Illinois, USA – Popular fast food chain McDonald’s has recently unveiled the inauguration of its latest mood-boosting brand spin-off CosMc’s, centred around beverage offerings.

CosMc’s is a beverage-centric concept with avant-garde flavours and mood-boosting treats, featuring unexpected flavour combinations to elevate their customers’ taste buds.

In its limited test phase, the menu ranges from specialty treats like lemonades and teas to indulgent blended beverages and cold coffee such as Sour Cherry Energy Slush, Tropical Spiceade, and S’mores Cold Brew.

Customers can also customise these drinks by adding popping boba, flavour syrups, energy or Vitamin C shots, and so much more.

The food front, on the other hand, encompasses savoury options, including spicy queso sandwiches, savoury hash brown bites, and pretzel bites served with dipping sauces.

Among the sweet choices, customers can also find blueberry lemon cookie sundaes and caramel fudge brownies, to name a few.

CosMc’s is set to open its doors this month in Illinois, USA; blending beverage creations with a selection of food, which includes some McDonald’s favorites.

By the end of 2024, it is anticipated to launch 10 pilot locations across the United States, providing more opportunities for mood-boosting getaways.

Hong Kong – To showcase the benefits of California-grown citrus amongst Hong Kongers, Sunkist has turned to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) teachings to showcase its benefits to the locals, amidst a growing number of people moving towards traditional health methods to balance their ‘qi’ (translated as ‘vital’) energy.

To do this, Sunkist has worked with Edelman Hong Kong to look into the opportunities of how citrus can help with their wellbeing, while preserving some of the region’s oldest TCM recipes. 

In this unexpected move away from the familiar stories of Vitamin C, the brand has created the Sunkist Citric Essence, a qi balancing formula, and launched a platform for people to share and preserve their own unique recipes, thereby educating Hong Kongers on the health benefits of the Sunkist Navel orange in the world of TCM.

Sunkist has also enlisted local Chinese Medicine practitioner Dr. Winson Poon, Master of Chinese Medicine from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, to develop this new elixir. 

Said concoction has been designed to battle a modern-day issue in Hong Kong: the ‘seasonal slump’, a weariness and lowering of energy caused by the city’s humidity and constant changes in pressure and temperature, as people move between the airconditioned indoors and the warm outdoors. The TCM-formula was released online as an open recipe for anyone to easily recreate and start enjoying the benefits of California-grown citrus at home.

John Koay, regional executive creative director at Edelman, said, “As we partner with Sunkist to celebrate its 130th anniversary, we are taking inspiration from generations-old traditional Chinese herbology and adding a California-grown orange twist to it – maximising the flavorful experience and health benefits our citrus brings to the table.”

He added, “We hope this modern formula gives consumers a new reason to explore the benefits of Traditional Chinese Therapy and the benefits of Sunkist’s California-grown citrus.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Poon commented, “Wellness is a big trend in Hong Kong, and Traditional Chinese Herbology should be at the center of this. Applying our ancient profession to more modern needs is a way to keep our profession relevant to young Hong Kongers.”

He added, “Oranges, when paired with the right ingredients, can regulate qi-flow to remove dampness from the body and aid digestion. Inspired by traditional folk wisdom and modernised Chinese medicinal knowledge, we are reimagining the California-grown orange, unlocking its full benefits for Hong Kongers to combat the hustle and bustle of the city.”

Singapore – Singaporean beverage brand, Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s), has launched an integrated brand campaign, unveiling a new brand platform called ‘Refresh What Matters’, with global agency Forsman and Bodenfors as the rebrand’s creative lead.  

Yeo’s and Forsman and Bodenfors integrated brand campaign features new vibrant packaging, new product films, and the ‘Drinkable Garden’ exhibit, which explores new brews and partnerships, culminating in an eventful brand activation.

The Yeo’s Drinkable Garden installation, in collaboration with Gardens By the Bay, commemorates the brand’s legacy with an experiential brand activation, centred around Yeo’s signature drink– Yeo’s Chrysanthemum Tea.

The exhibit aims to take audiences on a multi-sensorial journey through a contemporary garden, with a motif centred around chrysanthemums and lush foliage. The exhibit is also heavily inspired by three different Yeo’s chrysanthemum brews namely, Yeo’s Chrysanthemum Tea, the newly launched Snow Chrysanthemum Tea and a Rose-Infused Chrysanthemum brew that tell the story of the exceptional quality and craft behind each drink.

Visitors will have the opportunity to gain insights into the unique benefits across a variety of chrysanthemums and get a glimpse into the intricate craftsmanship that goes into making Yeo’s products and what sets them apart from other brands in Asia. 

Also on site will be the special edition Yeo’s signature chrysanthemum tea, that commemorates the centenary of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and to celebrate his legacy as Singapore’s “chief gardener” and his visionary role in transforming Singapore into a green city. The commemorative Yeo’s packs are not for sale, and will be distributed in educational settings around Singapore.

