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IKEA Malaysia ice cream goes dairy-free

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Image from IKEA Malaysia

IKEA Malaysia is the latest company to go “green” with dairy-free soya ice cream in the name of sustanability, reported SAYS.

“We’ve now swapped our vanilla soft-serve with 100% plant-based, dairy and gluten-free Soya ice-cream! All part of our plan towards a more sustainable environment, one Soya ice-cream at a time.”

The change is welcomed by some but not all agree with the change. Here are some of the comments from concerned netizens.

Brands are increasingly fine tuning their businesses to become more environmentally friendly as sustainability is a major consumer concern. Eco-related movement comes in waves. The hottest topic is straw-free. Previously, it was microplastic beads. In line with the latest trend, KFC in Indonesia and Singapore have announced they have already stopped providing plastic straws at all their outlets.

Soy vs plant has always been a topic of discussion but nowadays the the discussion has shifted to cultured meat. Perhaps IKEA Malaysia should serve less meat and have more vegetarian options instead and give us both soy and dairy ice cream.

Kapal Api Signature sweetened with palm sugar

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Photo Credit: Minimeinsights.com

The Kapal Api Signature marks the entry of Kapal Api, the coffee brand of Santos Jaya Abadi, into the ready-to-drink (RTD) segment targeting consumers looking for a serious taste of black coffee The company’s existing Good Day RTD coffee are more youth oriented.

Image from Good Day

Kapal Api Signature is not only sweetened with sugar but also sweetened with palm sugar (gula aren), giving it a total sugar count is 14g per 200ml serving.

The ingredients are water, palm sugar (5%), sugar, instant coffee (1.2%) and synthetic coffee flavour.

The key growth driver for the RTD coffee segment is the migration from instant coffee in individual sachet to a more portable version ideal for consumers on the go.

Fuze Tea with chia seeds now in Thailand for female

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Photo Credit: Minimeinsights.com

Coca-Cola in Thailand has announced Fuze Tea peach flavoured and passion fruit flavoured RTD tea with chia seeds. The 350ml RTD tea contains vitamin C and antioxidants.

The sugar content in the peached flavoured drink is 29g per 350ml serving, while the passion fruit flavoured drink has a Healthier Choice Logo with a sugar content of 16g per 350ml serving. The selling price is THB 20 per 350ml bottle at 7-Eleven Thailand.

Chia seed is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, antioxidants and iron and offers texture to the RTD tea. It tackles the ill effects of pollution, heat and dusty smoke during commute, which makes the skin to become less radiant. Fuze Tea helps to bring back the skin’s radiance and is aimed at women aged 20 to 29.

Similar products launched in Vietnam in 2017

At the end of 2017, Coca-Cola Viet Nam introduced the same Fuze Tea+ but with a stronger antioxidant and TPP-C (tea polyphenols and vitamin C) shout out on pack. The Thai version only mentions vitamin C and antioxidant.

The TVC in Vietnam shows how Fuze Tea+ can help combat the ill effect of urban pollution, a relevant theme in beauty and is increasingly finding its way into food and drinks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x0SUlYCtUk

Coca-Cola Clear now in Singapore, Malaysia

By
Tan Heng Hong
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The Japanese transparent beverage craze continues unabated in Singapore/Malaysia with 7-Eleven in Singapore now stocking Coca-Cola Clear since July 2018. In Malaysia, FamilyMary said it will make it available in August 2018.

Launched in Japan in May 2018, the quick roll out of the zero-calorie, lemon-flavored drink with water-like appearance without the caramel ingredient in Singapore/Malaysia shows the need to shorten the route-to-market for trending beverage to sustain consumer interest before they shift to other products.

The transparent water craze also shows the need for retailers to range popular imported products as consumers want more varieties.

 

Pepsi-Cola new lime and vanilla flavours

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Flavour innovation can help to excite consumers. In Japan/China, the sakura flavour is trending. In the Philippines, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc has recently launched Pepsi Lime and Pepsi Vanilla. The drinks claim to have a “bold taste” and “no calories,” where the latter is achieved through the use of zero-calorie sweeteners.

Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines reported a softening volume for the first three months of 2018 due to the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law on 1 January 2018 with taxation on sweetened beverages. Price hike meant the company’s carbonated soft drink segment in Q1 2018 saw net sales rising 4.5% year-on-year to PHP 5.2 billion. Net loss before tax for Q1 2018 stood at PHP 203 million compared with a net profit of PHP 130 million a year ago.

There is a Lack of Women Leaders at the Highest Management Levels of Malaysia’s E-commerce Market

By
Tan Heng Hong
-

Gender Diversity is Vital to Realise the Full Potential of E-commerce in Malaysia

On the 21st of May 2018, Malaysia made history as Dr. Wan Azizah was officially made as the first women deputy prime minister in Malaysia. This event is significant because Dr. Wan Azizah is one of a very few female leaders in Southeast Asia to be sworn in as a deputy prime minister. This was also an important milestone as various studies have shown that organisations are more likely to thrive when there is an adequate representation of genders.

However, a recent study conducted by iPrice found a lack of women leaders the highest management levels of Malaysia’s e-commerce market. The study was derived by analysing hundreds of top & mid-management personnel from Malaysia’s 15 most visited e-commerce platforms on the Map of E-commerce.

The Number of Women in C-Levels are Significantly Lower in Malaysia When Compared to Other Southeast Asian Countries

Our study found that men held 91% of C-level positions (founders, directors, chiefs, c-level) while only 9% were held by women. The disparity in Malaysia is much larger when compared to other Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Philippines & Vietnam. Vietnam & Philippines had the highest number of women in C-level positions at 23% & 21%.

Among the few women that holds a C-level positions in Malaysia were Ethel Hoong, Director of Online Sales at Ezbuy, Swee Lin Liew, Executive Director at Astro GoShop & Vivy Yusof, the founder of Fashion Valet.

With the e-commerce industry in Malaysia predicted to be worth RM33 billion (US$ 8 billion) by 2025, e-commerce businesses in the country need to overcome the gender disparity. Women currently hold a big share of Malaysia’s demographic. As of Q1 2018, the Department of Statistics Malaysia noted that 48% of the country’s population are women & men at 52%. A separate report by the Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission highlighted that 57% of online shoppers are women.

As such, their views should be considered at vital decision-making stages. People crafting technology have the power to influence how it works & it requires the minds of various demographic to maximise its effectiveness to all consumers. Hence, gender diversity is important for the people who make & use technology.

No Lack of Women at Mid-Management Levels

As important as women are in the e-commerce business, there is no lack of women in mid-management levels. In Malaysia’s top e-commerce platforms, 25% of women held Senior Vice President (SVP) positions, 23% held Vice President (VP) positions & 48% held Head career levels. While women are well represented at mid-management levels, very few carried on to reach the highest management levels.

This was echoed by Hannah Yeoh, the Deputy Women, Family & Community Development Minister at the 2018 Asean Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Show on July 2018. Yeoh stated that the number of women taking up tertiary education courses is increasing but this is not reflected in higher level positions at the workplace.

To reduce the disparity of women on these levels, Yeoh stated that there is a need to empower the rights of women & recognise the importance of their roles. The deputy minister went on to state that the private sector should emulate the Government’s announcement to open childcare centres in every office in 2019.

Efforts E-commerce Businesses Need to Undertake to Reduce the Disparity of Women at Top Management Levels

If e-commerce platforms are serious in realising the RM33 billion (AS$ 8 billion) as predicted by Google & Temasek, businesses must play an active role in championing gender diversity. In the United Kingdom, the number of women on boards increased from 12% in 2010 to 26% in 2017 by having prominent chairmen championing for diversity within the company & externally.

To bridge this gap, e-commerce businesses must first acknowledge the lack of women at top management levels as a real issue. The previous Government in Malaysia has set the target for public listed companies to have at least 30% women at board level by the year 2020. A similar target should be set by e-commerce businesses if they are serious in reducing the gender disparity.

Leaders of e-commerce platforms must take active steps to retain women in every stage of the corporate ladder & create management positions specifically for women. This might include adding in benefits specifically for women such as childcare services or insurance policies for women.

 

A Fur-filling Day for 7-Eleven Malaysia

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Lee (in white) and volunteers from 7-Eleven Malaysia with a few of the adorable, furry ‘tenants’ of Cherishlife Home.

