Japan focus: Meiji’s duo-function FFC, Kao’s portfolio revision, maternal and infant nutrition opportunities, Otsuka Holdings’ Pocari Sweat driving growth
Crocetin creation: Meiji launching functional milk beverage that supports vision and sleep
Meiji is set to release a new Foods with Function Claims (FFC) product that it says would support eye accommodation and improve sleep quality.
The milk beverage, called Meiji Eye and Sleep W Support, contains 7.5mg of functional ingredient crocetin, a carotenoid derived from gardenia fruit and saffron. Due to its small molecular weight, it can be easily absorbed into the body.
With this launch, Meiji seeks to address current concerns of Japanese consumers, particularly among the young- to middle-aged population.
Growth Asia Summit 2024: Nestle, Haleon join the line-up
Growth Asia Summit 2024 will take place at Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands from July 16-18, with an agenda packed with the latest on the food, beverage and nutrition sectors.
Delegate sales are now open. Don’t miss the chance to hear exclusive market insights from Nestle, Haleon, Amway, PepsiCo, Swisse, Mondelez, and many more!
Portfolio revision: Kao transfers functional beverage brand to Kirin to focus on ‘core businesses’
Kao Corporation is transferring its functional tea-catechin beverage brand Healthya to Kirin Beverage Company, as it seeks to focus its resources on other business areas to achieve its targets for FY2027.
Healthya debuted in 2003 and was approved in Japan as a Food for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU), specifically body fat reduction.
The transfer comprising a total of five sub-brands under Healthya is expected to conclude by August 1. The sub-brands are namely Healthya Green Tea, Healthya Green Tea Umami Taste, Healthya Water (sports beverage), Healthya my rhythm Sparkling (carbonated beverage), and Healthya Tea Catechin Green Tea Taste (powder drink).
Beyond ageing in Japan: Bayer on why market opportunities abound for maternal and infant nutrition - WATCH
Japan may be an ageing society with a shrinking population, but with preconception care on the rise and a record number of babies born via in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in recent years, companies such as Bayer Consumer Health are seeing growth opportunities in these sectors.
The country saw a record high of 69,797 babies born via IVF in 2021, and this was 15% higher than that of 2020, according to data released by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology last year.
Alongside an increase in fertility treatments is a greater attention on preconception care, Sinan Yuksel, Global Head of Elevit, Bayer Consumer Health, told NutraIngredients-Asia.
Electrolyte drinks boost: Otsuka Holdings says China’s demand drives Pocari Sweat to new heights
Pocari Sweat is seeing strong demand, especially in China in the post-pandemic era.
According to its parent company Otsuka Holdings’ FY2023 financial results released on February 14, the firm reported a 16.1% increase in total revenue to JPY$2.018tr (US$13.5bn).
Total business profit jumped 78.7% to JPY$312.6bn yen (US$2.09bn), while profit margin increased to 15.5% from 10.1%.
Pocari Sweat was cited as a key factor driving strong growth for the firm’s nutraceutical business, which is divided into functional beverages, functional foods, and nutritional supplements segments.
