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How Kinder celebrates Chinese New Year in Malaysia

Ferrero has launched limited edition Kinder Schoko Bons Crispy in Malaysia to celebrate the year of the dog. This comes as company is diversifying its festive focus from the famous Ferrero chocolate wrapped in glittering golden packaging to children’s chocolate. The limited edition Kinder Schoko Bons Crispy is described as perfect for sharing.

The Kinder house showcases Kinder Joy and Kinder Schoko Bons Crispy. The display unit features Chinese New Year-themed interactive activities such as spin to find your Chinese horoscope and solve the pieces to find the fortune cat. Users are also encouraged to download the Magic Kinder app.

*All the images above were photographed by the author.

 

 

Mister Potato celebrates Chinese New Year with spicy flavour

Mamee-Double Decker (M) has unveiled Mister Potato Spicy Prawn as the limited edition flavour for the 2018 Chinese New Year, the year of the dog. The potato crips are made with 100% imported potato goodness and is available in canister.

Mister Potato wants Malaysians to celebrate lunar new year with Ha Ha Ha! The word “ha” rhymes with the Cantonese pronunciation of prawn (虾).

The Spicy Prawn is likely to draw its inspiration from spicy dried shrimp rolls, which are made by deep frying mini spring rolls containing a spicy dried shrimp filling. This traditional snack is a popular Chinese New Year delicacy in Malaysia and Singapore.

The latest Spicy Prawn also marks the continuation of the use of spicy as a limited edition flavour to celebrate Chinese New Year. In 2017, the snack food maker introduced Fiery Fried Chicken to celebrate the year of the rooster, and Seaweed Wasabi to celebrate the year of the monkey in 2016.

The Mister Potato limited edition offering is not only available during Chinese New Year. The snack company also unveiled Red Curry flavour to celebrate the nation’s Independence Day in 2017.

*Images from Mister Potato

100Plus ushers Chinese New Year with limited edition gold cans

F&N has released limited edition 100Plus gold cans to celebrate the year of the dog in 2018. Unlike the previous two designs, the latest design sees the words “Prosperity” (福) and “Happiness” (喜) come in red with a silver outline. Lion dance replaces the fish as the key image for the 2018 Chinese New Year can design.

Here is a recap of how the 100Plus gold cans looked like in the past.

2017 Chinese New Year

2016 Chinese New Year

This year, F&N is giving away gold premium collections including gold bowls, gold chopsticks, golden ang pow packets and 999.9 gold bowls.

F&N’s beverage division had a poor FY17 (ending 30 September 2017) with a 15% year-on-year decline in top line with an expected 10% year-on-year decline in sales volume in FY18, reported investment house UOB Kay Hian.

 

A Lookback at The Philippine eCommerce 2017

In 2017, Philippine Government’s Initiative “The Philippine Roadmap for the Digital Start-ups” launched incubator and accelerator programs: AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator, Startup Village, Voyager Innovations, Google Launchpad Accelerator; the passing of the senate bills: The Innovative Startup Bill, Philippine Innovation Act and the development of event management pioneering TechTonic. It’s also in this pivotal year, that the country had its first unicorn in Robbie Antonio’s Revolution Precrafted.

At large, Southeast Asia’s internet economy has grown exponentially, recent findings from Google and Temasek 2017 study indicate that SEA internet economy has reached $50 Billion surpassing its initial growth expectations by 35%. While online travel remains the biggest segment in terms of internet-based spending, eCommerce segment leaps from 5.5 Billion in 2015 to 7.9 Billion in 2017. By 2025, eCommerce is projected to hit $88.1 Billion to become the most valuable segment in the SEA internet economy.

With the eCommerce exciting growth in Southeast Asia, iPrice Group analysed the online performance of top eCommerce players using the following metrices: Google Search Interest, iOS and Google Play Mobile Shopping Application Ranking and Facebook popularity. Based on our findings in the Philippine market, Lazada dominated in all verticals while Shopee emerged as the fastest growing eCommerce. Despite the lead of international players, Beauty MNL entered the top five iOS and Google Play mobile shopping eCommerce apps while Kimstore is the second most popular Facebook eCommerce Page and most searched local player.

