Industry Updates

China’s Bund bar highlights “mixology” trend

Shanghai’s Vault Bar and Lounge has dedicated its cocktail menu to ‘molecular mixology’. Drinks like “Grapefruit Lemonade with Elderflower and Dom Perignon Foam” or “Mango and Fresh Chili Martini with Cumin Yoghurt” feature flavored foams or herbal-tea ice cubes. Grilled or caramelized fruits, infused spirits and homemade syrup flavors are also used.

Haldin’s Indonesia plant earns ISO 14001

Natural-ingredient maker Haldin says its largest plant in Indonesia has earned the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard certification award. The standard means that its Cibitung location manufactures to local and international standards to keep its environment clean and prevents pollution.

Unilever commits to certified tea

By 2015, all of Unilever’s Lipton Yellow Label and PG Tips tea bags will only contain tea from sources that have been certified sustainable and ethical. The company’s chief executive officer believes this will transform the tea industry, which has been suffering for many years from oversupply and underperformance.

CPF urges government to push pork consumption

Oversupply, accumulated during avian flu; higher gasoline costs; and increased corn prices have all pushed Thai pork prices down. So, Charoen Pokphand Foods’ (CPF) executive vice president Virachai Ratanabanchuen is asking the Thailand government to promote consumer consumption; and to streamline the industry, by registering farms.

CJ introduces regional noodle for early summer

With an early summer pushing up demand for cold buckwheat noodles, CJ is launching a Southern style made with made with domestically-produced green plums for health and taste. Following the trend for specialized ingredients, the famous plums are sourced from the southern regions of Gwangyang in Korea.

Diageo Singapore wins best employer award

Alcohol company Diageo has been named one of the top Ten Best Employers in Singapore. A study by Hewitt Associates of over 750 organizations representing 1.7 million employees across Asia, ranked Diageo in seventh position. Its flat organizational structure and open work environment were credited with its success.

Senomyx granted patent for sweet taste identification

Senomyx has been granted an American patent that covers two discovery and development efforts related to sweet taste. The assays covered by the company's new and previously issued patents enable Sensomyx to screen nearly half a million of natural and synthetic compounds and extracts to identify new flavor ingredients that enhance or impart sweet taste.