Kuala Lumpur, 2 August 2018 – 7-Eleven Malaysia, the nation’s favourite convenience store-chain, recently journeyed to Hulu Langat, Selangor to pay Cherishlife Home a visit. Founded in 2010 by Lau Choy Sze, or more affectionately known as ‘Aunty Winnie’ to the animal-loving community, Cherishlife Home is a no-kill animal shelter, which also takes in injured cats and dogs.

The drive to the shelter gave volunteers a chance to enjoy the breezy cool air of the nearby forest surroundings – a break away from the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur city. Upon reaching, volunteers from 7-Eleven Malaysia and NGOHub Asia were warmly greeted by playful and friendly cats and dogs at the vicinity, which houses more than 250 of them separately. From wandering the streets to suffering in the harsh conditions in heavily populated areas, these animals were rescued and now find peace and joy to roam the vast space available, which spans almost an acre wide.

To show support for the organization and aid in their daily operations, 7-Eleven Malaysia contributed various supplies ranging from dry nutritious pet food, grooming tools, cod liver oil, and diapers, amongst others. The volunteers also grabbed the opportunity to do some minor cleanup and play with the animals at the shelter.

Ronan Lee, 7-Eleven Malaysia General Marketing Manager said, “We are delighted with our efforts in aiding Cherishlife Home with their wonderful endeavours in providing care and shelter for the many cats and dogs rescued here. Hopefully, our trip here raises awareness on the many contributions and assistance the public can provide to this animal shelter, from simply spending quality time with the cats and dogs or taking one home via adoption to contributing monetary or in-kind donations such as pet food and basic medical tools. Here at 7-Eleven Malaysia, we believe all living creations should be cared for and we hope more volunteers can make the time to assist any social causes that appeal to them.”

In the future, Cherishlife Home hopes to see a higher rate of adoption through no-kill animal shelters instead of through purchasing from pet shops or breeders. For more information on the types of assistance required by Cherishlife Home, visit their Facebook at www.facebook.com/cherishlhome.

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.

Allianz Malaysia Takes a Leap of Faith with 11street to Offer Malaysians Better Protection

By
Tan Heng Hong
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L – R Henry Ho, General Manager of Business Development & Partnership of 11street & Michael Fong, Head of Digital Partnerships and Innovation of Allianz
  • The partnership is focused on making insurance more accessible and affordable.
  • Shoppers now have the option of purchasing three different insurance products that will provide coverage for individuals, homes and cars.

Kuala Lumpur, 27 July 2018 – Allianz Malaysia is embarking on an exciting new partnership with one of the leading online marketplaces in Malaysia, 11street. This collaboration aims to provide Malaysians with some peace of mind by offering protection that caters to our varying needs through the insurance products that are now available on the online shopping platform.

 Together, Allianz and 11street are making purchasing insurance even more convenient and seamless by offering three comprehensive products that suits the customer’s needs. These products include; Personal Accident Insurance, which prepares us for the unexpected at all times, the Roadside Assistance Program, which provides drivers with a comprehensive scope of protection during a car breakdown and Smart Home Cover, which allows us the comfort of knowing that our homes are protected.

Michael Fong, Head of Digital Partnerships and Innovation of Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad said: “This is an exciting, proactive step for us towards not only raising awareness about the importance of insurance coverage, but also towards making this essential form of protection more accessible and affordable to the general public. By exploring this new approach to selling insurance plans, we hope to encourage more Malaysians to take this crucial step towards protecting themselves and their families, as well as to reduce the protection gap amongst the public.”

The current national insurance penetration rate remains at around 56%, with only about 32% of Malaysians owning more than one policy, according to the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia[1]. With Bank Negara Malaysia’s target of 75% insurance penetration by the year 2020,[2] and the potential to exceed 100%, this partnership between Allianz and 11street is a calculated move towards ensuring that every Malaysian is protected.

 Henry Ho, General Manager of Business Development & Partnership of 11street said: “This is definitely a milestone for 11street. We are a holistic platform that’s constantly looking for ways to add value and enrich the lives of our customers. Purchasing insurance coverage is essential in the long-term and as the 25-35-year-old customers are our largest demographic, we’ve worked closely with Allianz to curate these three products that cater specifically to the needs of working adults. With more and more people depending on online shopping in their daily lives, we feel that this is an important addition to our already diverse range of product offerings.”

