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Vitagen Digestive Health On-Wheels Education Initiative Rolls Out to Promote Gut Health

By
Tan Heng Hong
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(2nd & 3rd from left) Mr. Poh Eng Lip, General Manager of VITAGEN and Mr. Ng Tuck Hong, Deputy General Manager of VITAGEN with representatives from PPUKM and NSM at the Launch of VITAGEN Digestive Health On-Wheels truck Launch, today.

Customised truck will be at 30 locations, providing health checks and consultation

 PETALING JAYA, 7 NOVEMBER 2018 – We often forget to take time to understand how to care for our gut health so VITAGEN has taken the initiative to share its expertise and knowledge directly with Malaysians with its new Digestive Health On-Wheels education initiative.

The Digestive Health On-Wheels education initiative features a truck fitted out with educational information on probiotics – Lactobacillus acidophilus & Lactobacillus paracasei – which are the ‘good’ bacteria’ that provide us with various digestive health benefits when consumed in sufficient amounts.

It will also be accompanied by gastroenterology nurses and nutritionists to provide members of the public with an analysis of their gut health and advice on how to improve it.

At the 30 locations it will go, the public will be able to get their digestive health screenings from nutritionists, receive counselling and stool-test kits from gastroenterology nurses and learn how to stay fit by fitness consultant.

The truck will also showcase the findings of the Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM) study as well as have interactive digestive health games, product sampling and products for sale on promotion.

“The VITAGEN Digestive Health On-Wheels is the first-of-its-kind mobile digestive health initiative created to educate consumers in a more creative and engaging manner. As the gut health leader in Malaysia, VITAGEN is doing this to create awareness about the importance of probiotics for a healthy gut which is essential for overall health as the recent study by latest findings by PPUKM have confirmed,” said General Manager of VITAGEN Mr. Poh Eng Lip.

“With more and more studies identifying the gut as our second brain, it is important for people to realise that the gut is critical to overall wellbeing and knowing how to care for it helps to alleviate many health problems. As the gut health leader in Malaysia, VITAGEN is committed to promoting the importance of a healthy gut,” added Poh.

“A simple way to achieve a healthy gut to boost immunity, mental clarity and even our mood is the regular consumption of probiotics in the form of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei.”

The PPUKM clinical research – led by Consultant Gastroenterologist, Associate Professor in Medicine, Head, Gastroenterology Unit, Dept of Medicine, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, YM Associate Professor Dr. Raja Affendi Raja Ali – has shown that the Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei probiotic strains in VITAGEN have a positive impact on gut health and immune system as about 70-80% of the immune system is found in the gut.

The study showed that 96% of respondents had improvement in constipation symptoms while 45% of respondents required a shorter toilet time.

It also showed that by consuming the probiotics contained in VITAGEN, the body produces less pro-inflammatory chemicals which reduces inflammation and enhances the immune system and that 73% of respondents with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) benefited from enhanced immunity.

This is because the probiotics help the body to produce less pro-inflammatory chemicals, which reduces inflammation and enhances the immune system.

The billions of live probiotic cultures in VITAGEN are formulated to survive the journey through the gastrointestinal tract to help preserve the balance of good and bad bacteria. Once inside, they help with better digestion and a stronger immune system for a healthier gut, as well as to boost the body’s immunity to fight off diseases.

The immune system is designed to fight invading viruses, bacteria and other microbes while leaving healthy tissues alone and 70 per cent of our immunity defence lies in the gut.

Mental clarity is also affected by gut health as there is an internal complex ecosystem of bacteria located within the body called microbiome that regulate feelings and thought by communicating signals between the digestive tract and brain via the vagus nerve.

Numerous on-going studies have shown that the microfauna in the intestines play a major role in affecting our state of mind. So it is also important to keep the bacterial ecosystem in the gut balanced to assist in promoting better mental clarity.