The Most Searched eCommerce In The Philippines For 2017

In Q1 2017, the Alibaba-backed Lazada hit a record high 91% in Philippine eCommerce market share. To date, Lazada have the highest eCommerce search interest penetration with an utmost 42% search interest lead from Shopee, Zalora, ebay and Kimstore respectively. In terms of investments, Lazada showed no sign of slowing down with its logistics infrastructure expansion and investment in Globe Telecom’s arm Mynt to develop the mobile payment system.

Despite the streak lead of Lazada in the Philippine eCommerce, SEA ltd’s Shopee quickly grew and overtook Zalora in second place by the end of July, the same month it celebrated its founding anniversary. One of the all-time highs of Shopee was during the launch of its first mega sale, “9.9” campaign last September which coincided with SEA ltd filing of 1 billion-dollar IPO. JG Summit, a Gokongwei-led Philippine retail conglomerate placed a stake in Shopee in its $550 funding which will be leveraged for the growth of its platform, especially for its key markets.

Ayala Group entered the internet marketplace through their investment in Zalora to increase its partner stores’ leverage in ecommerce. Zalora on the other hand gained access to Ayala’s technology for digital payments- Globe GCash. Meanwhile, the most searched local eCommerce, Kimstore has been seized by the Bureau of Customs in Q1 for smuggling 45 M pesos worth of gadgets but later managed to return into operations.

The Most Popular Online Sale Periods For 2017

With the success of Alibaba Group’s 11.11 Single’s Sale, which surpassed Black Friday and Cyber Monday since 2012, more eCommerce players in Southeast Asia has jumped into the bandwagon. In the Philippines, Lazada’s streak lead in Google search interest has been consistent all quarters. However, Lazada’s biggest leads came in during its campaign, “The Online Revolution” which is adapted from the 11.11 Single’s Sale campaign but extending it with its own 12.12 Sale. Surprisingly, 12.12 Sale deems the most popular online sale for Lazada, even for its competitors Shopee and Zalora.

Despite the regional success of Single’s Sale, the biggest hit online sale period happened during the mark of “sale season” or the holiday season which starts as early as September in the Philippines. Online migration during the holidays can be attributed to the worsening of traffic congestion during this season. Aside from Christmas events one of the biggest online sale happened during the end of Q1 and the beginning of Q2, which can be attributed in the summer holiday and labour day in the country. The sale interest in these given months: March, April and May are apparel and home appliances.

The Top Mobile Shopping Apps For 2017

Lazada leads the Google Play mobile shopping apps of 2017 for all quarters followed by Shopee. Meanwhile Shopee leads the iOS mobile shopping app for Q3 and Q4 ending Lazada’s first two quarter lead. The Lazada- Voyager Solutions partnership enabled consumers using Lazada mobile app to browse the platform without being charge for data consumption.  Lazada has been pushing mobile applications since more than 60% of their sale are from mobile devices.

In Q2 Goods, a local m-commerce jumped its ranking to 5th place replacing Sephora. By Q4, Beauty MNL another local m-commerce overtook ebay on the 4th spot dethroning Goods in the top five list.  Last December 2017, Robinsons Retail Holdings a Gokongwei retail arm of JG Summit Holdings acquired 20% of Taste Central, the company operating Beauty MNL.

The Most Popular eCommerce on Facebook

According to Google and Temasek’s 2017 forecast, Southeast Asia is expected to increase its mobile internet usage of 3.6 hours per day by next year with the rising of smartphone users in the region. Hence, social commerce or sales driven by social media is expected to also increase in SEA over the coming years despite it being only 30 percent of total online sales in 2016. In the Philippines, Lazada has the most number of Facebook fans with more than 6.6 M likes, local eCommerce dominated the list- Kimstore, Goods and Eazy Fashion with 2.4 M, 1.3 M and 1.1 M likes respectively. While in third place, Zalora has 2.0 M likes.

