iPrice Group, a meta-search website where Malaysian consumers can easily compare prices, specs and discover products with hundreds of local and regional merchants, has issued its first whitepaper study on eCommerce in Southeast Asia. The full study can be viewed by clicking here.
Here is a quick gist of the most important Malaysian-centric data from the whitepaper:
Malaysians’ favourite day & hour to shop online
Malaysians’ favourite hour to make purchases is at 4:00pm
Malaysians’ favourite day to make purchases is on Wednesdays
Though most purchases were conducted during the weekdays,online traffic was significantly higher on weekends
The Mobile Revolution
74% of eCommerce’s online traffic were from mobile devices
Malaysian shoppers are most likely to make an online purchase via desktop than mobile
Purchasing Behaviour
The average online order value / basket size is USD $54 / RM 210.90
Malaysians are more likely to purchase more expensive items via desktop
Payment options
100% of eCommerce merchants provides credit card payment methods while Vietnam is lowest at 60%
The most unpopular payment option provided by merchants is offline POS & instalment payment method
Del Monte has launched Juice & Chews with Pineapple and Nata Bits in the Philippines. The new Del Monte Juice & Chews is seen as a bit to capture a slice of the growing snacking market.
Consumers are snacking more frequently as the definition of “snacking” has broadened. Snacking used to be equated to junk food but now a snack can mean anything from yogurt to bread. Some consumers are eating smaller meals and snacking throughout the day rather than going for three big meals.
With nata de coco, it provides a chewy sensation and a sense of filling. The drink is described as “get your snack in a drink.”
It is available in four flavours – blueberry, lychee, strawberry and pomelo selling in a 350ml PET bottle.
Previous launches
Del Monte has previously launched 100% pineapple juices in Tetra Pak carton for the family in Aug-Oct 2017, according to Del Monte Pacific 2Q FY 2018 results. It offers convenient resealable option and more affordable price per serving.
In November 2017, the white grape flavour was added, while in January 2018, the mango peach flavour was made available.
The Del Monte Fit ‘n Right was transitioned to a new sexy bottle in July 2017 with the launch of the new block the sugar campaign. The new packaging has the block the sugar tag and a calorie call out.
AWARDED SOBA 2017 BEST IN GLOBAL MARKET PLATINUM AWARD
BUTTERWORTH, 9 February, 2018 – Oats are one of the most popular staple breakfast meals globally, including Malaysia, but many of us might not know that although oats are not planted in Malaysia, the 1st and ONLY oats milling plant in South East Asia is actually a Malaysian company located at Butterworth, Penang known as Federal Oats Mills Sdn. Bhd. (FOM).
FOM is currently exporting to more than 35 countries across South East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa and China. Established since 1965, FOM has been processing oatmeal products under the brand Captain Oats as well as acting as an OEM manufacturer for other companies. Instant Oatmeal, Quick Cook Oatmeal and Rolled Oats are FOM’s most popular products. Since 2 years ago, FOM has launched a new range of oatmeal product called Eazy-Go Oats. Aiming to target the health-conscious and busy young adults segment, Eazy-Go is currently available in Malaysia and Singapore.
For more than 4 years in a row, FOM has been registering a remarkable high growth performance and it has also managed to achieve an impressive CAGR of 28.7% with the export market contributing 82.3% of the total revenue for FY 2016/17. FOM is also regarded as one of Malaysia’s export champion, having gained a market leader position in the Middle East, especially in countries like Oman and Saudi Arabia. According to AC Nielsen report 2016, FOM’s house brand – Captain Oats is the No. 2 brand in Singapore – trailing closely just behind the global brand leader.
“Our foundation for steady growth lies in our unique Oatifresh™ Process and our adherence to various international quality standards. Such efforts allow us to deliver fresh and consistently high quality products to our customers. But the journey to become a global product, company and brand, requires more than just producing quality products. We also have to thank our international partners and distributors for their total commitment to grow the market together with us. Just believing in our vision is not enough – the FOM team also works hard to achieve our vision of becoming the preferred brand for healthy meals and subsequently, allowing the global community to enjoy the best of everyday life.” says Michael Chew, Executive Director of Federal Oats Mills.
