F&N has up the ante in the battle against sugar by announcing its latest Fruit Tree Fresh Orange and Apple & Aloe Vera juice drinks with 50% less sugar and calories. The Apple & Aloe Vera Juice Drink has the lowest sugar content of its kind in Singapore based on GlobalData tracking of chilled juice and nectars category in Singapore. The range also has no added sweetener.
The new F&N NutriSoy Fresh Soya Milk High Calcium with Walnut in Singapore is an interesting product. This chilled soy milk builds upon soy milk as the foundation but with added walnut, a popular plant-based ingredient, which is often in stand-alone drink. The new NutriSoy Walnut thus incorporates the best of the two most popular plant-based ingredients – soy and walnut.
NutriSoy Walnut is described as “a great source of those all-important omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, magnesium and phosphorus. Great brain booster to start the morning right!”
A single serving (250ml) of NutriSoy Walnut is equivalent to the antioxidant and vitamin E found in 1 whole avocado (medium-sized), calcium in 2 glasses of milk and protein in 1.5 eggs.
NutriSoy Walnut is low in sugar and is tested as a low GI food. Also available in NutriSoy Almond.
Gardenia, the number one packaged bread in Singapore, has appeared to have dip its toes into the milk segment. The latest flyer from NTUC FairPrice shows with every purchase of Gardenia Fine Grain Wholemeal Bread Super Soft and Fine Enriched Wholemeal White Bread, you can redeem a free Gardenia Pure UHT Milk at the service counter.
This promotion started on 7 September 2018 and will last until 20 September 2018. The UHT milk is a product of Australia.
Gardenia has diversified into complementary products such as spread in recent years. Plus, it has bundled its bread with other dairy products or juices for promotion. So the move into dairy is a natural progression for a packaged bread company.
Red Bull Malaysia hosts panel discussion to remind Malaysians to adopt an active and balanced lifestyle that enables them to achieve more in a day
KUALA LUMPUR, 5 September 2018 – Recent studies revealed that 61% of Malaysian adults are physically inactive[1], pinning Malaysia on the globe as one of the least physically active countries. This revelation comes as no surprise, for we have made headlines thanks to our unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle that lead to the rampant rise of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Red Bull, the number one energy drink brand in Malaysia, today hosted its first panel discussion highlighting the crucial need for a balanced and active lifestyle, to cultivate a healthy Malaysian community.
At the panel session, Jate Samathivathanachai, Country Manager of Allexcel Trading, Red Bull Malaysia shared: “Leading an active lifestyle means more than just being physically active – it is about empowering ourselves to achieve greater productivity and do more. When Red Bull began in Thailand in 1975, the brand’s motivation was to create a beverage that could revitalise our bodies and minds especially in moments of increased physical and mental demand. Today, while our motivation remains the same, we also want to go the extra mile to help Malaysians understand the importance of getting their work done, yet receive the extra energy to do more in their personal lives by way of achieving work-life balance.”
Key to Healthy Lifestyle is Balance
Dr Chang Lin Faun, Clinical Nutritionist and Founder of Nutrimed Healthcare Consultancy and one of the invited panellists, said that stress is one of the leading catalysts for stomach and digestive problems, excess weight, and chronic inflammation or illneses such as heart problems. “When the body experiences a full day of mental or physical stress, it is important to know the type of foods to consume for countering stress and increasing physical and mental productivity. Taurine, for example, plays a key role in controlling and calming the central nervous system. It works by regulating the health of our immune system with its anti-oxidant functionality, and from there, reduces fatigue and muscle damage in our body. A deficiency in taurine, however, will lead to poor brain function.
“To yield a productive day, one needs a sharp mind and strong body and this is where Vitamin Bs plays an important role. This group of vitamins work with the brain chemistry to balance neurotransmitters and as a result, help to mitigate stress. Of course, a balanced diet consisting of at least seven types of fruits and vegetables, exercising three times a week for at least 30 minutes, and staying hydrated play important roles too. The key is to understand the functionalities of taurine and Vitamin Bs, and incorporate them into one’s daily routine for a lifestyle that is productive but balanced.”