Methodology

Most Searched eCommerce

Utilizing Google Trends, the findings were collated by analysing search interest from 1 January 2017 until 16 December 2017 in the Philippines. The data were collated by comparing the search interest between the following keywords: ‘shopee’, ‘lazada’, ‘ebay’, ‘kimstore’ and ‘zalora’.

Most Popular Mobile Shopping App

The top mobile shopping applications in the Philippines were collated by averaging their rankings on a quarterly basis using App Annie’s Google Play data and Apple Play Store data.

Most Popular eCommerce on Facebook

The data set was provided by Socialbakers.

 About iPrice Group

iPrice Group is operating as a one-stop shop e-commerce aggregator across 7 markets in Southeast and East Asia with key feature in price comparison. It’s meta-search feature collates e-commerce products: home and living, cosmetics, grooming, fashion and electronics while its key feature in price comparison specifically caters to electronics.

For the latest start-up, business and technology insights please visit the iPrice Insights page: https://iprice.ph/trends/insights/

 

Transparent milk tea from Suntory now available at 7-Eleven Malaysia

Suntory Tennensui Premium Morning Tea, a transparent milk tea highly sought after in Japan and in overseas markets like Singapore, is now available at 7-Eleven Malaysia.

Sold out in Singapore

The Premium Morning Tea has taken Singapore by storm with FairPrice having to bring in new stock to replenish the sold-out transparent milk tea, reported Straits Times in November 2017. The supermarket started selling the transparent milk tea in November 2017. The beverage is sold in Singapore through “parallel import” as Suntory Beverage and Food Asia told the newspaper that the drink is currently only marketed in Japan.

In Singapore, 7-Eleven started to make available Suntory Tennensui Premium Morning Tea, Suntory Tennensui Premium Morning Lemon Tea, I Lohas Water Apple and I Lohas Water Peach from 22 December 2017, reported Nylon Singapore.

More besides Suntory Tennensui Premium Morning Tea

In Malaysia, 7-Eleven has not only made available Suntory Tennensui Premium Morning Tea, there are other Japanese beverages from Suntory and Kirin that are being sold at selected outlets including Premium Boss RTD coffee, green tea and flavoured tea (image below). The beverages are imported by Mag Cactus Green (M) Sdn Bhd.

What Mini Me Thinks

7-Eleven is responding to competition from FamilyMart, which carries a lot more imported Japanese and Korean products, by adding more imported trending products to attract footfall and a younger crowds.

Indofood in dairy JV with Arla, taking over Asahi beverage venture

Forming new joint venture with Arla

On 22 December 2017, PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk (ICBP) and Arla Foods announced the formation of a joint venture to expand Arla Foods’ presence in the Indonesian market. The Danish dairy giant will have a 50% stake plus one share to give it the controlling stake in the new entity Arla Indofood Sukses Makmur. ICBP will have a 50% stake minus one share.

Taking over existing joint ventures with Asahi

On the same day, the Indonesian consumer goods giant executed a share transfer agreement with Japan’s Asahi Group Holdings. The agreement saw ICBP taking over from Asahi the remaining 51% stake in PT Asahi Indofood Beverage Makmur (AIBM), the maker of cold beverages, and the remaining 49% stake in PT Indofood Asahi Sukses Beverage (IASB), which is in charge of the sale and distribution of cold beverages. The joint venture is known for the manufacturing and marketing of Ichi Ocha, Tekita, Caféla, Club, Pepsi, 7Up, Tropicana Twister, Sting, Mirinda and Fruitamin brands. 

The Asahi joint ventures have been losing money and beverage sales have been falling. Asahi does not seem to have the time to wait for the business to turn around.

Dairy business on upward trend

ICBP’s dairy business, on the other hand, is growing healthily. The dairy business includes sweetened condensed milk and creamer, ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk, sterilized bottled milk, pasteurized liquid milk, lactic acid beverages, powdered milk, ice cream and butter.

At the moment, details about the product portfolio, production and launch dates of the joint venture will not be made public, according to the press release.