The Captain Oats brand has also been awarded the National Mark of Malaysian Brand Certification as a recognition of its brand excellence, while FOM’s global market success has also received equally noteworthy acknowledgement when it was accorded the highest honors with two prestigious awards – the Best in Global Market (Platinum Award) and the Best in Marketing (Silver Award) at the recent The Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA) 2017.
The Global Oatmeal Market is expected to reach a value of USD 2.50 Billion by 2022 (Zion Market Research) and globally, the Muslim community’s expenditure on food and beverage is estimated to reach USD 1,128bil, growing 4.3% from USD 1,081bil in 2013 and potentially rising to USD 1,585bil in 2020, according to the Malaysia Halal Export 2015, Halal Industry Development Corporation 2016. “We are foreseeing high growth rates for the oatmeal market as more and more people around the world, especially in developing nations, are getting more health conscious. FOM is located strategically in South East Asia and is certified Halal and these two major factors provide us with a distinct advantage and a competitive edge in the global market.” added Michael Chew.
FOM has also announced in Aug 2017 that they will expand their operations by establishing a new production facility at the Halal Food Zone, Penang Science Park in Bukit Minyak, with an investment of RM120 mil, to cater to growing demand for oats-based products. The new plant will see the increase of the company’s production volume to about 4 times of its present capacity. “FOM is committed to invest heavily in R&D in order to develop new product ranges to meet the ever-changing demand from young adults. Among these will be oats-based cereal and food products which will deliver the hearty goodness of oats to consumers worldwide.” Michael explains.
About Federal Oats Mills Sdn Bhd
Captain Oats is the 1st and only oats milling plant in South East Asia. We produce oatmeal under the Captain Oats brand. We export to more than 35 countries across South East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa and China. Our products are mainly categorized into 4 categories, namely, Instant OatMeal, Quick Cook OatMeal, Rolled Oats and the recently-launched Eazy-Go Instant Oatmeal / Porridge.
South Korea’s GS Retail opened its first store in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Ba Trung Street in District 3 on 19 January 2018. Minime Insights visited one of the new GS25 stores to give readers an in-depth look inside the South Korean convenience store giant maiden foray into the vibrant Vietnamese convenience store market.
Located in District 3
The GS25 on Truong Dinh Street is located in District 3 and was officially opened on 29 January 2018. The outlet resembles a typical GS25 in Korea with an outside seating area complete with giant umbrellas bearing the GS25 logo. There is also a parking area for motorcycles.
Strong hallyu feel
The outlet has a very strong hallyu (Korean wave) feel. The GS25 employee will greet each and every customer in Korean in line with its #BringyoutoKorea experience.
The store features the latest imported Korean food and beverages as well as GS25 private brand You Us. It targets young Vietnamese in their 20s and 30s who are familiar with hallyu, reported Vietnam Economic Times.
Serving in the hot food section are Korean delights such as topokki (spicy rice cakes), Korean-style fried chicken, dumplings, boxed lunches and Korean onigiri.
The onigiri and California rolls are made by Công Ty TNHH Mega Việt Phát –Nhà Máy Megadeli in the Mekong Delta’s Long An province.
Here are some of the prices of the fresh and hot food at GS25
Sandwich Go Karaage – VND 25,000
California roll – VND 29,000
California wasabi roll – VND 30,000
Tuna kimchi onigiri – VND 15,000
Tuna and egg salad – VND 30,000
Cajun chicken salad – VND 30,000
Cream spaghetti – VND 39,000
Bolognese spaghetti – VND 39,000
Kimchi rice – VND 36,000
Kimchi fried rice – VND 35,000
Fried drum’s stick – VND 25,000
Topokki – VND 18,000
Strawberry smoothie – VND 20,000
Also served at GS25 are Western pastries, Japanese oden and local Vietnamese buns supplied by Thọ Phát Food.
Fresh produce
GS25 sells a selection of fresh produce including fruits and vegetables for nearby residents looking to top up on their daily needs. The sliced fruits and vegetables include white cabbage, cabbage, carrot, capsicum and are sourced from Công Ty TNHH The Fruit Republic selling under the Mekostar brand. Mekostar’s produce is fully traceable from the retailer to the farmer.