When it comes to feeling good, 95 per cent of Serotonin – the chemical that contributes to emotional health, wellbeing and happiness among other things – is housed in the gut, where the probiotics there act as neurotransmitters to trigger the ‘feel good’ emotions.

“We are looking forward to more findings that further strengthen the understanding that  the gut is critical to overall wellbeing and knowing how to take care of it will help alleviate many health problems. As the gut health leader in Malaysia, VITAGEN will continue to educate and remind everyone to be good to their gut for better quality of life,” said Poh.

THE VITAGEN DIGESTIVE HEALTH ON-WHEELS CAMPAIGN TRUCK

  • First of its kind mobile digestive health truck
  • Truck Size: 27’ length x 7.5’ width x 12’ height
  • Will be at 30 locations in the Klang Valley
  • Accompanied by gastroenterology nurses and nutritionists.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE PUBLIC

  • VITAGEN and PPUKM Research Study Showcase
  • Digestive health screening and survey conducted by Gastro nurses
  • Stool Test Kit Distribution
  • Nutrition and healthy eating advice by nutritionists
  • Fitness advice by fitness consultant.
  • Interactive Digestive Health Games
  • Interactive Q&A with consumers
  • Multimedia Video of VITAGEN and PPUKM Research Results
  • VITAGEN Less Sugar product sampling and sales

VITAGEN – Regular, Less Sugar and Collagen

All variants of VITAGEN contain billions of live probiotic cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei for better digestion and a stronger immunity.

VITAGEN Regular is made with wholesome milk and real fruit juice with no preservatives for a great fruity taste that is well-loved by everyone.

VITAGEN Less Sugar has a lower sugar content, specifically produced for those who are looking to lower their sugar intake but would still like to enjoy the many health benefits the brand offers. VITAGEN Less Sugar is certified with the Healthier Choice logo under the Ministry of Health.

VITAGEN Collagen Less Sugar is made with the same wholesome goodness of live probiotic cultures with the infusion of Marine Collagen peptides and prebiotics for youthful, glowing skin. VITAGEN Collagen Less Sugar is also certified with the Healthier Choice logo under the Ministry of Health.

 Drink VITAGEN every day to provide your body with its daily intake of healthy bacteria. For more information, please visit www.vitagen.com.my

           

Giant Leading the Fight Against Food Waste

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Image 1 (L-R) David Chiam, YM Dato' Dr. Tengku Mohamed Faziharudean Bin Tengku Feissal, YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Binti Dr. Wan Ismail, YB Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Bin Ismail & YBHG. Dato' Seri Jam
  • The Country’s leading hypermarket brand extends Giant Food Surplus Program to Kelantan.
    ● Program signifies Giant’s commitment to curbing the national concern of food wastage in the country.

KOTA BHARU, KELANTAN, 4 NOVEMBER 2018 – Giant, Malaysia’s favourite hypermarket and supermarket brand, in partnership with the Food Aid Foundation, launches the expansion of their Food Surplus Program to Kelantan, officiated by Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Dr Wan Ismail Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.

One of the biggest national concerns, food wastage is a challenge for super market and hypermarket operators alike with 45% of all solid waste in the country being edible food waste. Adding to that, it is said that retailers around the country report large amounts of food wastage on an ongoing basis thus increasing the severity of the issue.

Taking place at Giant Superstore Tunjung, the launch of Giant’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment to the fight against food wastage will first see Giant stores in Kelantan adopt the brand’s current food surplus module. Giant will be supplying goods and produce to the Food Aid Foundation, which will then be distributed to the local underprivileged community, including charity homes, welfare organisations, underprivileged families and soup kitchens in the area. Food Aid Foundation is a non-profit governmental organization (NGO) that acts as a ‘Food Bank’ where we will donate our unused or ‘end of shelf-life’ foods, which are then distributed to those in need, and therefore reduce wastage.

