SMI Vantage Limited, an investment and management company listed on the mainboard of the SGX, today announced it has appointed Ms. Jocelyn Chng as a member of the Advisory Board Committee, effective 1 January 2023.
Ms Chng is the Group CEO of JR Group Holdings, a one-stop solutions provider for the F&B industry with capabilities in food manufacturing, automated cafes, and corporate F&B management. Over the years, Ms Chng has won numerous awards, including ASME’s Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2001, the Montblanc Businesswoman Award in 2003 and was selected by EY to participate in its 2018 Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific Program. Under Chng’s leadership, JR Group opened the world’s first Vendcafe serving hot meals in Singapore. Chef-in- Box Vendcafe is an unmanned and automated all-vending machine cafe.
Having been personally involved with developing multiple companies and platforms particularly in the F&B space, Ms Chng has a deep understanding of what it takes to scale businesses to the next level. “I am delighted to welcome Jocelyn to our Advisory Board. She brings a wealth of experience in the F&B space, having launched many highly successful ventures and growing JR Group Holdings to where it is today. As our Company enters the Robochef business, her expertise and experience will be highly relevant and extremely helpful in helping us grow this business and helping the company look at other related opportunities.” said Mark Bedingham, President and Chief Executive Officer.
In reply, Ms Chng said, “I am honoured to be appointed to the Advisory Board of SMI Vantage and am excited to learn more about SMI Vantage’s exciting projects. F&B is in the midst of transformation from being a labour-intensive industry, to one that leverages on technology and automation for higher productivity and return on investment. SMI Vantage’s use of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the Robochef concept is a good example of this trend in the F&B industry. I look forward to working closely with Mark, the Board, and the rest of the leadership team to capitalise on the many opportunities ahead and usher in SMI Vantage’s next chapter of growth and success.”
SMI would also like to thank Kevin Shao for his valuable contributions and advice to the Company during his time with us at SMI.
About SMI Vantage
SMI Vantage Limited is an investment and management company focused on capitalising on strong trends in the new economy including technology-based SaaS services and other high- tech platforms. Listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Stock Exchange, SMI Vantage Limited has a highly capable and experienced management team with a proven track record in building strong business partnerships and alliances. https://www.smivantage.com/
Spritzer is back this year with its year-end thematic celebration coupled with Instagram-able decorations and exciting activities. The wish is to spread holiday cheer and togetherness for families and friends after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. All are welcome to join the “Winter” Carnival in the Spritzer EcoPark from 16th December 2022 to 1st January 2023.
The company will feature a 28-foot Giant Christmas Tree partially made of recycled Spritzer Sparkling and Spritzer Natural Mineral Water bottles. Families and friends can also capture beautiful memories in the cosy Christmas setting with “Igloo-like” dome houses.
“Snow season” returns to Taiping, Perak after two years. The anticipated snowfall sessions will be available on select days, with four sessions per day, with each session lasting 30 minutes. – Snowfall dates: 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 December 2022 – Session times: 6:30 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m.
Other “Winter” Carnival activities include giant outdoor bubble, pedal kart ride, mini golf in the park, fun fair game stations such as Flip the Bottle, Toss the Ring and more! You can also create your Christmas crafts from recycled materials.
Food and beverages are not to be missed during the carnival to help with your winter wonderment. Homemade popcorn and special concoction of Tropical Fizz using Spritzer Sparkling water are always recommended and choices for visitors to chill while enjoying outdoor activities.
Special workshops will be held for making delicious gingerbread and glutinous rice balls. Booking is not required; public is welcome to join us during the period! – Gingerbread workshop: 23-25 December 2022 (5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) – Glutinous rice ball workshop: 16-18 December 2022 (5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
Spritzer encourages reuse and recycling by incorporating conservation and sustainability through eco-tourism in Taiping.
Once again, Spritzer would like to extend this invitation and the happiest holiday greetings to everyone! See all of you here!
