Key Tobacco Industry Trends in Southeast Asia
Euromonitor International
New product development and shifting consumer preference can be observed within the tobacco market in Southeast Asia, driven by initiatives from major international players, as well as the rising price of tobacco products and increasingly stringent…
McDonald's Moving to Franchise Model in Singapore and Malaysia
Adhitya Nugroho
McDonald's decision to move from a wholly-owned to development licensee model for Singapore and Malaysia. Wholly owned and franchised models each have their own merits and disadvantages. Both models are profitable. Nonetheless, franchise models…
CPOPC Could Spell Trouble for Sustainable Palm Oil
Euromonitor International
Malaysia and Indonesia have recently announced plans to formally establish a bilateral council aimed at regulating palm oil production. The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) will attempt to regain sovereignty of palm oil regulation from…
Thailand and Philippines: New Hotspots for M-Commerce
Euromonitor International
Southeast Asia is the new prime spot for m-commerce, given the massive online retail market driven by the burgeoning smartphone and internet penetration rates. While developed markets like Singapore have the highest rates of smartphone penetration,…
White Rice Exacerbates Diabetes Threat in Asia Pacific
Simone Baroke
According to an eminent diabetes expert, white rice is one of the root causes of Malaysia’s rocketing obesity figures, which are fuelling the country’s diabetes crisis. The trouble is that healthier alternatives, such as brown rice and low-carb…
What’s Next for Malaysia Airlines?
Nadejda Popova
The tragedies of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the crash of Flight 17 are having a severe impact on Malaysia Airlines. Investor confidence is low, shares are plummeting and many are wondering why the airline chose a flight…
Year of the Horse: Outlook for Retailing in Asia Pacific in 2014 and Beyond
Raphaël Moreau
As most of Asia celebrated the arrival of the Chinese New Year with the start of the Year of the Horse, which traditionally is said to indicate a year in which people are more likely to stand fast to their principles, we look at which major trends…