Every state has its own coffee culture
The Limited Time Offer (LTO) and unique can designs have been a huge hit for WONDA Coffee fans and collectors. This year, there will be a total of three different designs introduced, including the Sarawak Edition featured today. “Coffee drinkers in Malaysia have a wide variety of preference and from our studies we noted that coffees in Malaysia were brewed uniquely in different states. We wanted to capture that local, “just brewed” taste and we came up with the Sarawak Edition in conjunction with Malaysia Day as a result,” states Santharuban.
WONDA Coffee will also be releasing limited time only designed cans featuring renowned landmarks of Perak and Melaka as well. The three new WONDA Coffee LTOs come with its own can design and have slightly different tastes depending on how these coffees were brewed. For example, The Sarawak Edition Coffee is a full-bodied coffee with only a hint of bitterness while the Perak Edition Coffee is buttery and has a caramel aroma and the Melaka Edition Coffee is made from a medium roast and tastes more earthy. All versions are milk coffees, made with WONDA Coffee’s signature premium coffee beans and promises to “taste like just brewed”.
Correspondingly, the design of each WONDA Coffee can was made to match the state’s iconic symbols. “We chose these states and icons to represent the history, culture and nature that make-up our unique Malaysian identity,” says Santharuban.
The Malaysia Day Edition WONDA Coffee Contest
Beginning 16 September to 15 October, WONDA Coffee will be holding a special Malaysia Day contest to reward WONDA Coffee fans and consumers for their continued support. All Malaysians need to do is buy any 2 cans of WONDA Coffee 240ml (assorted variants) in a single receipt from 7-Eleven, Kedai Mesra PETRONAS and Shell Select during the contest period, submit their entries and receipt details to the number provided via WhatsApp, together with their full names and IC number, and retain the original receipts as proof of purchase. Each two-can purchase will be eligible for a chance to win a pair of flight tickets to a local destination of their choice.
“The Limited Time Offer and unique can designs are an annual treat for WONDA Coffee fans and collectors. The unique and special local art on the cans are a truly special collectible for those looking forward to their release during Malaysia Day each year. Indeed, we live in a truly beautiful nation and on top of incorporating our unique culture into the new can designs, we wanted to give consumers a chance to explore the country by giving free flight tickets to a domestic destination. In this manner, not only are we celebrating our coffee drinking traits but fostering unity and appreciation for all forms of Malaysian culture,” adds Santharuban.
For more information on WONDA Coffee’s future activities, please visit https://www.facebook.com/WondaCoffeeMalaysia.