NUNMN, part of Nulab Technology Ltd., is a rapidly-expanding company in Canada that offers 99.5% pure NMN supplements and they are now available in the Hong Kong market. Previously only sold throughout Canada and the US, Nulab Technology LTD has decided to expand its sales and provide NMN supplements to customers in Hong Kong, as an entry point to the Asian market.
During a recent interview, Nulab Technology LTD president Alan M. had this to say: ”Each year, the supplement receives a high volume of new users from all corners of the world. We have had inquiries from Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, Oceania & North America. All our products are authorized by Health Canada as they improve health performance and meet consumer demands. Hong Kong is just part of the second phase of our global expansion plan!”
According to Alan M., NUNMN and Nulab Technology LTD’s recent expansion is only the start. They have already initiated market research to gain a foothold in the European and South American markets as well.
Nulab Technology LTD’s president said that originally starting in Canada as a health supplement supplier, they have now reached customers all over the world with their global network and website.
Now that they have consistent customers in Canada and that the US market is growing, they have brought the business to a point where expanding makes even more sense. After months of research, testing, and preparation, they are officially opening their online store to the Hong Kong market.
About NUNMN & Nulab Technology LTD NUNMN is a leading beauty and wellness company with offices in Canada, the US, and soon in Hong Kong. They are committed to redefining wellness and chronological age in terms of biological age.
David Sinclair, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, discovered that NMN (99.5%) can be widely consumed to improve health and metabolism, and brain function as well as cardiovascular improvement.
The nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) molecule is converted into the vital and well-known chemical compound nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). The human body uses NAD+ to fuel a plethora of processes, including DNA damage repair, energy production, and boosting immunity. Therefore, it aids in maintaining high metabolism and keeping overall bodily functions healthy.
Betagro PCL(SET: BTG), Thailand’s leading international food company with over 55 years of history, debuts on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) today. With a total offering value of 20 billion baht and a securities value at an IPO price of about 80 billion baht (including over-allotments), BTG has stood out as the highest-value initial public offering (IPO) stocks in the agriculture and food industry on the Thai capital market, while recording the highest selling value in South East Asia so far this year.
BTG has readied to continue its success with a strategy to build growth by means of investing in value chains both at home and abroad. The company will zero in on the high-value food products and seeking opportunities to invest in new businesses under the New S-Curve model to create continuous and sustainable growth in the future.
Vasit Taepaisitphongse, Chief Executive Officer and President of BTG, noted that the IPO, at 40 baht a piece, has been well received by leading local and international institutional investors as well as individual investors in Thailand amid highly volatile economic and investment conditions.
He said: “That reflects vividly the confidence in the robust business fundamentals and the potential for continuous and sustainable growth of Betagro as a world-class branded food firm. “Betagro is distinctive from other listed companies in the same industry with an integrated business model extending from upstream to downstream. “In addition, Betagro owns quality and diversified brands that are widely recognised and trusted by consumers who find our products through a variety of distribution channels in Thailand and more than 20 countries around the world. “Yet, our operations are supported by efficient data and innovation-driven processes.”
5-year investment Betagro sets its sight on lifting up the food industry, enhancing long-term competitiveness through its five-year investment (2022-2026) to boost the market share domestically and internationally, by the following means:
1) Boosting its production capacity of animal feed to 5.5 million tonnes per year; ramping up processed food and sausages output to 223,000 tonnes per year; setting up swine processing plants capable of dealing with 4.8 million pigs and broiler processing plants capable of handling 270 million chicken. 2) Focussing on food products with high added value such as ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat foods as well as increasing the proportion of premium and standard-branded products. 3) Expanding the company’s business overseas with plans to invest in the establishment of factories and farms to increase production capacity in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. 4) Strengthening distribution in the overseas markets and adding more export marketplaces by, for example, increasing distribution channels in key international markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Cambodia; – Expanding into new product groups by increasing brand awareness and forming new partnerships with local businesses; – Developing more export markets beyond more than 20 countries where it has already established a presence and increasing the volume of orders in the existing markets in the European Union, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
Betagro is also looking for new New S-Curve growth opportunities by earmarking 900 million baht in capital during 2022 and 2026 for new businesses through the Venture Building and Venture Capital methods in three branches:
1) Developing the ability of consumers to access high quality products 2) Creating new protein sources 3) Optimising the supply chain in the existing agricultural industry, as well as focussing on the research and development of new products that are in line with the core business to support the opportunity for continuous and sustainable growth in the future
Mr Vasit noted: “It is a great pride for Betagro’s management team, staff and all stakeholders for contributing to the BTG listing on the Thai bourse. This (listing) is another crucial step in Betagro’s pathway to take its business to the next level, for the money received from this fundraising will help realising our major business expansion, strengthening the financial position, attracting professional executives and staff to the company, drawing in potential business partners from the country and abroad, while raising environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. All of these will create opportunities to spur sustainable growth in the future for the maximum benefit of shareholders and stakeholders.”