Ong Yuh Hwang, CEO of Yeo Hiap Seng, said, “Our Yeo’s Drinkable Garden is a reflection of the core values of our signature drink – real chrysanthemum flowers filled with aroma and flavour, brewed in its purest form with no compromise on taste – a true celebration of the best of our heritage combined with creativity and innovation.”

Meanwhile, Gary Lim, group creative director at Forsman & Bodenfors Singapore, commented,  “When you think of Chrysanthemum tea, you think of Yeo’s. It’s a flavour from a brand almost all of us in the region have tasted and loved from a young age. We partnered with Yeo’s to ‘Refresh What Matters’ in every sense, bringing audiences on an immersive and inspiring journey to experience the brand in the most refreshing way.”

Singapore – Coca-Cola has recently announced the launch of Coca-Cola ‘Y3000 Zero Sugar’, a new limited-edition flavor accompanied by an AI-powered experience from Coca-Cola Creations. This flavor marks the first futuristic flavor co-created with human and artificial intelligence from Coca-Cola, aiming to celebrate an optimistic future.

The unique item offers consumers and fans a refreshing taste and a glimpse of what the future could look like by scanning the can and going through the Coca-Cola Creations Hub, where they can use the customized Y3000 AI lens to imagine what the world could look like in the future. 

Coca-Cola created the Y3000 experience by tapping into human and artificial intelligence to understand how fans envision the future through emotions, aspirations, colors, flavors, and more. Fan’s perspectives from around the world, combined with insights gathered from artificial intelligence, helped inspire Coca-Cola to create the taste of Y3000.

The product features a futuristic packaging design including light and optimistic tones, a Coca-Cola Creations logo composed of effervescent bubbles, and the Coca-Cola Spencerian Script with fluid dot clusters that merge to represent the human connections of our future planet. Co-created with artificial intelligence, the design showcases liquid in a morphing, evolving state, communicated through form and color changes that emphasize a positive future.

Coca-Cola Y3000 Zero Sugar is available in select markets around the world, dropping soon  in ASEAN & South Pacific with Australia rolling the new Creations first. The Coca-Cola Y3000 Zero Sugar drink follows the recently released Coca-Cola Ultimate Zero Sugar created for League of Legends players, which was made available in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia early this year; and is currently available nationwide in the Philippines.

Oana Vlad, senior director, global strategy at The Coca-Cola Company, said, “Inspired by the timelessness of Coca-Cola, we want to celebrate everyone’s idea of what the future might look like. With the help of AI-powered technology, Coca-Cola Y3000 Zero Sugar imagines how a Coca-Cola from the future could taste and introduces innovative experiences to explore the future.”

Meanwhile, Tee Jae Sonza, trademark category head, Coca-Cola ASEAN and South Pacific Operating Unit, commented, “We’re excited to bring to life this latest innovation from our Coca-Cola Creations platform here in ASEAN & South Pacific as we continuously explore new ways to resonate with our consumers. The launch of Coca-Cola Y3000 Zero Sugar opens up the possibility of a world where humanity and technology can collaborate in harmony to create Real Magic.”

Shanghai, China – WPP global design agency Design Bridge and Partners, has partnered with Kungfu Pu’er Tea, a producer of fine tea in Yunnan, to refresh its brand positioning, identity and packaging design system.

The partnership resulted in a new brand positioning and design system created by Design Bridge and Partners, which reinvents Kungfu Pu’er Tea as a wellness lifestyle brand made for ‘urban knights’ and designed for a new generation.

Furthermore, the rebrand aims to connect contemporary audiences with the ancient tea-drinking tradition. The new branding specifically celebrates the notion of tea as the “antidote” to the overwhelming, fast-paced lifestyle of modern society.

With the brand statement, ‘drink with the world and live a transparent heart’, the visual identity is inspired by the spirit of Chinese martial artists and  kung fu warriors, a symbol of living life with a pure heart dedicated to others.

The swordsman logo of Kungfu Pu’er tea has also evolved from the traditional Chinese Wuxia knight to a contemporary marque,  and the visual language for packaging and communications is formed as an artistic reinterpretation of Chinese traditional watercolor paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, rice paper and seal carving textures, reaffirming the spirit of ancient Wuxia knights and tea culture in the brand expression.

Kungfu Pu’er’s new identity will be adopted across communications and sales channels, and products with the new look and packaging are now on sale on TMall and JDMall stores.

Singapore – Popular beverage company Coca-Cola has announced the launch of Coke&GO webapp in Singapore. Paired with touch-free smart coolers at select tertiary institutions, students and faculty staff in the country can now enjoy a seamless way to grab and enjoy their favourite beverages at over 15 smart coolers.

The introduction of the Coke&GO webapp exemplifies Coca-Cola’s commitment to innovation, adapting to the changing needs and expectations of today’s tech-savvy customers. 

The webapp offers consumers a convenient and personalized experience, including saved payment methods, purchase history, and contactless payment for effortless transactions. Moreover, consumers can access a variety of Coca-Cola beverages and enjoy rewards at the same time.

To date, the Coke&GO webapp has over 3,500 users across Singapore, including over 1,800 students from Singapore Polytechnic. Over the coming months, Coca-Cola will roll out up to 20 smart coolers islandwide.