Danish butter, cheese in demand

We do know Danish cheese and butter are the two segments that are witnessing a rise in export to Indonesia. But a lot more innovation and demand is coming from the yogurt segment. We will have to wait and see what will be the new product from the ICBP-Arla joint venture and which channel it will focus – retail or foodservice. Will Indonesia become the manufacturing hub for Arla in Southeast Asia. This is also a question to ponder.

 

TOP ‘A Brighter Future’ Fundraising Campaign Gives New School Uniforms To More Than 400 For Back-To-School Cheer!

Members of the TOP team with children from care organisations

Kuala Lumpur, January 10, 2018 –TOP, the No.1[1] brand in Peninsular Malaysia in the Detergent category brought back-to-school cheer to more than 400 children from across the nation, through its ‘A Brighter Future with TOP’ campaign that successfully raised funds for new school uniforms, shoes and socks.

TOP collaborated with leading retailer, Giant to carry out the charity fund raising campaign from November 13 to December 13, which saw 30 cents from the sales of selected TOP products from all Giant outlets nationwide channeled towards providing the back-to-school necessities for children aged between 7 to 17 years from 18 care organizations.

The school necessities include a full school kit of brand new uniform, shoes and socks for each child.

The campaign had two simple objectives, which is to give these children new uniforms that they can take pride in, that can motivate them to achieve more by boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem; and to educate them on the importance of a hygienic lifestyle, including caring for their clothing so that they are clean and hygienically laundered.

Uniforms for children from care organization across the nation will be ready for collection before school reopens, giving the children the peace of mind that they will be dressed for success in the new school year.

As part of the education component of the campaign, the Southern Lion team, held a laundry workshop for the children from Rumah Solehah and Rumah Kebajikan Karunai Illam at Rumah Solehah. The new school uniform kits were also presented to the children at this event.

The children were actively engaged in learning how to read garment labels to determine how the items should be laundered, how to correctly use washing machines especially on how much detergent and softener are to be used based on the load size, and the hands-on ‘hand wash’ session that had the young participants splashing around happily.

At the close of the event, the children tried on their new school kits, looking smart, and smiling broadly.

Southern Lion Sdn Bhd General Manager, Ms Carmen Foo thanked Giant and its customers for their generous support of the program that has brought much hope and joy to more than 1,200 children from care organization across the nation since its inception over the past two years.

“We are grateful for the support of Giant and their customers, who have given generously to support a cause that is close to our hearts, and that means a lot to children who have much less than what we take for granted. Their kind support has given hope and joy to children who can look forward to starting the school year with new uniforms, just like their other schoolmates. In return TOP is glad to provide the innovation and benefits of our products to all. We are proud to be part of an initiative that is motivating more children to enjoy a brighter future. Our thanks to all TOP users who have made this possible for the third consecutive year,” said Ms Foo.

Rumah Solehah administrator, Cik Fathiiah, mentioned that TOP has stepped up to assist these children in a meaningful way making them happy. “We value the contribution for it has help us tremendously in caring for the children’s needs and educating our children on the responsibility of taking care of their school uniforms,” said Cik Fathiiah.

“We really appreciate the school uniforms, shoes and socks given to us. It is nice to start a new school year with clean and stain free school uniforms. We also had a lot of fun participating and learning in the workshop. This will surely help me to take good care of my new school uniform and other clothing” said Yamini A/P Jagen resident of Rumah Kebajikan Karunai Illam.

TOP, the No.1[2] brand in Peninsular Malaysia in Detergent category, developed by LION Corporation Japan is well-known for championing the concept of hygienically clean living to encourage cleaner laundry, more comfort and a better sense of well-being through its continuous innovative breakthrough Japan technology.

Last year, the brand introduced its TOP Micro-Clean Tech with Anti-Sebum innovation that has given users in tropical climates such as Malaysia a practical solution to the problem of ground-in sweat and sebum. TOP Micro-Clean Tech with Anti-Sebum innovation reaches deep into the fibre core to pull out trapped sebum and sweat effectively.