There is a chiller selling frozen processed meat/seafood/vegetable products such as dumpling, pork spring roll and siaomai.
Future plans
GS Retail, South Korea’s number 1 convenience store retailer, plans to open 50 GS25 outlets in Vietnam in 2018, leveraging its “friendly-fresh-happy-fun” business model. The retailer does not stop there. It has an ambitious plan to have 2,500 outlets in Vietnam within 10 years, reported Vietnam Investment Review.
Calcium (canxi) is featured in many new food and drink innovation in Vietnam. To provide the extra calcium in food, Kewpie Việt Nam introduced a new product called egg shell calcium sauce (Xốt Canxi Vỏ Trứng) in the second half of 2017. The liquid is made from egg shells, probably the byproduct of sauce manufacturing, to be added into rice to increase the calcium content in the food staple to build stronger bones.
The key ingredients are water, egg shell powder (12.8%), ethanol for food (10.4%), thickening agent and natural lemon flavour.
It provides at least 450 mg of calcium per 10ml sachet of egg shell calcium sauce. The product is available in 100ml pack (10ml x 10 sachets) at VND 37,900 (USD 1.66) and 1 litre PET bottle (VND 252,000).
By cooking 300g of rice with 10ml of egg shell calcium sauce, it gives one bowl of rice (150g) 100mg of calcium. This product is ideal for the elderly to improve their bone health.
The following chart shows the merit of consuming eggshell calcium versus calcium carbonate by a female over the course of 12 months.
The egg shell calcium sauce can be added in other dishes including egg to provide the additional calcium benefit.
Quaker oat for rice
In Malaysia, also a rice eating nation, we have seen PepsiCo introducing Quaker Oat for Rice. The product is described as a convenient way to add wholegrain goodness to your rice. The oat is rice in beta glucan to reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
Placed next to rice
In Vietnam, the egg shell calcium sauce is conveniently displayed next to rice.
Photographed by the author at Aeon
What Mini Me Thinks
Brands such as Kewpie and Quaker are exploring ways to add the additional nutrient to rice to capitalise on the fact that rice is a staple in most parts of Asia.
In Malaysia, Milo has come under flak from a social media activist Vishen Lakhiani, CEO of Mindvalley, who insisted Milo is high in sugar and is bad for health. The seriousness of the allegation has prompted Nestle to convene a press conference on 6 February 2018 to refute the claim that Milo contains 40% of sugar is actually incorrect.
At Minime Insights, we feel the Milo saga resonates with Malaysian consumers because there is a growing distrust of the marketing message of big brands when it comes to health particularly on the topic of sugar.
The incident also reveals consumer growing interest to understand the product ingredients on pack. They are also becoming more wary of strange sounding ingredients like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and maltodextrin and are going online to research themselves of the ingredient’s implication for health.
The implication for Malaysian food manufacturers from the Milo saga is to clean up their label with all-natural and no artificial ingredients and start thinking about sugar and lowering the use of it in their products.
Marketing General Manager of 7-Eleven Malaysia, Ronan Lee (centre); Founder of Pusat Jagaan Asnaf Barakh, Haji Yusof Noor (2nd from top left); volunteers from 7-Eleven Malaysia and NGOHub Asia with children from Pusat Jagaan Asnaf Barakh.
Ampang, 29 January 2018 – In conjunction with International Creativity Month, 7-Eleven Malaysia and NGOHub Asia conducted an arts and crafts activity for the children at Pusat Jagaan Asnaf Barakh (Rumah Amal Asnaf Barakh), at Ampang, Selangor.
The activity was led by 7-Eleven representatives, and the children were taught how to construct a wind chime using cupcake paper cups decorated with colourful beads and embroidery thread. Volunteers from NGOHub Asia also took part to facilitate the activity by guiding the participants with their creations.
Pusat Jagaan Asnaf Barakh (Rumah Amal Asnaf Barakh) is a non-profit organization that houses children from low-income families. Founder Haji Yusof Noor has actively supported the underprivileged, and was inspired to extend his efforts further of helping families who were struggling financially after learning about their circumstances. “I offered to rent a space for the children to stay and care for them so that it would ease the burden of families who are unable to fully support their entire household,” he said.