According to the BTG chief, the 20 billion baht fund raised from the flotation of 500 million shares inclusive of full over-allotments in the IPO process is specifically meant for:
1) investment for acquisition and/or construction of new farms and plants in the amount of about eight billion baht 2) Capital restructuring through payment of short-term and/or long-term liabilities to financial institutions in an amount of 8,960-10,500 million baht 3) Using as working capital in an amount of not more than 1,021 million baht
Investors who missed the investment opportunity during the IPO stage can still have access to BTG’s interests and ownership on the SET trading floor from today onwards.
Meanwhile, Kiatnakin Phatra Securities PCL is also due to start stabilising the BTG share price in the secondary market for a period of not more than 30 days from 2 November to help reduce the volatility of the stock price and building investor confidence.
About Betagro PCL Betagro is a leading integrated food and agro-industrial company in Thailand. Its businesses encompass the production and distribution of animal feed, animal pharmaceuticals and additives, livestock, pork products, chicken meat and eggs along with related processed foods, pet food, the distribution of farm equipment and related research and development operations. The company has employed a Vertically Integrated Business Model on many aspects of its product value chain, ranging from animal feed production to culture and marketing animal breeders, commercial farming, meat slaughtering, processing and marketing. BTG operates a host of high standard food processing and manufacturing plants, possessing the research capability and internal control system that monitors and controlling every step of the food value chain, enabling the company to control quality and manage costs effectively. The company is also committed to producing high-quality and safe products, applying bio-security measures for strict quality control according to international standards. Stay up-to-date with the latest Betagro news at Facebook Betagro Group, LinkedIn Betagro Group, YouTube Betagro Group or visit www.betagro.com. www.betagro.com
Released for Betagro PCL by MT Multimedia Co Ltd For media inquiries, please contact: Office of Corporate Affairs and Communications, Betagro PCL Thitipha Laksanaphisut, Assistant to CEO Kanrakorn Ruangsomboon (Pui), Public Relations Manager Wittawat Netsansak (Golf), Media Relations Officer T: +66 98 351 9893 E: wittawatn@betagro.com
The GrowHub Innovations Company (“The GrowHub”), Asia Pacific’s only Web 3-enabled plug-and-play ecosystem builder for food traceability and carbon credits, announced its strategic partnership with Kyoto’s leading craft canning producer and food experience provider Tangobar LLC. (“tangobar”). Tangobar is committed to the development of canned foods using local agricultural and marine products as well as food promotion events. The GrowHub will be providing its proprietary Web-3 technology to Tangobar to support the sustainable development of the local community in Kyoto Prefecture (Kyoto by the Sea) and the penetration of its products in the ASEAN market.
With a goal of maximizing local food resources, knowledge, and techniques to promote the diversity of Kyoto’s rich landscape, Tangobar seeks to create a harmonious relationship between food producers and consumers to develop a sustainable food culture that is beneficial for all. The GrowHub’s mission of fostering sustainable and conscious trade and providing authentic food that consumers can trust via Web-3 technology aligns with Tangobar’s efforts to contribute to the local environment and communities.