The TOP Micro-Clean Tech with Anti-Sebum range includes all the functionality that TOP is renowned for including its anti-malodour, anti-mite dust, and antibacterial properties; while the Blooming range includes all these functionalities with FreshCare™ fragrance technology for up to 30 days freshness after washing.

TOP laundry solutions are available nationwide. Among the TOP liquid detergent variants are Stain Buster, Brilliant Clean, Blooming Pleasures, Odour Buster, Colour Protect for top-loading machines, with the Smart Clean variant for front-loading machines. The powder detergent variants include Super White, Super Colour, Super Hygienic and Blooming Freshness for top-loading machines, and Super Low Suds for front-loading machines. TOP Day Fresh softeners are formulated for both top-loading and front-loading machines, and come in variants that include Romantic Pink, Sensual Purple and Serene Blue. TOP Lite is for delicate clothes.

To find out more, please visit http://www.southernlion.com.my or call our customer care line at 1800-88-0133.

Among the 18 charity homes are:-

 

  Kuala Lumpur/Selangor
1 Rumah Kebajikan Karunai Illam
2 Rumah Solehah
  Kedah/Perlis
3 Pertubuhan Bela dan Didik Anak-Anak Yatim & Miskin Daerah Padang Terap
4 Batu Grace Home
  Penang
5 St Joseph Penang
6 Rumah Permata Kasih
  Kelantan/Terengganu
7 Persatuan Kebajikan Islam (PERKASA) Terengganu
8 Rumah Anak Yatim dan Dhuafa’ Siti Aminah (RAYSA)
  Perak
9 Ipoh Boys Home
10 Pusat Jagaan Anak-Anak Yatim Nurul Iman
  Pahang
11 Pertubuhan Anak Yatim & Kebajikan Darul Izzah (Girls)
12 Pusat Jagaan Wanita dan Kanak-kanak Casa Harapan
  Negeri Sembilan
13 Vinashini Home
14 Pertubuhan Anak Yatim Darul Aminan (PAYDA)
  Melaka
15 Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-anak Yatim Islam Daerah Jasin
16 Pusat Jagaan Kanak-Kanak Harapan Bukit Baru
  Johor
17 Rumah Anak anak Yatim Shafar
18 Esther & Daniel Home

 

About Southern Lion Sdn Bhd

Southern Lion Sdn. Bhd. is a 50/50 joint venture company between Lam Soon (M) Bhd and LION CORPORATION, Japan. It continuously improves the quality of life of Malaysia consumers by offering household products of innovative concepts at affordable prices ranged from fabric care, home care and beauty care to oral care. Southern Lion is the first detergent manufacturer to be ISO 9001 certified.

[1] Based on Retail Index Service for Detergent category for the 12 months ending September 2017 in Peninsular Malaysia. (Copyright © 2017, The Nielsen Company (M) Sdn Bhd)

[2] Based on Retail Index Service for Detergent category for the 12 months ending September 2017 in Peninsular Malaysia. (Copyright © 2017, The Nielsen Company (M) Sdn Bhd)

 

 

Coca-Cola Stevia offers 35% less sugar now available in Malaysia

35% lower sugar

Coca-Cola Bottlers (Malaysia) has rolled out Coca-Cola Stevia (also known as Coca-Cola Life in other markets). The 500ml stevia-sweetened Coke contains 35% less sugar than Coca-Cola Classic. Each 100ml serving of Coca-Cola Stevia contains 6.6g of total sugar. The aftertaste of stevia is minimal as the drink contains sucrose to even out the taste.

Coca-Cola is actively optimising its range to provide Malaysian consumers with healthier option and the new Coca-Cola Stevia is seen as heading in that direction.

100% stevia-sweetened Coke in the pipeline

As reported by BeverageDaily.com in November 2017, Coca-Cola said it plans to launch Coca-Cola Stevia No Sugar, sweetened with stevia alone, in an unspecified market outside of the US in the first half of 2018. The beverage giant is currently working with Pure Circle on Reb M, a stevia glycoside that imparts “a clean, sugar-like sweetness.”

