I spent 2 full days at Food and Hotel Asia Singapore this week (FHA) and it was packed full of exhibitors and visitors alike. There were over 2000 companies present, mostly packaged food, beverage and agricultural firms plus a fair number of packaging equipment and a cluster of wine and spirits companies. The majority were …
Food companies leave FHA on full stomachs as the industry rebounds from Covid Read More »
Life is what you bake it, runs the adage. There is a dietary shift in Japan. Historically rice was the main staple, but its per capita consumption is declining year on year. There are more single person households; preparing rice is a hassle especially if you a busy 20 year-something. Rice consumption is also dropping …
Shiseido makes and markets cosmetics, toiletries and beauty products and has revenues exceeding $9b. It’s listed on the first board of the Tokyo stock exchange and has over 39,000 employees. Shiseido is in the midst of a transformation. In 2020 it suffered an operating loss, in 2021 it recovered and is seeking to change its …
Personally I enjoy the winter olympics more than the summer games. Since I go to the slopes myself, I know how difficult many of the disciplines are. In particular I have the utmost admiration for the ski jumpers and the downhill racers; nerves of steel is an understatement! I digress. This year the Olympic committee …
If you live in Japan, you almost certainly know Kao 花王 It’s one of the country’s largest FMCG manufacturers marketing a plethora of brands in Cosmetics, Skin & Hair care, Health beverages, Fabric and Home care as well as a Chemicals division. The problem for Kao is that 70% of its revenues come from Japan, …
Kao wants to become a global player but the big question is how? Read More »
Wattbike creates bikes for indoor cycling, a pastime that soared during the Covid pandemic. The business was founded in 2007 by a former rowing champion in collaboration with British cycling. Its USP is technology, the Wattbike hub app allows riders to collect data for training and performance improvement. The software is agnostic, allowing friends to …
Wattbike, favoured workhorse of the All Blacks, aims for global presence Read More »
Last weekend I visited old friends in Chester, England. Chester is one of the country’s historical gems, originally settled by the Romans; an old city wall which still encircles the city, a stunning cathedral and an eclectic range of shops. This year the city welcomed its first Japanese restaurant. It’s called Hamayuu. It was impossible …
Hamayuu is the first authentic Japanese restaurant to open in Chester, and it’s booming! Read More »
As readers of this blog may know, I am spending 3 months in the UK this ‘summer.’ It was difficult to visit last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and I was last here 18 months ago. One of the more obvious changes I’ve noticed is the presence of electric cars on the roads, especially …
Tesla fast charges up the UK electric car market Read More »
