FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal

It's September, and companies in the F&B industry are heading to the region's leading exhibitions in ingredients, packaging, and processing. The calendar opens with Vitafoods Asia in Bangkok from September 2-4, followed by Fi Asia in Jakarta from September 14-16. Many are also preparing for Anuga FoodTec India, scheduled for September 29-October 1. In packaging, ALLPack Indonesia 2026 and Allplas Indonesia will run from October 20-23, showcasing the latest technologies and solutions for the sector. Whichever event you choose to attend on these dates, you're certain to discover more than you expect.

But first, coffee. In our Q&A on page 8, we profile cafe owners from Southeast Asia whose establishments earned a place among the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026.

Further in this magazine, we feature advanced technologies which are meant to drive resilience, innovation, and consumer trust in the F&B sector. In Southeast Asia, large players and well-funded startups are investing, while many small and mid-sized companies remain constrained by high costs and limited infrastructure. The good news is that scalable solutions are increasingly within reach.

The feature article The New Playbook for Food Manufacturing Automation, efficiency and self-sufficiency (p14) shows how companies can respond more effectively to disruption, protect profitability, and keep operations running smoothly under pressure. A related piece on page 34 offers concise but valuable insights into effective compressor room design, particularly for PET bottle-blowing operations.

On manufacturing sites where human-machine collaboration is well established, machine vision further enhances performance, as the technology handles inspection tasks, reading text and codes, controlling robot movements, and supporting quality assurance.

In product formulation, we highlight NHU's microencapsulation technology, an advanced process that encapsulates active ingredients within natural or synthetic polymeric wall materials. We also feature AAK's latest cocoa butter ingredient, developed in response to cocoa price and supply volatility-reminding bakery, chocolate, and confectionery manufacturers that new plant-based alternatives are available.