ABC Kogen Dairy launches Kin Bulgarian yogurt drink

ABC Kogen Dairy, the relatively new joint venture between local food producer ABC Group and Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co, has launched Kin Bulgarian yogurt drink in Indonesia, making it the first Bulgarian yogurt in the country.

Longevity

The ambient drinking yoghurt made from A2 milk contains the yogurt strain Lactobacillus Bulgaricus. The consumption of Lactobacillus Bulgaricus has been linked to longevity of the Bulgarian people who have more people aged 100 years and older.

The highest concentration of centenarians in the world is said to be in the Rhodope Mountains in southern Bulgaria and the local residents claim Lactobacillus Bulgaricus as their secrety to longevity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYN3VDULlGo

Taking cue from China’s Bright Dairy 

ABC Kogen Dairy is not the first to tap the potential of Bulgarian yoghurt and its longevity claim. In fact, China’s Bright Dairy first started introducing its ambient yogurt drink Momchilovtsi (莫斯利安) in early 2009. The product, the first ambient yogurt drink in China, was inspired by Momchilovtsi, a village in Rhodope Mountains, known for the longevity of its residents. Sales of Bright Dairy’s Momchilovtsi reached RMB 6.72 billion (USD 1 billion) in 2016, up 14% year-on-year.

The difference is ABC Kogen Dairy uses fresh milk from A2 cows but both products are all about eating Bulgarian yogurt to live longer.

3 flavours

Kin Bulgarian yogurt drink is available in 3 flavours – original, orange and strawberry and comes in a 200ml plastic bottle. The drink is gluten free and halal. It is currently available in Java, Bali and Sumatra.

Kin Bulgarian yogurt drink can be bought online at Tokopedia.

 

 

New Minute Maid Refresh Orange, Apple and Heaven & Earth Mandarin Orange

Coca-Cola Malaysia has unveiled three new beverages in the run up to 2018 Chinese New Year. We have hinted about the upcoming launch of Minute Maid Refresh Orange and Apple in a post in September 2017 but we were not sure about the packaging format. Now, it is clear, Minute Maid Refresh will be in a 300ml slim can.

Minute Maid Refresh

Minute Maid Refresh Apple Fruit Drink and Minute Maid Refresh Orange Fruit Drink come with the on-pack claim of being the number 1 juice and juice drink in the world. The tagline is “Share the refreshing goodness in every taste.” The juice drinks are free from added preservatives.

Minute Maid Refresh was previously only available in the foodservice channel dispensed through the beverage fountain and first appeared in Malaysia and Singapore around April 2016. Now, Minute Maid Refresh has become an option to the pulpy range.

Minute Maid Refresh Orange Juice Drink contains 6.7% orange juice from concentrate. It is sweetened with sucrose and high fructose corn syrup. The total sugar per 100ml serving is 9.3g.

Launched in Cambodia in mid-2017

The same Minute Maid Refresh in slim can debuted in Cambodia around May 2017 available in apple and grape with the same world’s number 1 claim on the packaging.

https://www.facebook.com/MinuteMaid/videos/1383730835015264/

Heaven & Earth Mandarin Orange

In addition to Minute Maid Refresh, Coca-Cola Malaysia has released Heaven & Earth RTD Mandarin Orange Flavoured Black Tea. Mandarin orange is a favourite flavour for limited-edition Chinese New Year offering. In early 2016, Tiger Radler Mandarin Orange hit the shelf in time for Chinese New Year.

Now, Heaven & Earth RTD tea is offering mandarin orange and it is not sure if it is a limited-edition offering or it will become a permanent edition to the range. The Minute Maid Pulpy Mandarin  launched recently in Thailand is definitely a new permanent addition to the pulpy range.

Smaller 300ml pack size

Both the Minute Maid Refresh and Heaven and Earth Mandarin Orange are in a 300ml slim can, which is 15ml smaller than the existing Heaven and Earth, which comes in a 315ml can. The smaller size is likely a demonstration of Coca-Cola’s commitment to reduce the pack size to lower the intake of sugar. See the post here.

 

 

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