Since 2010, the community has shifted to different locations as they were unable to sustain their tenancy with past landlords. Their current location in Ampang, Selangor, is the longest they’ve stayed and they seek aid for their rent and new furniture to replace the ones that are damaged. “We also hope that we can receive support for necessities such as milo, diapers, milk powder, poultry and fish as these items are costly. Currently, we have 54 children with us, and we would like to provide them with the best that we can to ensure that they stay comfortably,” he added.
The day was concluded by 7-Eleven’s distribution of goodie bags to the children, consisting of various snacks and beverages; and provisions to help alleviate the community’s operational expenses, namely eggs, Milo and diapers.
7-Eleven Malaysia Marketing General Manager Ronan Lee expressed his delight to partake in the creative project. “We are happy to be spending time with the children here, and feel contented to see their brightened expressions from this activity. Through it, we hope that it would help develop their creative thinking skills, as constructing the wind chime is quite challenging though we kept in mind to add in a dash of fun as well.”
He further added, “We strongly believe in uplifting the lives of those who need us, and knowing the difference we can make for the community here inspires us to continue our endeavours of being ‘Always There For You’.”
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 have been a prominent icon for over 33 years. 7-Eleven Malaysia is the pioneer and largest 24-hours standalone convenience store operator in Malaysia with over 2,200 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.
In the mood for love? TAP Group, the maker and distributor of Heineken, Tiger, and Cheers in Thailand, has introduced Cheers Selection: Northern Strawberry to coincide with Valentine’s Day in February 2018.
The pink-coloured, European-style fruit beer is made with northern strawberries. It is available at 7-Eleven and leading stores in Thailand in a 490ml can format for THB 52 (USD 1.64). The drink will be available for six months.
In the past years, Cheers has created special flavours under the Cheers Selection sub-brand offering riceberry and shogun orange beer, according to the press release.
SAM’s Groceria, the premium grocery chain of Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, is said to be offloaded to stem further losses, reported The Edge Financial Daily on 8 January 2017.
Loss-making entity
The business daily revealed, citing the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) data, that the loss-making SAM’s Groceria Sdn Bhd reported total accumulated losses of RM 42.05 million as of 31 March 2016. Revenue in FY 16 stood at RM 63.16 million but net loss reached a staggering RM 27.49 million.
Not meeting customer expectation
In an explanation to The Edge Financial Daily, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd Managing Director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said “we decided to sell SAM’s Groceria after realising that the stores’ patrons are mainly local Chinese and expatriates. (However,) we do not sell liquor, wine, beer or pork at our stores and thus, we have been unable to meet our customers’ needs.”
Datuk Ameer was very frank in his explanation why SAM’s Groceria was not able to meet the expectation of expatriates and local Chinese consumers.
Could this serve as a warning to premium grocery chains not to exclude liquor, wine, beer or pork.
Changing retail scene
However, there is an underlying trend in the Malaysian and Indonesian retail scene to focus on selling halal-only products taking into consideration the sensitivity of Muslim consumers towards alcohol and non-halal foodstuff.
Abu Dhabi-based LuLu Hypermarket, which opened its first store in Malaysia in 2016, is expanding in Kota Baru (Kelantan), Shah Alam (Selangor), Johor Baru, Bangi, Ipoh (Perak), Malacca, Penang and Kuala Terengganu. LuLu Hypermarket does not sell alcoholic drinks and non-halal foodstuffs.
Another chain is the Az-Zain Halal Mart, which sells exclusively halal products. The grocery chain is run by Mumtaz Meat & Marine Foods. The company aims to open 500 outlets by the end of 2018, reported Sinar Harian. At the moment, the company has 260 branches but not all are operating under the Az-Zain Halal Mart label.
In Indonesia, Podjok Halal, a unit of the toll road operator PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada Tbk, entered the convenience store market in September 2017, reported Tirto.id. The new chain is occupying the former 7-Eleven premises in Jakarta.
Podjok Halal sells only halal foodstuffs with the tagline “halal, cepat, hemat” or “halal, fast and saving.”