The GrowHub’s unique blockchain solution, which enables direct two-way communication with consumers, will enable Tangobar to tell the rich story of its products and the local community in northern Kyoto while providing them the insights needed to expand and create demand for their product offerings among ASEAN consumers. By creating demand for food experience programs and local food processing, Tangobar hopes to contribute to new employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth in the region.
Dr. Daiki Nakaoka, the Country Head of The GrowHub Japan shared, “We are very pleased to partner with Tangobar, which contributes to the sustainable development of local communities. While many rural areas in Japan have wonderful food resources, they are faced with the challenges of increasing employment opportunities for locals and re-innovating food experience programs with environmental considerations. This partnership significantly enhances the opportunities for local communities to thrive in ASEAN in a sustainable manner.”
According to the ASEAN Food and Nutrition Security Report 2021, the shift in food retailing is resulting in increased consumption of unhealthy foods and diminishing the often critical role of informal traders in meeting the food and nutrition needs of communities. It is crucial for food producers to showcase transparency and provide extensive background on ingredients/products to end food consumers. By scaling-up sustainable agricultural practices in ASEAN, The GrowHub supports the livelihoods of small-scale food producers, while helping curb carbon gas emissions to push back impending catastrophe.
Mr. Naoya Seki, Founder, and CEO of Tangobar mentioned, “The GrowHub is a key player in distributing products that contribute to the development of a sustainable environment and society in ASEAN. It is beyond challenging to scale local food resources to potential consumers beyond Japan. As such, The GrowHub comes in as a bridge to enable us to communicate directly with ASEAN consumers. Through this, we are better able to tailor our products according to the needs and demands of new audiences. We are looking forward to our strong partnership with The GrowHub and future roadmaps for consumers to visit our production facilities in Kyoto.”
With the mission of “bringing consumers and producers closer together”, Tangobar commits to utilise local food resources, food knowledge, and techniques to improve the holistic well-being of people and nature. Moving forward, The Growhub will continue to strengthen Tangobar’s food offerings in the landscape and contribute to the sustainable development of local food communities in ASEAN.
About The GrowHub Innovations Company
The GrowHub Innovations Company (www.thegrowhub.co) is Asia Pacific’s only Web 3-enabled technology plug-and-play ecosystem builder focusing on food traceability and carbon credits. The GrowHub has strong and exclusive relations with the government bodies in Western Australia and Singapore – Food Innovation Precinct Western Australia (FIPWA) and PEEL Development, Shire of Murray. Currently, in eight markets across Australia and Asia Pacific, The GrowHub offers access to trusted premium products at affordable rates through the development of new agri-food and blockchain technologies emerging from our innovation centre at FIPWA. With the capital, network, and expertise, we use technology to improve the experience of “farm-to-fork”. From crunching data to enable producers to improve yields, to leveraging statistics to enable better transportation of produce, to the information on the quality of food you pay for at the table, our blockchain technology allows for full food traceability across the supply chain – so that you can trust in the food you eat. To find out more about GrowHub please visit: https://thegrowhub.co/
About Tangobar
Tangobar is a company engaged in the development of canned and other processed foods, and food experience programs, mainly in the Kyoto by the Sea area. With the MISSION of “bringing consumers and producers closer together”, tangobar is engaged in the business of delivering the attractiveness of local foods by utilizing local food resources, food knowledge, and techniques. In rural areas such as the Kyoto by the Sea area, there is nature such as oceans and mountains that nurtures rich foods that are not found in urban areas. Many food producers in these areas benefit from that nature. What we want to convey is the story that nature and people mutually create by the time the food reaches our mouths. By communicating these stories, we aim to create a relationship between the people who produce the food and the people who eat it. We believe that this relationship will lead to a sustainable food environment that is healthy for both people and nature, where the people who eat the food, the people who produce the food, and nature all care for each other. To find out more about Tangobar please visit: https://www.tangobar.co.jp/
Yes, it’s true. Soon millions of Americans will gather around dinner tables to give thanks and eat turkeys, but there would be no turkeys at all if animal conservation efforts hadn’t saved the species more than a hundred years ago!
