Food & Beverage

For chef Rene Redzepi, who spent 10 days in Kyoto during his first trip to Japan in 2009, the upcoming Noma Kyoto residency feels like a second homecoming: "It's one of my favorite places in the world," he says. (Courtesy of Amy Tang) 
Life

Chef behind Denmark's Noma restaurant readies for Kyoto launch

Rene Redzepi to offer fusion of Scandinavian and Japanese influences

7 December 2022
Yili products at a market in China. Global consumption of fresh dairy items is expected to grow by 22% from 2021 to 2030. (Photo by Shin Watanabe)
Food & Beverage

China dairy giant Yili on aggressive overseas shopping spree

Investments in New Zealand and at home spurred by upswing in global demand

7 December 2022
The edible spoon was developed to withstand Japanese sweets that can be thick and sticky.
Companies

Japanese sweets maker cooks up edible spoons

More sustainable packaging to come as companies shift away from plastics

6 December 2022
Japanese scallops are a popular agricultural import in China and other countries. (Photo by Hirotake Takigawa)
Trade

Japan's agricultural exports on track for new record

Farm products benefit from weak yen and easing pandemic concerns

6 December 2022
Fatty slices of yellowtail are often serves as sashimi during winter in Japan. (Photo by Takumi Sasaki)
Food & Beverage

Japan yellowtail goes global, becoming No. 2 fish export

Sashimi favorite sees prices soar as overseas demand gobbles up local supply

4 December 2022
Doburoku is a form of cloudy sake that is made without the filtering process normally employed in making traditional sake. (Photo by Toshihide Takeda)
Food & Beverage

Craft sake grows in popularity in Japan

Unique flavors stimulate fresh interest in traditional rice spirit

4 December 2022
State-run co-ops look like regular supermarkets for the most part, except for the political messaging. (Photo by Tsukasa Hadano)
Food & Beverage

China's state-run grocers approach Alibaba in sales

Mao-era co-ops find new footing amid pandemic and threat of future crisis

3 December 2022
Saying cheese in Thailand: Jarutat Snidwongse Na Ayuthaya and wife Ann display Jartisann Cheeserie's latest varieties. (All photos courtesy of Jartisann Cheeserie)
Life

Pioneering Thai cheesemaker promotes greener pastures

Chiang Mai producer calls for reform of the dairy farming industry

2 December 2022
Under a joint venture launched in 1989, Kirin handled sales of canned and bottled Heineken for the consumer market.
Food & Beverage

Heineken joint beer venture with Kirin fizzles out

Dutch brewer ends decadeslong partnership to go solo in Japan consumer sales

2 December 2022
ThaiBev's flagship Chang beer. The company is looking beyond the domestic beer market, whose future growth is cloudy.
Companies

ThaiBev turns to EV charging and restaurants in diversifying from beer

Outlook clouded for Vietnam acquisition Sabeco five years since deal

30 November 2022
Best known for its namesake monosodium glutamate seasoning, Ajinomoto is branching into other fields like semiconductor materials.
Markets

Ajinomoto stock hits record thanks to semiconductor material unit

Japanese foodmaker draws investors with diversified business portfolio

30 November 2022
A selection of Japanese sake at a Shanghai supermarket.
Business trends

Japan sake brewers tap burgeoning Chinese market

As domestic demand shrinks, exports start to make up the difference

27 November 2022
Ralph Lauren operates Ralph's Bar in Chengdu. Luxury brands often operate bars and restaurants to boost recognition. (Photo by Shunsuke Tabeta)
Food & Beverage

Louis Vuitton, Hermes chase Chinese influencers beyond biggest cities

Luxury brands use food and drink to win over younger consumers

27 November 2022
Suntory Holdings will focus more heavily on premium drinks in the U.S. to boost margins as costs rise. (Photo by Shotaro Mori)
Interview

Suntory looks to premium whiskey to beat U.S. cost inflation

Subsidiary Beam seeks 25% profit margin by changing brand lineup: president

26 November 2022
A fish-focused Tokyo izakaya offers a seafood rice bowl made with frozen bigeye tuna from the Toyosu market. (Photo by Saki Tanaka)
Inflation

Pricier catch: Frozen tuna prices jump 60% in Japan

Demand for restaurant staple only seen growing as COVID-19 curbs end

23 November 2022
B9's premium craft beer offerings are popular with young Indian drinkers.  (Photo courtesy of B9 Beverages)
Companies

Kirin boosts stake in Indian craft beer upstart Bira 91 by $70m

Japanese beverage company looks abroad as domestic beer consumption slows

23 November 2022
Yukio Tanaka was serving prison time for an unrelated conviction when he was arrested Oct. 28 in the 2013 killing of Ohsho Food Service's then-president, Takayuki Ohigashi.
Crime

Yakuza charged in cold case murder of Japan restaurant boss

Police suspect conspiracy behind 2013 shooting but struggle to find evidence

21 November 2022
Meiri Shurui has around 100 barrels ready to start aging its whisky. (Photo by Miho Matsukuma)
Food & Beverage

Old fashioned: Japan sake brewer returns to whisky after 60 years

Meiri Shurui repurposes enameled tanks and sherry barrels to add flavor

20 November 2022
Restaurant operator Impresario Entertainment and Hospitality Private owns brands such as Social, Mocha and Smoke House Deli. (Photo from Smoke House Deli website)
DealStreetAsia

Indian restaurant operator raises $68m from Resurgence Fund

Impresario Entertainment to expand domestic presence from 17 cities to 30

15 November 2022
The acquisition of U.S.-based Smithfield has allowed WH Groupy to provide high-end pork to Chinese consumers. (Photo by Shin Watanabe)
Food & Beverage

Chinese pork processor to continue European expansion

WH Group aims to lower heavy reliance on U.S. and China

13 November 2022
Morinaga Milk began selling two yogurts and three nutritional supplements in November through its Vietnam subsidiary. (Photo courtesy of the company) 
Food & Beverage

Morinaga Milk eyes expansion in Vietnam with new yogurt brand

Japanese dairy company aims to cash in on growing demand for healthier food

13 November 2022
A Sri Lankan farmer holds rice paddy grains as his country reels from a farming crisis.
Agriculture

Harvests fall in Asia and Africa as fertilizer prices soar on Ukraine war

Russian and Belarusian exports of fertilizer chemicals decline under sanctions

10 November 2022
Sakuma's Drops produced by Sakumaseika Co., are displayed at a snacks store in Tokyo on Nov. 9. 
Food & Beverage

Century-old Japan candy maker ends business as inflation bites

Sakumaseika's iconic drops appeared in Studio Ghibli anime

10 November 2022
Jollibee Foods says it is ending its Dunkin' joint venture in China after struggling to expand the chain. (Source photos by Kyodo and AFP/Jiji) 
Food & Beverage

Philippines' Jollibee ends Dunkin' coffee venture in China

Expansion-minded fast-food group encounters setback in key market

9 November 2022
Palm oil, derived from the fruit seen here, is widely used as a vegetable oil and is an ingredient in processed foods and many other products, including cosmetics. 
Agriculture

Palm oil faces headwinds amid China lockdowns, EU phaseout

Indonesia sees 'stable' prices in coming months, but future outlook dim

8 November 2022