FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal

Industries thrive on adaptation; without it, growth cannot be sustained. This is the gist of Franklin Kurniawan's message in Walking the Fine Line of Growth in Food Manufacturing (p10).An authority on operational excellence and digital transformation in manufacturing, he points to digital transformation as the solution to the many challenges facing the food and beverage industry, from cost to innovation.

Companies are increasingly relying on data to understand consumers, develop new products, accelerate time to market, and more. In Flavor and Texture Preferences Across Asia (p8), our interviewees reveal what regional consumers want, based on their market studies. The findings are familiar: a market where indulgence must coexist with health benefits, and where sensory appeal must not be lost to nutritional value.

It is a challenge that snack food manufacturers know all too well. Yet this sector is thriving in Southeast Asia, where consumerslove their packaged chips, cookies, and baked goods. Snack Processing and Packaging in Asia Pacific (p14) highlights how innovation in equipment design is enabling producers to broaden product variety while maintaining efficiency, positioning snacks as a key growth driver in APAC's food industry.

In Processing Innovations for Healthier and Sustainable Foods (p18), Ricky Ong, Asia Sales Manager at Heat and Control,discusses how processing technologies are evolving to meet demand for healthier snacks and prepared foods. He underscore show adaptability and innovation are central to meeting consumer expectations for nutrition and sustainability.

In packaging, paper and carton materials have long been in the spotlight as alternatives to plastic. Our report, Smart Packaging Innovation and Adaptation in the Philippines (p34), features a Q&A with Tetra Pak on developments in the country's carton packaging landscape.