“The story of the wild turkeys is, well, wild!” says Cynthia Thayer, the Chief Marketing Officer of educational chocolate brand, Yowie. “Thanksgiving and the history of wild turkeys is the perfect starting point for a lifetime of awareness. Our hope at Yowie is that we can introduce the concept of endangered animals in a fun way and in turn, show kids how important it is to help preserve wildlife.”
In the early 1900s wild turkeys numbered less than 30,000 and had been eradicated from 18 of their native 39 states. Thanks to the conservation efforts of President Teddy Roosevelt and others, the wild turkey populations now number over 7 million and our Thanksgiving traditions continue.
Today, Yowie, the maker of the “Smart Treat” for kids, continues the all-American tradition of educating children about endangered animals. Yowie’s delicious, surprise-inside chocolate treat is sustainably sourced, Rainforest Alliance Certified, and contains no GMOs, palm oil, gluten, nuts or artificial colors and flavors. Plus, each Yowie features an endangered animal collectible inside and a bite-size leaflet to help kids learn about that animal.
Yowie makes the idea of conservation fun through six Yowie characters (Rumble, Squish, Crag, Boof, Nap and Ditty). Each is the guardian of a different natural habitat including waterways, deserts and treetops. The characters are also the stars of various activities and games on YowieWorld.com. From arts and crafts to coloring sheets to lunchbox trivia, Yowie is a one-stop shop for educational and fun activities that will keep the kids entertained after the plates have been cleared!
Explore more of the wonderful world of Yowie on Facebook, or look for @YowieWorld on Instagram. You can also find easy, interactive, and educational craft projects and games on Yowie’s YouTube channel and on Pinterest.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Interested in talking turkey? Yowie CMO Cynthia Thayer can share fun turkey facts and talk about animal conservation education from a young age. Contact Devin@kmkmedia.com or (779) 221-3764 to set up an interview before Thanksgiving.
About Yowie
Yowie is best known for its flagship product, the Yowie surprise-inside chocolate. Each Yowie product is created in the shape of the Yowie characters and contains limited-edition collectible animal toys and a full-color leaflet featuring a picture of the real-life animal, its profile and level of endangerment. Yowie’s social media channels and website allow collectors to learn more about the animals and their world while having loads of fun through games and competitions. The combination of tasty, clean-label treats, fun animal toys and a digital platform encourages kids to learn about the natural world and understand its need for protection. For more information visit www.yowieworld.com.
Dulai Fruits to partner with one of world’s largest agrifood groups to advance durian business
PLS Plantations Berhad trading and export subsidiary, Dulai Fruits Enterprise Sdn Bhd cemented their export and exclusive distribution agreement with COFCO Food Import Co. Ltd, the import and distribution subsidiary of China Oil and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) in Shanghai.
Back (L-R): Ms Zhengfeng, Mr. Eric Chan, CEO of Dulai Fruits, Ms. Wu Yiran, Vice General Manager of COFCO Food Import Co,. Ltd, Mr. Qiao Qingsong, Assistant General Manager of COFCO Food Import Co., Ltd; Front (L-R): Mr. Kenny Loh, Sales Director of Dulai Fruits, Mr. Jiao Guangyun, General Manager of Fruit Division of COFCO Food Import Co., Ltd
COFCO is China’s leader in the agricultural and food industry and a world leading agri-product trader with a global footprint with fully integrated value-chain. It is also China’s largest food processor, manufacturer, and trader.
The agreement was formalised in Shanghai, China.
This exclusive distribution agreement was inked after months of extensive engagements and evaluation by COFCO. This further re-enforced PLS’s track record and commitment to developing sustainable models in support of the Malaysia’s food security programme, that aims to scale the production of agriculture and aquaculture produce through strategic partnerships and joint-ventures with established and experienced farms and farmers.