Staying Focused for Increased Productivity
Other panellists – Dr Adrian Wong, a medical-doctor-turned Entrepreneur and Founder of Tech ARP, one of the leading consumer technology news portals in Malaysia, and Firdaus Feeq, Owner and Founder of CVS Studio, Malaysia’s first 24-hour studio rental services and a disruptor in the industry – shared that in their line of work, sustaining their energy and staying focused are the very essence to staying ahead of their game.
“I work seven days a week, and my day starts literally from the moment I wake up until I clock out mentally. My daily workload requires no less than three monitors to keep track of everything. Red Bull helps me maintain my mental acuity throughout the day. Being productive means more than just staying awake. You need to be mentally sharp as well,” Dr Wong revealed.
New father Firdaus added: “Being an entrepreneur accords me the flexibility to manage my schedule but with a demanding newborn at home, I sometimes find it a challenge to run a 24-hour studio rental business and caring for my son at home. This is why I value productivity, because for someone who is always on-the-move, I need to ensure that work is running on autopilot, my team receives my remote support and my family life is well taken care of. Oftentimes I turn to Red Bull when I need the added boost to sustain me through that extra mile.”
“Red Bull is no stranger to various sports communities, but it is time that we step up the game and reinforce the education on the efficacies of consuming ingredients that are beneficial, especially for those under tremendous mental stress. Energy drinks are not only energy boosters – they are the spark for mental alertness that bring forth greater productivity and higher energy levels. We hope that by leveraging our panellists’ personal experiences and expertise that Malaysians are empowered to achieve greater productivity with a balanced lifestyle,” Samathivathanachai concluded.
Charge Ahead with A Brand New Toyota Hilux
To realise this productivity, Red Bull is running a nationwide campaign where consumers stand a chance to win prizes up to RM600,000, which includes two pick-up trucks, cash prizes and exclusive merchandise.
During this contest period, participants only need to purchase a Red Bull Gold or 25% Less Sugar can to participate. Two lucky winners will get to drive home a brand new Toyota Hilux. Apart from that, there will also be cash prizes worth up to RM400,000 up for grabs. Customers stand a chance to win cash rewards from RM50 to RM500, or even exclusive Red bull merchandise every week with every gold can purchased.
For more information on Red Bull’s nationwide promotion, visit http://penuhiimpian.redbull.com.my/home to get your hands on these exciting prizes.
About Allexcel Trading Sdn. Bhd.
Allexcel Trading Sdn. Bhd. (“Allexcel”) is the brand representative and exclusive agent for Red Bull® Energy Drink and Warrior® Sparkling Lifestyle Drink in Malaysia. Allexcel launched Red Bull® in Malaysia in 1993 and the brand is currently the No. 1 energy drink in the country. Red Bull has proven to its consumers its product performance in maintaining alertness, endurance and enhancing performance – stimulating both mind and body. For more information, please visit www.redbull.com.my
[1] Physical Activity and Its Correlates among Adults in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study
Bolstering the role of women in the workplace has become a global issue as gender inequality continues to be a critical economic challenge.
The population of women accounts for about half of the world’s working-age population, yet women are less likely to be given opportunities for economic participation. “If every country matched the progress toward gender parity of its fastest-improving neighbour, global GDP could increase by up to $12 trillion in 2025.” according to the McKinsey Global Institute 2018 Report.
In Asia Pacific, targeted policies to address gender inequality could fuel an additional $4.5 trillion to the region’s combined annual gross domestic product by 2025, or 12 percent better than if the status quo were maintained. The Philippines, APAC’s most gender-equal country, is projected to expand by as much as $40 billion by 2025 if it can bring more poor and less-educated women into the workforce.
As more and more businesses continue to shift/integrate technology, iPrice Group analysed the top-level management of PH’s biggest E-commerce to understand the extend of gender diversity in a market-specific industry. The aim of the study is to determine if there is gender diversity or gender inequality for each career levels: C-Levels, Senior Vice President, Vice President and Heads. Our study finds that women hold more positions in the overall top-level management while senior roles: SVP and C-Suite are more common in men.
Women Dominate the Overall Top-Level Management
After examining Philippines’ Biggest E-Commerce (based from iPrice Group Map of E-commerce findings), women dominate the overall top-level management positions by only 10%. The population of women comprise an average of 55 percent in PHL E-commerce top-level management, surpassing the global average standard of 24 percent (based from Grant Thornton research 2018).