“We have always been committed to improving our operations to make a positive impact on this issue. Since 2016, to address this national concern, we have worked hand in hand with non-profit organizations, such as The Lost Food Project, to reduce wastage and create awareness on the issue while supporting the less fortunate. We cannot be any happier to work with the Food Aid Foundation as we bring fight against food wastage to additional states in Malaysia. Together with our partners, we hope to be able to help even more people while further reducing any wastage of food at our facilities,” said Pierre-Olivier Deplanck GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd Managing Director.

Officiating the launch, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Dr. Wan Ismail Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, commented, “I would like to commend Giant on their ongoing efforts in solving the issue of food wastage in our country. Giant’s Food Surplus program is in line with the government’s own commitment and efforts to better assist the underprivileged community in Malaysia as the food items and produce will go to those in need. Through our national Food Bank Malaysia program, we are also aiming to assist the retail industry by reducing the cost of operation for hypermarket and supermarket brands in the country. Both Giant’s Food Surplus program and the government’s own Food Bank Malaysia program will raise awareness on what each and every one of us can do help to reduce food wastage and benefit the less fortunate.”

One of Giant’s most recent venture, the launch of their Fresh Distribution Centre, carries the same testament. When products are stored past the point where they are suitable to be sold at stores around the country, they are shared to be re-distributed to those in need. These charities include homes for underprivileged children, soup kitchens for the poor and homeless, as well as those with special needs.

“Food has a shelf life that allows it to be safely consumed beyond the first few days and while we remove healthy, edible produce from our shelves as part of our commitment to selling only quality products; we are also able to now reduce the wastage of these products while addressing the vital concern of food surplus that comes from any large retailer. We believe in creating a sustainable supply chain so that we reduce fresh produce wastage while helping those in need.” Said Deplanck.

Also present at the launch of the program was the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, who first led the Food Bank initiative in Pulau Pinang since May 2017, through the Mutiara Food Bank. The program’s success was a key factor in driving the implementation of the Malaysian Food Bank Program across the country today. The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), together with the help of key players in the industry such as Giant, and non-profit organizations like the Food Aid Foundation and Kechara Soup Kitchen, aim to assist the underprivilege in the country.

Frisian Flag turns ginger flavoured sweetened condensed milk into a drink

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Indonesia’s Frisian Flag has innovated with yet another breakthrough sweetened condensed milk product. Following the introduction of the pinkish cocopandan in mid-2018, the nation’s top sweetened condensed milk brand has unveiled ginger flavoured sweetened condensed milk (kental manis rasa susu jahe).

Marketing Director PT Frisian Flag Indonesia Felicia Julian said the new product is designed as a drink or to be added into food. Ginger is traditionally used to warm up the body and is the ideal drink with the onset of the rainy season, which normally starts in October/November.

The Indonesian government has recently cracked down on the marketing of sweetened condensed milk as a substitute for regular milk aiming at children. The new product from Frisian Flag appears to circumvent this directive by tapping into the familiar ginger milk drink.

Dutch Lady Malaysia emoji packaging promotes consumer interaction

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Dutch Lady Malaysia’s limited-edition emoji packaging taps into the Connected Consumer theme in Tetra Pak 2017 Index, which highlights why augmented reality, digital technology and online “super leaders” are so important to the future of packaging.

The #Emoojiku interactive pack comes with eight emoji designs. By scanning the QR code, consumer can create their own emoji and then share on social media.

We have seen Indomilk, Frisian Flag and Dutch Lady innovate with augmented reality and gammification on their packaging to improve consumer interaction. We expect to see more examples of consumer engagement activities driven by technology-enabled packaging in the near future, not just in the dairy sector but in other beverage sectors as well.

New Nutrigen lychee cultured milk and Yobick sakura yogurt drink

By
Tan Heng Hong
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From mulberry, Nutrigen now has lychee flavour cultured milk and is available at Giant, Mydin, AEON Big, Econsave, and The Store outlets in Malaysia.