PLS is a public-private-partnership (PPP) company which has a long history in co-operating with the State and Federal Government, and its related agencies. The major shareholder of PLS has worked with the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) since 1974 and also other land development and plantation agencies responsible for working with rural communities in the form of small holder farms. Part of PLS’s food security programme is to foster the planting of different cash crops such as oil palm, rubber, paddy, cocoa to forest plantations, and promote related economic activities such food processing.
Present for the signing of the agreement today at Shanghai are Ms. Wu Yiran, the Vice General Manager of COFCO Food Import CO., Ltd, whilst Mr Eric Chan, CEO of Dulai Fruits are on site as representatives of the Group.
Ms. Wu Yiran of COFCO said, “The demand for durian in China has been growing over the years, where in the span of four (4) years between 2017 and 2020, China’s annual import value of fresh durian has increased more than threefold. In fact, the General Administration of Customs saw the People Republic of China (PRC) importing 822 million kilogrammes of durian in 2021, which translates to an import value of $4.2 billion. With the local demand for fresh durian likely to continue increasing, we pleased to finalise this exclusive distributorship agreement which this partnership will ensure a steady supply of fresh, high-quality fruit and products, specifically for unique varieties of durian that can only be grown in Malaysia such as Musang King, Red Prawn, and D24, to name a few.
PLS is the only listed company in Malaysia that is sponsoring the food security programme and owns durian plantations. Dulai Fruit, a GTC certified company by PRC and is one of the pioneers certified to export durian from Malaysia to China. In addition, Dulai Fruits also has a noteworthy track record as a major processor and exporter of durian to China, especially their experience and expertise in developing frozen durian products and deep industry experience in cold chain logistics and warehousing.
With this exclusive distribution partnership, both PLS and COFCO aim to achieve an annual growth rate of 30% (annual import volume of 200 million yuan) in all types of durian imported from Malaysia over the next three (3) years.
This will lay a good foundation for bilateral investment in agriculture between the two parties moving forward, and together the two countries – China and Malaysia – will make proactive contributions to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Lee Hun Kheng, Group CEO of PLS said, “We have been working with COFCO prior to the pandemic and are pleased to be certified under China’s rigorous quality and food safety requirements. China’s emphasis on food security sets a high bar in terms of quality from its suppliers globally. This agreement is a significant milestone for PLS as it further established our long-term strategy to develop a comprehensive, end-to-end agrofood ecosystem that will support the production, processing and distribution of our products locally and internationally.”
Lee added, “Through COFCO, Malaysia’s durian will be distributed to China’s most populous cities and provinces, reaching a potential audience in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. This milestone is another step towards our goal to be a leading agrofood producer in which, our fresh, high quality durian fruit and products forms the backbone.”
“This will also be an opportunity for PLS to distribute Malaysian produce to China and the world, whilst ensuring that Malaysians continue to have access to affordable, quality produce. We are looking forward to putting Malaysia on the global map in terms of our local produce, especially our unique durian varieties, and to grow Malaysia’s durian market share in one of the world’s largest countries and markets. We are working hard to ensure that we meet the booming food and durian demand in both China and Malaysia, and are also optimistic that this partnership will be one of the many we will establish as we continue our expansion into different cash crops”, Lee said.
Eric Chan, CEO of Dulai Fruits said, “We are very excited to be here and to co-operate with COFCO and COFCO Food to increase the access to, and availability of Malaysia’s unique durian offerings across the different provinces in China to cater to rising demand. Prominent varieties such as Musang King, Tekka, and Black Thorn, among others, are unique to Malaysia due to our country’s climate, rainfall patterns and water source to its distinct soil composition around our Titiwangsa mountain range.”
Eric added, “This environment and geographical combination enable different durian varieties to thrive and produce the exceptional unique tastes and flavours that our high-quality Malaysian durians are increasingly known for. We are confident that this partnership will open more opportunities for Dulai Fruits to offer new and innovative products that will fortify Malaysia’s position as the producer of top-quality durians globally.”