According to Global Gender Gap Index, Philippines has consistently performed as one of the most gender-equal workplace in the world. Philippines took the helm in South East Asia with the most number of women in leadership, technical and professional roles. Additionally, the country scored higher than Thailand and Singapore, countries that fall into the upper middle-income to high-income group.
From its last year’s report, Philippines slipped three notches to 10th place, partly due to its performance drop on wage equality, health and survival gender gap. The nation fared well in the political empowerment of women specifically on women handling managerial and executive positions and labour force participation.
The rationale for these findings is in the general upward mobility of women in the Philippines which makes its talent pool robust. For instance, the country’s legislature, Magna Carta of Women Act in 2009 promotes gender equality in government by mandating quotas for the proportion of women in government jobs. The same legislature has encouraged the private sector to follow although it stops short of mandated quotas.
Men Hold More Senior Roles In C-Suite and SVP Roles
Despite that the women population in the workplace dominates men, the population became increasingly male in senior roles: C-levels and SVP-level (Senior Vice President) roles. The percentage of men and women in SVP-level are 56 percent and 44 percent respectively. Meanwhile for C-levels, the percentage of men and women are 79 percent and 21 percent respectively. The men population lead is 14 percent for SVP-level and 58 percent for C-Levels. In general, the results suggest that gender gap continues to widen substantially higher up the managerial career ladder.
Based from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) research, the traditional gender role that “women are homemakers” and “men are providers” have influenced the gender inequality for women employees’ chances of breaking into the labour market. Moreover, this backward mentality of “women nurture, and their advantages are in housework,” while “men provide, and their place is in the labour market,” have led to discrimination against women who aspire for career, according to the authors of the paper, Connie Bayudan-Dacuycuy and Lawrence Dacuycuy.
Another rationale to our findings is that more career women tend to sacrifice their jobs for family life. The share of “opt-out” moms (those who are highly educated, high-achieving women) who choose to stay at home in order to care for their family rose to 29 percent in 2012, from its 23 percent low in 1999, according to Pew Research Center report. While the study covers the US population, it validates that the existing gender role dilemma (in the workplace) is a global status quo.
Women Hold More Roles in VP and Head Levels
While the population distribution became increasingly male in senior roles, women hold more roles in the VP-level and Head-level. The percentage of men and women in Head-level are 38 percent and 62 percent respectively. For VP-level, the percentage of men and women are 47 percent and 53 percent respectively. Hence, there are more women in VP-level and Head-level by 6 percent and 24 percent which is particularly smaller than the lead of men in SVP-level and C-Levels. Meanwhile, there is a positive result in SVP-level and VP-level as the distribution of men and women stand close with only 14 percent and 6 percent difference.
Overall, the plan in achieving women’s economic empowerment (to address gender gap in the workplace) has a strong global framework with dedicated economic programs such as adoption of the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 10-year review of the World Summit on Information Society. Currently, UN Women and International Telecommunication Union created an action plan to close digital gender gap which is integral in achieving the Agenda 2030.
Methodology:
The report comprised an analysis of gender diversity in Philippines’ 10 biggest e-commerce players based on Map of E-Commerce report for the first quarter of 2018. A total of 206 employees holding top-level management positions in these companies were analysed using “publicly available” data from LinkedIn, Bloomberg and other open data sources.
For the full report please do refer on this page: https://iprice.ph/trends/insights/gender-diversity-management-philippines-e-commerce/
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.
Kuala Lumpur, 6 September 2018 – In the morning of Malaysia’s 61st National Day, 7-Eleven Malaysia took the opportunity to celebrate the nation’s significant milestone with the children of Komuniti Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Pantai Dalam and Gurpuri Foundation. The fun-filled day of learning and exploring took place in the majestic National Museum, Kuala Lumpur.
PPR homes are low cost, high-rise flats developed by the government to improve the standard and living cost of the lower income and underprivileged community. For the children of Pantai Dalam PPR, aged between 10 to 17 years old, it would be their first time visiting the museum. Joining the fun were children from the Gurpuri Foundation, a foundation founded as part of a nationwide movement to care for orphaned children and build them up to be responsible adults.