DydoMamee Distribution, the joint venture between Japanese DyDo and local Mamee, has also unveiled Yobick Sakura, a new variant to its Yobick yogurt-flavoured drink first launched in Malaysia in May 2018. This sakura flavoured Yobick is available only at Giant.

A visit to BingoBox unmanned convenience store in KL

By
Tan Heng Hong
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BingoBox outlet in Bukit Ceylon. Image by Minimeinsights.com

The wind of change is blowing into Southeast Asia with unmanned store popping up in the region starting with JD.id‘s first unmanned outlet in Indonesia and China’s BingoBox opening in Kuala Lumpur. Even though BingoBox is not the first cashierless store in Malaysia, that title goes to Irispay, BingoBox stands out as it is backed by China’s top player in this field.

First made popular in China, the unmanned store operator BingoBox has installed BingoBox in more than 400 locations throughout China and has set up a local joint venture in Malaysia – Scientific Retail Sdn Bhd to popularise this concept in Malaysia.

Serving Shell customers

BingoBox has set up a humanless retail outlet at Shell on Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur to better serve motorists who want to make purchases 24 hours a day as not all petrol station marts in Malaysia opens round-the-clock. BingoBox’s role is to fill this service gap.

Located in Bukit Ceylon

Another BingoBox is located in Bukit Ceylon and is next to Bottega Mediterranea, an Italian food products supplier cum deli. The surrounding area has a lot of service apartments catering to short stayers and expats.

BingoBox in Bukit Ceylon. Image by Minimeinsights.com
BingoBox entrance. Image by Minimeinsights.com

To enter, you first need to download the BingoBox software, which at the moment is not yet fully localised for the Malaysian market as some of the promotions are clearly meant for use in China.

BingoBox app

The products comprise mainly food and beverages with affordable prices, lower than convenience stores because of the savings from not having any human staff. For example, a Yeo’s soya bean drink in PET costs only RM 1.30, a price that is comparable with hypermarket.

Inside BingoBox. Image by Minimeinsights.com

Payment choices include Boost, an app-based mobile wallet, from Axiata Digital Ecode Sdn Bhd or you can pay with credit card.

Pay with Boost. Image by Minimeinsights.com

To pay, just place the product in the box and the price will appear. You can choose to pay with Boost or credit card. It is that simple.

Scanning the product at BingoBox at check out. Image by Minimeinsights.com

Once the payment is successful, you will receive a message on the screen.

Exiting is relatively easy. Just stand at the door and the machine will check if there are still products that have not been paid. If everything is paid, the door will open and you are free to leave.

The problem is there is only one door for entry and exit but given the lack of traffic, this will not be a major issue at the moment.

Each merchandise comes with an anti-theft barcode, which can add up on operating cost.

Image by Minimeinsights.com

Key takeaways:

BingoBox is competitive in price. However, location will be a major factor determining if this concept will become successful in the long run. Municipal laws may restrict BingoBox’s expansion.

BingBox competes not only with physical c-stores and minimarkets but also with vending machines, which have become a booming market thanks to the low entry barrier.

At the moment, you need a person at each BingoBox educating consumers how to navigate around. Partnering with Boost is a good approach as not all consumers have payment cards. Boost can do more to boost store traffic by running campaigns like what they did with KK Mart.

 

Singles’ Day in Malaysia: sales grow 4914% compared to a regular day

By
Tan Heng Hong
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A survey by Picodi, Malaysia’s promotions, discount code and voucher site.

Statistics and facts about shopping behaviour of Malaysian singles

It all started with a few students from Nanjing University who decided to break away from the monotony of being single for one day. They chose 11.11 because of the solitary implications of the number 1 which symbolize being single. However, this simple celebration turned into one of the largest shopping days in the world. It turns out that this event gained great interest also in Southeast Asia. According to Google, in Malaysia the popularity of Singles’ Day has doubled in the last five years.