Allianz and 11street are offering three different products that will provide protection for your home, your car and most importantly yourself and your family. Under the Allianz Personal Accident Insurance product, customers will be entitled to double indemnity in the event of a death or permanent disablement as well as cashless hospital admission and discharge. The plan also covers medical expenses and snatch thefts.

As for the Allianz Roadside Assistance Program, customers who purchase this product will have access to 24-hour unlimited towing distance and car assistance, including minor roadside repairs as well as a wide choice of authorised panel workshops to ensure the most convenient location for their car repair needs. On top of that, those insured under this program will also be granted a free car replacement for 5 days.

The third product available for purchase is the Allianz Smart Home Cover which allows customers to save on premiums with a tailor-made package according to their needs and wants. Customers have the option to either just cover the contents of their homes, or extend to cover home fix as well, and all for an affordable price!

To purchase any of these insurance products, head on over to the Allianz Insurance Official Store on 11street to make a purchase. A designated agent will be in touch within 3 days to gather information required to issue the policy.

For more information, visit www.11street.my.

[1] According to The Edge Markets report ‘LIAM seeks govt support on insurance penetration’ on 01 July 2018

[2] According to News Straits Times report ‘BNM targets national insurance penetration rate to breach 75 pct by 2020’ on 30 October 2017

 

AEON Hosts Annual Luncheon to Celebrate Succesful Partnerships

By
Tan Heng Hong
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(5th from left) Shinobu Washizawa, Managing Director, AEON CO. (M) BHD. and (6th from left) Datuk Dr. Kamariah Noruddin, Deputy Director General (Macro), Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department, with the winners of this year’s ABPA awards.

AEON recognises contributions of business partners in strengthening overall business position

 Kuala Lumpur, 30 July 2018 – Recognising the effort and commitment of its business partners, AEON CO. (M) BHD. organised its annual AEON Business Partners Alliance (ABPA) Luncheon and Awards ceremony to acknowledge the fiscal prowess of its business partners. Held at the InterContinental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the luncheon served as a platform to award top achieving partners who garnered the highest sales growth in the Retail Business category and AEON Mall category.

The ABPA was established in 2006 and consisted of AEON Retail Businesses. In 2014, this alliance expanded to include businesses from AEON Malls. Today, 193 business partners make up the ABPA, all of whom are focused on forming strategic partnerships, as well as strengthening existing partnerships. More importantly, the ABPA is a platform for AEON and its partners to come up with new ways to enrich and reward customers.

Strategically, the ABPA is a platform for AEON to update its business partners on its plans for the remainder of the year, as well as what to look forward to in 2019. Over 200 guests were present at this year’s event, to not only better understand the current landscape, but share insights with each other.

Shinobu Washizawa, Managing Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD. said: “Over the years, we have established ourselves as one of Malaysia’s top retail companies. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of our tenants and the commitment of our retailers.

“In our effort to provide added variety and an enhanced shopping experience, we recognise innovation and transformation as the keys to progress and success. We believe in improvements that are both high-tech and high-touch. AEON has taken that step further on new ventures, made possible with our valued business partners.”

With a number of refurbishments and development of AEON malls in the works, a partnership with honestbee, and a new e-wallet system being introduced this year, AEON CO. (M) BHD. is in a healthy position to meet its financial forecasts for 2018.

Also present at the luncheon was Datuk Dr. Kamariah Noruddin, Deputy Director General (Macro), Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department. Datuk Dr. Noruddin presented an overview of the Malaysian economic situation, saying that Malaysia has been enjoying GDP growth over the past several years. Furthermore, she said that food, clothing, footwear and furnishing make up 30 per cent of private consumption and remains a key driver of economic growth.

Datuk Dr. Noruddin said: “It is good to see AEON recognising all these brands today at the AEON Business Partners Alliance Luncheon and Awards ceremony. It is even better to see a company such as AEON helping to drive the Malaysian economy forward through a mall concept that not only creates job opportunities for the community, but also enable them easier access to global brands within their neighbourhood. Today’s recognition of all the brands is a testament to their retail success, so I hope they will continue to provide the best experience possible for consumers.”