COFCO, founded in 1949, is the leader of the agricultural and food industry in China, and one of the world’s leading agri-product traders. COFCO’s unique advantages in global distribution, fully-integrated value chain, and agricultural innovations, as well as its seat in the world’s largest emerging market make it one of the world’s leading agribusinesses, ready to build even more stable food corridors between major production areas and emerging markets.
Malaysia’s top water brand wins national award for the eighth consecutive time
Spritzeris pleased to announce that the Company has won the national award under beverages, for the water category of the World Branding Awards – Brand of the Year 2022-2023, a premier award recognition programme organised, assessed, evaluated and judged by the World Branding Forum. This is Spritzer’s eighth (08) consecutive year winning the prestigious award.
Winnie Chin, Group PR and Sustainability Manager of Spritzer Bhd [L] and Richard Rowles, Chairman of World Branding Forum [R]
The national award was presented to Spritzer on 3 November 2022 at Kensington Palace, London. The 15th edition of the World Branding Awards – Brand of the Year 2022-2023 saw more than 3,500 brands from over 45 countries nominated across multiple categories under three levels – global, regional and national, with only 250 brands declared winners.
The award is uniquely judged and assessed through three streams, with each stream contributing a percentage to the total score – with brand valuation and public online voting each getting 30% weightage and consumer market research getting 40% weightage. Only one national award is given to a brand from each product or service category from participating countries.
Spritzer would like to take this opportunity to thank all their loyal consumers, suppliers, and business partners for the support. The management wants to also thank the Spritzer team who worked hard to make this happen. This award is testimony to the quality of their silica-rich mineral water.
The source of Spritzer’s silica-rich natural mineral water extracts from underground aquifers in a pristine 390-acre site located in Taiping, Perak neighbouring a tropical rainforest. Spritzer will continue to offer only the best quality to consumers and is active in supporting community initiatives.
Recently, the R&D team of Youran Dairy/SKX research institute, together with the team of Academician Zhang Yong from Northwest A&F University, successfully produced two cloned bulls in SKX National Breeding Farm, achieving the technical breakthrough such as the production efficiency of cloned embryos and pregnancy rate of transplanted recipients, which will be beneficing to the breeding of world-class dairy cattle with traditional genetic advantages used for China dairy industry.
Animal cloning is essential technology for genetic resource protection and breeding application in livestock. From early 2008, Youran Dairy/SKX Research Institute has started to developing animal cloning technology. It is an enterprise that has early carried out research on animal cloning in China, and who has successfully produced more than ten cloned animals of top dairy bulls and high-production performance dairy cows. The donor cells of the two cloned bulls used in this time, “Youyou” and “Xingxing” were derived from the skin tissues of top dairy bull with excellent performance tested by genetic evaluation, and we developed new cloning system to improving the production efficiency of cloned embryos by more than 30% and also increased significantly the pregnancy rate following embryo transplanted into recipients, which reaching a leading level of domestic cloning technology in the world industry.
At present, Youran Dairy/SKX has established an efficient cloning technology system for livestock of cattle, deer, dairy goats and other animals, which providing efficient technical support to protect the genetic resources of animals on the Inner Mongolia Plateau. Otherwise, Youran Dairy/SKX Institute has established the animal cell bank of Mongolia plateau and bioinformatic database in cooperation with Inner Mongolia University, and has collected over 168 species and 30,000 resource samples (somatic cells, semen and embryos), which including livestock of cattle, sheep and horses and also wild animal resources. At the same time, we have focused on of more than 20 species of Mongolian cattle, sheep and horses to investigating its special genetic characteristics in disease-resistant, stress-resistance and also reproduction else. The development of efficient cloning technologies of livestock will provide basic genetic materials and key technological support for the applications of modern biological breeding technologies such as stem cell genetic editing, the innovation of new strains of functionally enhanced dairy cattle with specific production performance, disease and stress resistance, low-carbon emission and adaptability to specific environments.