Who’s taking part in Singles’ Day? What are the behaviours of consumers on that day? To look further into this phenomenon, we analysed historical data and surveyed people from Malaysia. The results are presented in this report.

Shopping therapy for the young and lonely

Who shops on Singles' Day

So, who exactly takes part in Singles’ Day? The survey suggests that more than half of the participants are men—57%. In accordance with the event’s name, three out of four consumers are single. Of course, not only singles went on a shopping spree. An increase in interest, although not as significant as among singles, was also noted in the group of people in relationships.

The interest in Singles’ Day is especially apparent among young Malaysians. Compared to a regular day, the number of transactions on Singles’ Day among people aged 18-24 grew by 6638%. However, getting great discounts is not restricted to younger people—there was a noticeable interest in this shopping festival among all age groups.

The day for singles to indulge themselves

What and how Malaysians shop on 11.11

The results of the survey show that more than half of Malaysians do not prepare for the Singles’ Day shopping craze but buy impulsively on that day. 34% compare the prices in different stores and only 8% declare that they make lists before shopping. It looks like most people treat 11.11 as an occasion to meet their desires rather than an opportunity to execute a well-thought-out shopping plan.

On top of that, most of the consumers—almost 70%—declare that they buy things just for themselves. Only one-third of the respondents buy gifts for other people on that day. It appears that—as the name of the event suggests—Singles’ Day is a perfect day for getting a present for yourself.

Surprisingly, an average man buys more than an average woman—3.7 and 3 products respectively. The most desirable items among men are clothes, electronics and delivery food. Similarly, women buy mostly clothes, delivery food and footwear.

Last minute shopping fever

Shopping behaviours on 11.11

It’s not surprising that Malaysians buy more than usual on Singles’ Day. According to our platform’s statistics, the number of online transactions increased significantly—there were 4914% more purchases compared to a regular day. The survey indicates that an average Malaysian is willing to spend RM269 on a Singles’ Day shopping spree. The sales reached a peak right before the end of Singles’ Day, at 10 PM.

Mobile users behind

Singles' Day: devices types and brands

More than half of the consumers—52%—use desktops when doing their shopping on Singles’ Day. 45% of Malaysians make their purchases on mobile phones. Most of the transactions are made on Apple devices, followed by Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and OPPO appliances.

Singles’ Day in Figures:

  • The popularity of Singles’ Day has doubled in the last 5 years
  • More than half of the participants are men—57%
  • The biggest interest in Singles’ Day is noted among people aged 18-24
  • An average Malaysian is willing to spend RM269 on Singles’ Day
  • On Singles’ Day sales grow 4914% compared to a regular day in Malaysia

Methodology

This report was created based on internal data provided by Picodi.com, a global discount provider existing since 2010. 300 participants from Malaysia took part in the survey.

Arla Pro comes to Singapore

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Indoguna Singapore, the official distributor of Lurpak and Arla Foods products for the food service market in Singapore, has announced the launch of Arla Pro in Singapore, the first in Southeast Asia. Arla Pro is the new foodservice business unit of Arla focusing on products and value-added services for chefs and food professionals.

Image from Indoguna Singapore

Arla Pro was launched at the new habitat by honesbee, lauded as the world’s first tech-enabled, multi-sensory grocery & dining destination. The event at the end of October 2018 saw Arla’s commercial chefs, Chef Pauline and Chef Ryan demonstrating the use of Arla Pro products in both sweet pastries and savoury hot food.

Image from Indoguna Singapore

Arla Pro was launched in China in June 2018 where it was also announced that the new foodservice division has officially started production in China’s Inner Mongolia. The event saw the official debut of shredded mozzarella (Arlaçˆ±æ°æ™šæ›Šé©Źè‹é‡Œæ‹‰ćčČé…Ș䞝) specially designed for Chinese consumers who like the long stretchiness of  mozzarella in their pizza. The cheese ingredients come from Denmark but processed in China. The shredded mozzarella targets small local pizza outlets.

