Insight
Asia
Introducing
Beverage ingredients
Source: UBM Content Team
Fi Asia 2018: Introducing
Beverage ingredients Asia
R
eturning to Jakarta this October, Fi Asia will bring together
domestic and international ingredient suppliers, distributors, and
food and beverage manufacturers. As the role of the Asian region
in the global food trade has been steadily expanding over the
past decade, this is a fantastic opportunity to make connections
and consider further development in this region.
A particular area of growth and opportunity in the ASEAN market
is beverage ingredients. The large population of this region,
increasing disposable income, and a desire for a healthier lifestyle
are all key consumer drivers. Let’s take a look at the leading trends
in beverage ingredients in the Asian region as we gear up for Fi
Asia 2018.
Consumers’ understanding of ingredients is also on the rise. The
positioning of additives and preservatives is well established, and in
the Asian region terms such as organic are rapidly being adopted.
However, simply using terms such as organic and natural no longer
satisfy consumer needs as they seek more information on how,
where, and by whom their ingredients and products are produced.
Changing lifestyles
Consumers in the Asian region are increasingly more health
conscious and are looking for products that fit in with this healthier,
more active lifestyle. Since 2016, hydration has been a key factor
in the beverage market which has led to a rise in bottled water,
coconut water, and functional beverages. Soft drink producers
have been paying attention to this trend by launching sports drinks
and functional bottled water all focused on hydration, sometimes
with particular reference to benefits before or after activity.
Indonesia has seen the most new product launches in the
beverage market, with most key ingredients centred on health
and hydration. Sugar taxes in countries such as Thailand have also
pushed producers to use different beverage ingredients to create
more sugar-reduced or sugar-free beverages, which has led to
healthier beverages becoming more competitive and affordable.
Slowing down
Speed and efficiency are certainly valued in the Asian region. The
huge increase of convenient products to match a changing and
busy lifestyle illustrates this, as food and beverage launches with
on-the-go claims increased by 133% in the Southeast Asian region
between 2012 and 2016.
Clean Labels However, as consumers seek a more balanced lifestyle, they
are also pursuing more balanced food and beverage options.
Products that have ‘slow’ claims such as ‘slow-releasing energy’
are increasingly popular. Mintel’s research has shown that there
has been a 79% increase in Southeast Asian food and drink
launches that include the word ‘slow’ in product descriptions in
2016, compared to 2012.
In Southeast Asia clean labels are increasingly meaningful to
consumers, with 20.9% of product introductions containing one or
more natural or organic ingredients. Clean labels help establish
trust, which is sometimes lacking in the ASEAN market as lack of
confidence with large organisations is common. This year’s Fi Asia will tap into this lucrative sector of the Southeast
Asian F&B industry with the launch of co-located show Beverage
Ingredients. Bringing together leading suppliers showcasing the
latest in beverage ingredients will help beverage manufacturers
explore the latest innovations and trends shaping the market.
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