In the future, Youran Dairy/SKX will actively develop cutting-edge technologies in the field of livestock breeding and reproductive regulation such as whole-genome detection, stem cell genetic editing and animal cloning, apply them to dairy cattle, dairy goats, beef cattle and other livestock breeding industries, to promote the competitive power of China’s livestock breeding and also key technologies in the world.
Asian Alliance International PCL(AAI) has become the first pet food and packaged human meals producing firm to debut on the Thai bourse on 1 November. The trading inauguration of AAI shares in the agricultural and food industry groups on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) marks a momentous event for the company to bolster the capital to support its major expansion.
With its strong business fundamentals, AAI is confident of enthusiastic response from investors and allowing the company to level up its business internationally, tapping market opportunities arising from the growing Pet Humanisation trend, and actively creating products for the sustainability of the world.
AAI’s Managing Director, Aekarat Punnasung said the company’s strength as a leading manufacturer and distributor of pet food and leading ready-to-eat human food products in the country bodes well for good reception by investors who are looking for stocks in industries that are defying economic doldrums.
AAI is focusing on research and development (R&D) to respond to the needs of customers and consumers that are constantly changing.
With the expertise, experience, and readiness of personnel of product research and development department, AAI has gained trust from brand-owning customers to elevate its status from being a ‘co-developer’ to ‘strategic partner’ as well as to increase business opportunities and strengthening the competitiveness of the company in the long run.
He stated that AAI is poised to expand its pet food business into the consumer market to strengthen the competitiveness in the marketplace and maintaining the company’s profit margin in the long run. The company will develop a variety of pet food brands of its own to cover the needs of customers in every sub-market segment. Those pet foods come in the forms of wet, pellet and snack.
At the same time, AAI will place importance on marketing and publicizing to create brand awareness and enhancing the brand image of the product to a wider audience. That goes hand in hand to increasing distribution channels in the country by focusing on expanding the market through pet shops and large modern trade stores. AAI’s products are sold in more than 500 stores nationwide and the company is striving to make its products a world-class brand.
The CEO noted that AAI aims to generate not less than 6.4 billion baht in revenue this year, up from 5,036 million Baht last year. Such growth is in line with the increasing demand for pet food, driven by the popular trend of raising animals like family members, or pet humanization, where pet owners are prepared to pay for products and services so that their pets have a good quality of life and being happy.
After being listed on the SET, AAI will be pursuing a business expansion plan to create continuous growth as follows: 1. To nearly double wet pet food production capacity in Thailand by about 40,000 tonnes per year from the current annual maximum level of 42,000 tonnes. The expansion will be carried out in stages from the end of 2022 to 2025 and costing at least 1.6 billion baht in investment with about 600-700 million baht deriving from this fundraising and the rest from loans from financial institutes and cash flow from operations. 2. Constructing the second automatic warehouse within the year 2023 with an expected investment of 400-500 million baht that can handle at least 15,000 – 20,000 pallets of goods. 3. For repaying short and long-term loans in the amount of not more than 700-800 million baht within the fourth quarter of 2022. 4. Using as working capital for business operations
Taweechai Tangthanasup, Head of Investment Banking Capital Market at TISCO Securities Company, which acts as a financial adviser and underwriter of AAI, added that because AAI is the first firm that engages in pet food business to get SET listing has made it appealing to institutional investors and retail investors during the past IPO subscription period.
He said “AAI is regarded as a company with strong business fundamentals and potential for future growth. In addition, AAI takes the sustainability seriously under the CHEERS strategy, being one of the key elements for sustainable development and growth.”
Under that concept, the company will grow sustainably through responsible operations in all business processes, from obtaining quality raw materials from sources that do not conflict with sustainable development guidelines and can be traced back through efficient production processes.
In addition, AAI attaches importance to good corporate governance and social and environmental responsibility. AAI is committed to treat business partners equally and fairly as well as arranging the supplier evaluation in order to develop sustainable business operations with each other in order to be in line with the direction of sustainable development of the world and expectations of all stakeholders.
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