Thank you for Subscribing to Food Business Review Weekly Brief
Delicious, fun and delightful—these words perfectly capture the spirit that defines Japan’s beverage culture. New varieties appear on convenience store shelves at the speed of fast fashion. From the warm aroma of cocoa to the retro sweetness of milk beverages, every beverage is accompanied by eye-catching packaging. In Japan’s dynamic beverage culture,Toyo Beverage stands out as a name synonymous with precision, creativity and consistency. One of the industry’s youngest beverage developers and manufacturers, it has grown into a full-service provider offering end-to-end production, from formulation and sourcing to bottling, packaging and logistics. With a focus on craftsmanship and innovation, it blends Japan’s respect for quality with a forward-thinking approach to technology and market trends. “We strive to develop attractive products while ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality for our customers,” says Satoshi Kumagai, president and CEO. At Toyo Beverage, every idea moves quickly from discussion to design to shelf, blending traditional flavors with modern sensibilities and creating moments that surprise yet feel unmistakably right. Commitment to safety and stability has made it a trusted manufacturing partner for leading private-label clients and OEM brands. Its team engages with clients in person to strengthen relationships built on transparency and shared purpose. Every partnership is founded on the principle that long-term trust is built on delivering quality products without exception. From procurement and product development to scheduling and quality assurance, each department operates in close coordination to maintain a consistent supply of safe and high-quality beverages. The integrated workflow enables precise control of every production stage, guaranteeing that products reflect Toyo Beverage’s uncompromising standards.
Plant Molecular Farming Company
In response to climate change, the food and beverages (F&B) industry is embracing sustainable practices to control its carbon footprint. This transition is particularly intense in the dairy space, where producers are looking for novel ways to develop animal-free products. Japan-based Kinish is addressing this need with its plant molecular farming-based dairy alternatives. It generates casein—a crucial protein for dairy production—directly from rice, enabling the creation of products like milk and cheese that replicate the texture and taste of traditional dairy. Unlike competitors that derive casein from sources such as lettuce, safflower or soy, Kinish’s approach to extracting casein from rice distinguishes it in the industry. It overcomes the complexity of casein production by leveraging Japan’s rice research and development legacy, along with advanced fungal technology and partnerships with research experts with over 40 years of experience in rice-based casein development. Its process, which uses a compact variety of rice—eight inches (20 cm) in height—enables large-scale production within a 40-foot container, achieving substantial scalability in a small footprint. This depth of knowledge, coupled with its tech-driven and scalable methodology, enables Kinish to address the usual scalability challenges in producing commercially viable casein-based products. The company aims to demonstrate early next year that its rice-derived variant is scientifically comparable to the animal-based casein.
Smartprobe Technology
Globally, pest management remains a major concern for food production, storage, and processing facilities. Traditional pest control methods often rely on periodic manual inspections, leaving time for insects to infest and cause damage between checks. Even thorough inspections may fail to detect pests hidden inside stored products without invasive sampling, increasing the risk of undetected problems.
CXO INSIGHTS
Embracing the East: How Asian Flavors Revolutionized Italian and European Cuisine
Patrick Vigini, Assistant Food & Beverage Manager, Hotel Mulia Senayan
The Great Business of Food and Beverage in Hospitality
Tony Chisholm, Vice President of Food & Beverage I MEAT & Asia, Premium, Midscale & Economy Hotels Accor
Driving Growth Through Innovative Strategies
Tom Marzella, Commercial Director - Oceania, Glanbia Nutritionals
From Insight to Impact: Committed to Quality Across Continents
Chengboey Lau, Senior Director - Quality Food Safety, AMEA, Kellanova
From Hands-on Operations to Strategic Pricing and Growth
Betsy Seiler, Director, Menu Operations and Pricing, Jack in the Box
Proactive Allergen Management for a Safer, Global Supply Chain
Inggrid Aryal, Oceania Food Safety Manager, Nestlé Oceania
Prioritizing Energy Regulation for a Sustainable Future
Ashley Hoover, Director Of Sustainability, Aspire Bakeries
IN FOCUS
Transforming APAC Beverage Manufacturing Through SmartProbe Technology
SmartProbe Technology is transforming APAC beverage manufacturing with real-time, in-line monitoring, improving quality control, efficiency, regulatory compliance, and enabling data-driven, predictive operations across production lines.
EDITORIAL
Where Smartprobe Technology Meets Plant Molecular Farming
Beverages manufacturing has evolved far beyond the simple act of filling bottles. The sector now operates under growing pressure to deliver consistency, transparency, and functional value with every product released into the market. Consumer expectations continue to rise, encouraging manufacturers to adopt smarter tools and more sustainable production approaches.
SmartProbe Technology is redefining how beverage plants monitor and control their processes. Instead of relying on delayed testing or periodic sampling, SmartProbe systems provide continuous, real-time insight into molecular activity during production. Fermentation progress, ingredient stability, and quality indicators become visible as they occur. This immediate feedback reduces uncertainty, supports faster decision-making, and strengthens overall process reliability.
Plant molecular farming is reshaping ingredient sourcing across the beverages landscape. By using plants as biological production systems, manufacturers gain access to targeted proteins, enzymes, and functional compounds with high precision. This approach aligns well with clean-label expectations while supporting scalable and environmentally responsible manufacturing practices. For nutrition and wellness beverages, plant-derived bioactives offer dependable performance and consistency.
The intersection of SmartProbe Technology and plant molecular farming creates a more intelligent production model. SmartProbe systems verify the integrity and potency of plant-based ingredients during extraction, formulation, and final processing. This level of validation improves batch uniformity, reduces waste, and reinforces regulatory confidence across the supply chain.
Operational benefits extend beyond quality control. Product development cycles become shorter, troubleshooting becomes more predictable, and production teams gain clearer visibility into complex workflows. Sustainability initiatives shift from broad commitments to measurable outcomes supported by reliable data.
As beverages manufacturing continues to advance, success increasingly depends on insight rather than scale alone. Manufacturers adopting SmartProbe Technology alongside plant molecular farming are building production environments that support innovation, efficiency, and long-term trust, positioning the industry for a smarter and more resilient future.
In this edition, insights are featured from Chengboey Lau, Senior Director - Quality Food Safety, AMEA, Kellanova and Alberto Regini, Plant Operations Director at Dobla.