What Mini Me thinks
The halal trend is unstoppable but it is imperative not to neglect consumer demand for non-halal products especially if the location has a lot of local Chinese and expatriates.
Hiroyuki Kotera, Executive Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD.; Fong Kee Ken, MaxValu Prime Bangsar South Store Manager; and Poh Ying Loo, Executive Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD., posing together in front of AEON’s third MaxValu Prime outlet at The Sphere, Bangsar South.
New outlets aim to offer convenience as MaxValu Prime establishes itself as a one-stop centre for urbanites
KUALA LUMPUR, 5 February 2018 – Set to bring convenience to the Bangsar South community and its high-density workforce, AEON CO. (M) BHD. today opens its third MaxValu Prime outlet together with its Wellness pharmacy at The Sphere. MaxValu Prime endeavours to redefine the shopping experience of consumers in Bangsar South by creating heightened shopping and dining ambience.
Offering an extensive range of locally and globally sourced fresh and quality products as well as tasty food, MaxValu Prime also offers a health and personal care option Wellness Pharmacy, which is located next to the establishment.
The conceptualisation of MaxValu Prime and Wellness is anchored upon AEON’s promise to provide all customers with an array of products, food and beverage, at the same time, personify convenience at its best.
Fong Kee Ken, MaxValu Prime Bangsar South Store Manager; Poh Ying Loo, Executive Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD.; Ahmad Fazli Abu Bakar, General Manager of AEON CO. (M) BHD.; and Hiroyuki Kotera, Executive Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD., showing some samples of the products that are available in MaxValu Prime’s outlet in Bangsar South.
Poh Ying Loo, Executive Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD. said: “MaxValu Prime in Bangsar South represents our third outlet conceptualised with all our shoppers’ needs in mind. We are set to cater to the Bangsar South community, namely those who are working or living in the vicinity, to become their neighbourhood retailer of choice.”
Convenience for the Community and Office Workers
The rise of Bangsar South into a high-density area raised values around its vicinity, adding easy access to urban amenities, inclusive of convenient commuting options. Poh elaborated: “Conscious of the growing population and working urbanites in Bangsar South, we see this in positive light as we are ready to serve the community by providing all offerings under one roof, thus creating heightened accessibility for consumers. With the boom in the development of residences and office towers in Bangsar South, we hope MaxValu Prime and Wellness will enhance the needs of surrounding community and provide them with a shopping and dining moment that they will never forget.”
MaxValu Prime’s key differentiator lies in its commitment to present shoppers with an unparalleled shopping and dining experience, through fresh ingredients and delicious meal options.
One-Stop Dining Experience
A unique element of MaxValu Prime in Bangsar South is its food and beverage selection, in the form of DELICA and two new concepts – the ‘Cook for U’ station and ‘Ready-to-Cook’.
DELICA – a one-stop deli boasts a section selling ready-to-eat food and easy preparation meals such as cooked meats, hot snacks, sandwiches, salads and other similar items. This concept caters to the working crowd who wishes to grab their meals on-the-go or dine in.
Also available is a ‘Cook for U’ station, whereby consumers have the option to pick fresh food items with a corresponding sticker, make payment, proceed to the ‘Cook for U’ station, choose a preferred cooking style, and wait 15 minutes for a freshly-cooked meal. Consumers need to pay RM6 (including GST) for the ‘Cook for U’ service.
Last but not least, MaxValu Prime introduces the ‘Ready-to-Cook’ concept to bring out the inner chef in everyone. There are several pre-packed assortments to choose from such as Acar Vegetables, Ayam Masak Sambal, Mixed Curry Vegetables, Kangkung with Belacan, Pucuk Paku with Belacan and many more that they can cook at home.
AEON’s Motivation for MaxValu Prime
The first Maxvalu Prime is located at Sunway Velocity, while the second outlet opened on 19 January 2018 at Evo Bangi, which has similar offerings with the one at Bangsar South.
The opening of MaxValu Prime Bangsar South marks the third MaxValu Prime outlet operated by AEON CO. (M) BHD., with plans to expand the brand to other areas in the near future.
The exciting new pickleball hub, Ipoh Pickleball Fun Club, aims to foster community engagement and promote active lifestyles.
Ipoh, 11 October 2024 - Ipoh is...