Before embarking on a journey of discovery, the children along with volunteers from 7-Eleven Malaysia and NGOHub feasted upon 7-Eleven Malaysia’s Fresh to Go meals, including famous Malaysian meals such as Nasi Lemak and Bihun Goreng. Goodie bags and Jalur Gemilang flags were also distributed to the children. Playing to the theme of unity and togetherness, the children from both organizations were combined and broken into groups for a game of treasure hunt within the museum grounds. To make it more challenging, participants were required to study specific artifacts and answer historical trivia in the museum in order to advance to the next stage. Ultimately, the fastest team to pass all challenges walked away with a hamper.
Ronan Lee, 7-Eleven Malaysia General Marketing Manager said, “This year’s National Day is truly a special one as we get to promote the importance of unity and teamwork to the future leaders of our nation. “United we stand, divided we fall” is the important lesson we hope that the children today would take away from the treasure hunt activity, which encourages cooperation and problem-solving within a team. As part of our community outreach efforts in promoting unity, we are proud to have completed this activity in one of Malaysia’s most iconic landmark and bringing together Malaysians from different backgrounds.”
For more information on the types of assistance required by these organizations, visit their Facebook at www.facebook.com/wargaPPR and www.facebook.com/gurpurifoundation.
About 7-Eleven Malaysia
7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad through its subsidiary 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is the owner and operator of 7-Eleven stores in Malaysia. Incorporated on 4 June 1984, 7-Eleven Malaysia has made its mark in the retailing scene and has been a prominent icon for over 33 years. 7-Eleven Malaysia is the pioneer and largest 24-hour standalone convenience store operator in Malaysia with over 2,240 outlets nationwide and serves more than 900,000 customers daily. 7-Eleven stores can be found across bustling commercial districts to serene suburban residential compounds throughout Malaysia, from petrol stations and LRT stations to shopping malls and medical institutions. 7-Eleven is Always There For You.
Fresh in the inbox is an email from Tesco Malaysia announcing free samples of Maggi OatMee with every purchase on 3-9 September 2018. Terms and conditions apply. Interestingly, OatMee is described as “new”.
Well, it is not new as Maggi OatMee, made from 49% real wheat and 51% wholegrain oat, was launched in Malaysia back in 2016. In Malaysia, Maggi OatMee currently only comes in one flavour – curry. In Singapore, there are two choices – curry noodle soup and Mi Goreng in soy chicken flavour.
The longevity of OatMee seems to suggest there is a market for oat-based healthy instant noodles. However, could it be (just a thought), this is a product that Maggi is offering a lifeline just to showcase how it has innovated to bring better-for-you (BFY) noodles to Malaysian consumers. We think it is about time to replace the wheat noodles with vermicelli (bihun). Well Maggi already has its Maggi Perencah Bihun Goreng Kampung. Maggi can even embrace the low-carb Shirataki noodle to tap into the trending low-carb Keto diet to improve its BFY credentials.
Vinamilk has unveiled black rice yoghurt inspired by the traditional black sticky rice yogurt dessert (sữa chua nếp cẩm). The dessert is a summer treat to cool down during the hot weather. The price for a pack of 4x100g is VND 30,360.
https://www.facebook.com/vinamilkbiquyetngonkhoetuthiennhien/videos/1925021341128539/
Also recently launched is the pineapple yoghurt with aloe vera pieces. The price is VND 25,256 per 4x100g.
Nestle soy bean drinks appear hard to penetrate the kopitiams in Malaysia. When customers order soy bean drinks, they will most likely receive chilled soy bean milk as Malaysians love their drinks chilled. The soy milk from the dispenser is priced at RM 1.80 per glass.
Nestle soy bean will only be made when the customers want their soy milk hot. Additionally, Nestle soy bean is slightly more expensive at RM 2.00 per glass.
Older consumers tend to drink hot milk tea or coffee but not soy bean milk. Moreover, the hot climate means Malaysians prefer to consume chilled soy milk. Also, there is nothing to pair hot soy milk with at kopitiam as there is they do not serve cakoi or fried Chinese breadstick. Nestle should probably come up with consumer pack soy milk powder for at-home consumption instead of targeting kopitiams.
Indonesia’s Kalbe Farma has introduced limited-edition Fitbar Yogurt Cranberry Raisins. The buy one and get one free promotion is only exclusively on Kalbestore.com for 10 days from 1-10 September 2018. The 5x24g pack is priced at IDR 25,000 (USD 7). The snack bar, the first Fitbar to incorporate yoghurt, contains oats (11.69%), quinoa (0.65%) and whole wheat (4.47%).