The debut of Arla Pro in Singapore is seen as a move by Arla to deepen its engagement with local foodservice clients and bring the competition to the next level in a market dominated by Fonterra.

 

7-Eleven Malaysia Celebrates its 4th Consecutive Win in the Putra Brand Awards

By
Tan Heng Hong
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From left: 4As Council Member, Mr. Karthigesu Palanisamy; 7-Eleven Malaysia CEO, Mr. Colin Harvey; and Star Media Group Executive Editor, Mr. Brian Martin

Kuala Lumpur, 31 October 2018 – 7-Eleven Malaysia, the leading standalone convenience store chain in the country, celebrates its fourth consecutive win with a Silver recognition in the Putra Brand Awards’ Retail category during the awards dinner ceremony held in the Grand Ballroom, Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The attainment of the award marks yet another achievement for 7-Eleven as it represents the acknowledgement for brand excellence in the country from the consumers.

Chief Executive Officer of 7-Eleven Malaysia, Colin Harvey shared, “It is indeed an honour to be recognised with this prestigious branding award for the hard work of the team here at 7-Eleven. We owe a huge thanks to our customers for being receptive to our branding efforts as well as being endlessly supportive of the business. All of us at 7-Eleven Malaysia have been further motivated by this achievement and moving forward, we plan to intensify the roll-out of more initiatives such as more e-commerce facilities, top in class fresh food and beverages range, the latest and in-demand merchandize selection and innovative loyalty programs among others as we strive to fulfil the needs of consumers better by providing true convenience.”

He added, “Brands need to make meaningful connections with consumers and indeed, successful brands are those that make meaningful connections with consumers.  People want brands to improve their lives and the lives of people they care for. Brands that focus on giving back to society and making our lives more convenient receive higher levels of engagement and trust and in return are the ones that will earn a premium value.”

“We shall strive to continue making meaningful connections with consumers and play a meaningful role in people’s lives whilst enhancing the well-being of communities that we operate in as we live up to our motto of being Always There For You”, he concluded.

Organised by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) and launched in 2010, the Putra Brand Awards is Malaysia’s premier brand award that recognizes brand building as an integral business investment. The nation’s preferred brands are decided by Malaysian consumers and the winners are awarded a Gold, Silver and/or Bronze in various categories.

7-Eleven Malaysia is the pioneer and the largest standalone 24-hour convenience store operator in the country with over 2,250 outlets nationwide. For more information, please log on to www.7eleven.com.my or follow 7ElevenMalaysia on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Aqua rolling out 100% recycled PET bottle in Indonesia in December

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Globally, Danone has announced new commitments and actions to ensure its packaging will become 100% circular. All its packaging is designed to be 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. The figure at the moment is 86%.

Currently, 14% of its beverage bottles use recycled PET and this figure is set to increase to 50% by 2025. The company has recently released its first 100% recycled PET bottle in Spain and will introduce additional 100% recycled PET bottles, reaching all major water markets by 2021.

In Indonesia, the local unit PT Tirta Investama said it has introduced the first 100% recycled PET bottle with the initial focus on the 1.1L bottle. This recycled PET bottle will start to be made available from December 2018 in Bali focusing on modern retail outlets, hotels, restaurants and cafes. The reason for choosing Bali for the trial is because Bali residents have higher awareness about plastic waste.

At the moment, PT Tirta Investama bottled water products are in glass (220ml), plastic bottles (300ml, 450ml, 600ml, 750ml and 1.5L) and gallon.

In addition to recycled PET, the Aqua brand in Indonesia will be launching a pilot program to develop alternatives to plastic straws.

Danone is moving in the right direction as plastic waste has become a major environmental hazard. As a major plastic user, the move towards recyclability of packaging will help address the issue and propel the company into the forefront as a solution and not the problem.

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