This year, a total of eight businesses were awarded for their outstanding performance across two categories – AEON Retail Business and AEON Mall. These winners include Abbot Laboratories (M) Sdn. Bhd., Koyata Sdn Bhd and Sharp-Roxy Sales & Service Company (M) Sdn. Bhd. for the Retail Business category; and Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn. Bhd., Metro Eyewear Holdings Sdn. Bhd., OSIM (M) Sdn. Bhd., TCRS Restaurants Sdn. Bhd. and TGV Cinemas Sdn. Bhd. for the AEON Mall category. These businesses received the awards due to a sales growth of over 110 per cent.

Washizawa concluded: “We believe that our collaboration with our business partners is the winning formula that has contributed towards our encouraging performance in the industry and set a higher benchmark. We strive to continue to expand and retain our collaborations for the benefit of not only our customers but also for the betterment of our partners.”

As of 2018, AEON CO. (M) BHD. has recognised more than 30 Business Partners for their excellent achievement through the ABPA awards ceremony.

About AEON CO. (M) BHD

AEON CO. (M) BHD. is a leading General Merchandise Stores (GMS) cum supermarket chain in Malaysia, with 27 AEON Malls, 35 AEON Outlets, 2 MaxValu and 3 MaxValu Prime Supermarkets across the country. In the spirit of the name AEON, which means eternity in Latin, AEON’s goal is to work together endlessly with its customers, suppliers, business partners, shareholders and the community to create a future of limitless promises. Incorporated in 1984 in response to the Malaysian Government’s invitation to help modernize the country’s retailing industry, AEON’s chain of stores strive to satisfy the ever changing needs and desires of consumers. Guided by its “Customer First” philosophy, the company’s acute understanding of the target market needs, aided by optimal product-mix, AEON surpasses consumer expectations and enhances their experience every time they shop. All this is encapsulated in the tagline “AEON Enriching Your Lifestyle”.

AEON also strongly supports environmental sustainability by championing various recycling, energy conservation and tree planting causes, by engaging and encouraging various parties, including staff, customers, NGOs, government agencies and the community at large to participate.

In 2015, AEON introduced the ‘Do Mall’ initiative as part of its rebranding exercise to rebrand AEON Shopping Centres to AEON Mall. The initiative marks a next step in product innovation whilst maintaining customers’ favourites, year-long activities to enhance shopping experience and a new refreshed AEON Mall with more offerings from food and entertainment to fashion and community events.

AEON has been awarded the Gold in Retail category by Putra Brand Award for 7 consecutive years since 2011. AEON was also awarded Green Leadership by Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards in 2010 and 2011. In recognitions of AEON’s CSR initiative, the Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Associations (FAPRA) awarded AEON the Regional Award for “Best Efforts in Social Responsibility” in 2017. To date, AEON has planted more than 500,000 trees within Malaysia and the Malaysian AEON Foundation (MAF) has donated more than RM9 million to charity causes.

For more information, please visit: www.aeonretail.com.my or www.facebook/aeonretail.com

Betagen arrives in Malaysia

By
Tan Heng Hong
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Betagen booth at Tastefully Food & Beverage Expo 2018. Photo credit: Minimeinsights.com

Betagen, the iconic cultured milk drink from Thailand, has landed in Malaysia. The drink is distributed by Pikzern, a Malaysia-based importer of chilled and frozen product.

Betagen is available at Jaya Grocer, Village Grocer and FamilyMart. Betagen Light (335ml) with a 3% sugar formula is selling at FamilyMart at a price of RM 3.90 (USD 0.96). The cultured milk drink is certified by Singapore’s Health Promotion Board for lower in sugar and lower in saturated fat. The total sugar in Betagen Light is 5.9g per 100ml, of which added sugar is 2.8g.

In Singapore, Betagen is distributed and imported by Kaiser Food Singapore Pte Ltd.

In Malaysia, Betagen competes with Nutrigen, which has three sizes ranging from 125g, 300g and 700g. Similarly, Betagen is available in 125ml, 335ml and 700ml. At FamilyMart, Nutrigen Less Sugar (300ml) is priced at RM 2.64, which is 32% cheaper than Betagen Light (335ml).

The popularity of Thai food and drinks in Malaysia is largely driven by Malaysian tourists, upon returning to Malaysia, still longing for all the innovative Thai products in 7-Eleven. One thing for sure, Thai food and drinks do taste really good.

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