Is there a growing market for cast offs? 2nd street thinks so! The 2nd Street chain is a prominent second-hand, thrift, and re-use retailer with over 850 stores in Japan and nearly 100 international locations. It also sells online. As part of GEO Holdings Corporation, a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, 2nd Street […]
2nd Street: A Growing Re-use Chain with Ambitious Plans Read More »
I’m currently in Hokkaido, and while I’ve visited many times, this northern island never ceases to amaze me with its wild natural beauty and breathtaking landscapes. Hokkaido has always been one of my favourite parts of Japan. I always thought that Hokkaido’s biggest food products were milk, dairy products, confectionery, and cheese cakes, not to
Last Friday at my Japanese class, I was given an unusual present, a chayote. A fellow student is an Italian chef who dislikes buying vegetables from supermarkets, instead he forages in the local mountains. Ecco qua, a chayote! I had not heard of chayotes before. Originating from Mesoamerica and deeply rooted in Mayan and Aztec
From Japanese lessons to discovering a superfood: My journey with Chayote Read More »
Salt, that humble crystal, is much more than just a kitchen staple. Its influence spans across cultures, cuisines, and even history. From bringing out the umami in our favourite dishes to being a key player in global trade, salt is truly fascinating. Salt Unites All Cuisines Salt is the universal seasoning that brings out the
The savoury saga of salt. What I learnt from Netflix’s ‘salt fat acid heat’ documentary Read More »
In October 2024 I stopped in Doha for 36 hours on my way back to the UK. I often go via Dubai but since Qatar now flies daily from Osaka, thought I’d try them instead. The stay over cost in Doha was almost negligible and Doha has come a very long way in the last
Riding the Waves of Change: Insights into Doha’s Dynamic Consumer Products Industry Read More »
It is no surprise that one of the world’s biggest food exhibitions is held bi annually in Paris. French gastronomy is listed by Unesco as “intangible cultural heritage” and French cooking techniques such as sautéing, braising and baking are fundamental in many cuisines, plus taught in culinary schools globally. Food presentation is an art developed
Are you a trend setter in the food industry? What we learnt at SIAL Paris 2024 Read More »
I was fortunate to attend the UK launch of Hunt and Brew in London. Hunt and Brew is a ready to drink coffee, created and marketed by Brownes, one of Australia’s leading dairy producers. Brownes is based in Western Australia, employs over 300 staff and was founded in 1886. Hunt and Brew’s promise is simple,
Why Hunt and Brew’s UK Debut is a Game-Changer for Coffee Lovers Read More »
It’s October 2024 and I’m writing this post in Doha, Qatar. Later this month there’s a very large food & beverage exhibition taking place in Paris, it’s called SIAL. Last year I attended a similar show called Anuga in Germany which was important for engaging with both existing and new clients. Besides both being food
The Power of Polyglots: Why Multilingualism Can Be as Valuable as an MBA Read More »
To further improve my Japanese, I’ve taken to watching business programmes from TV Tokyo on YouTube. (The channel features selected extracts and highlights. Most are between 1-5 minutes in length. Perfect for studying and discovering new news!) TV Tokyo is part of the Nihon Keizai group, the Nikkei, and is one of the 5 big
Marketing Innovation or Gimmick: Craft Gin Distilled from Coffee Waste? Read More »
Australian’s love their coffee, according to one statistic, 84% of Aussies buy coffee at least once a week. Italy’s Lavazza was an early International brand to enter Australia and 10 years ago was a dominant No 2 on the retail shelf behind the Cantarella Bros Vittoria brand. However Lavazza’s share has dropped as more foreign