Khoo Ewe Leong, vice president for commercial at Coca-Cola Beverages Singapore said, “We are excited to debut our latest refreshment revolution, the Coke&GO webapp paired with touch-free smart coolers, designed to unlock the ultimate self-serve beverage experience. Driven by our commitment to provide innovative solutions that enhance consumers’ daily lives, we invite our consumers to embrace the future today with our Coke&GO webapp and touch-free smart coolers.”

Meanwhile, Sam Way, head of offline-to-online at Coca-Cola ASEAN and South Pacific, commented, “The twin engines of retail innovation and digitally-savvy consumers are driving the food and beverage landscape. We are excited to help transform the refreshment experience for consumers at any time of the day.”

He added, “As technology advances and options expand, consumers’ expectations are ever-increasing. Driven by convenience and speed, consumers are always looking to not only be but also delighted, especially in the FMCG space. At Coca-Cola, we recognize this and want to transform the way we engage with our consumers.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Drinking water is essential for daily activities, especially if people want to be refreshed and hydrated. But natural bottled water brand Spritzer proves in its latest campaign that they are more than just a thirst-quencher drinking water, showcasing that its product can make skin look healthy and youthful because it was made with Silica.

In collaboration with advertising agency FCB Shout, Spritzer released a 60-second video ad titled ‘Nourishing Youthful Skin from Within with Silica’ which showcased the benefits of Silica, a mineral which is scientifically proven to boost collagen production to make the skin look ‘youthful’. 

Malaysian celebrities Ayda Jebat and Merqeen served as the stars of the campaign.

Shiao Chan, Spritzer’s head of marketing said that Silica has a key role in producing collagen that makes the skin beautiful, therefore, it’s a key to change the perception of the consumers towards Spritzer mineral water as a merely thirst-quencher drink.

Syahriza Badron, general manager of FCB SHOUT, added, “After all, we live in a world where skincare is rapidly ascending on the consumers’ list of priorities, as evidently seen in the extensive routines they are willing to go through each day to ensure good skin health.”

Other works from the campaign will be shown across all media channels.

In 2021, FCB was tapped by Spritzer to handle its creative mandate.

Sydney, Australia After a competitive pitch, media agency Initiative has retained its media remit for distillery company Pernod Ricard to work across the entire brand portfolio including all Pernod’s wine, spirit, whiskey, champagne, RTD and ‘new to world’ brands, focusing on Australia and New Zealand market.

Since its sealed partnership in 2019, Initiative has helped the company to propel into culture, with notable highlights including challenging gender bias through The Glenlivet Break The Rules campaign, tackling regional inequality through Absolut Pride Relay, and launching major brands like Malfy Gin and Altos Tequila into market. 

Jo McAlister, managing director at Initiative, said that the agency is excited for another 3 years of partnership with the company to continue its journey in leading ANZ’s competitive alcohol beverage markets across all brand categories.

“This is phenomenal news and we are so proud to continue our partnership. For the past three years we have grown together as brands, collaborating via a truly open and transparent relationship and enjoying an agency/client bond that I’ve rarely seen in market,” McAlister added.

Eric Thomson, CMO at Pernod Ricard Winemakers, added, “The chemistry between Initiative’s team and ours was evident from the start of our relationship three years ago and it has not waned. We are delighted to continue our partnership as we both push forward to produce effective and creative work that connects and engages our customers in an increasingly complex market.”

In January, Initiative also retained its media business remit for energy networks owner Jemena Limited, extending its 10-year relationship with the brand. 

Singapore – The Coca-Cola Company, the global beverage company that owns the world-famous beverage brands Coke and Sprite as well as a portfolio of hydration, nutrition, juice, and dairy, and sports, and coffee and tea brands, has appointed media, digital, and analytics veteran Anupama Biswas as its new senior director for its Analytics & Insights team in the APAC region. 

The appointment comes as the company progresses on a major strategic transformation, including rewiring to become a more networked organization. Biswas will become part of a new team called Platform Services and will be leading the company’s analytics and insights for four operating units in the APAC region. 

Biswas brings with her almost two decades of experience in media, digital, e-commerce, and analytics, and business strategy across leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Colgate-Palmolive. Her expertise includes combining data-driven insights, creativity, and pragmatism to develop organizational alignment, focus, and a clear path to growth. 

Biswas most recently comes from Kellogg Company as its regional director for e-commerce, media, and analytics in the AMEA region. In her last assignment, she has implemented digital transformation and drove change management within the organization by building in-house digital & analytics capabilities.

Meanwhile, her experience on the agency side has had her working particularly with GroupM agencies, such as Maxus, which is now Wavemaker, and also Mindshare. For a little over a decade, she was with MediaCom in its Singapore team. 

In an interview with MARKETECH APAC, Biswas shared that her role will be focusing on delivering actionable insights to drive business growth. The specific areas she will be handling will be commercial in nature, such as consumer segmentation and revenue growth management. 

Biswas shared that over the near term, her responsibilities would be more focused on building a team and on building the analytics framework, while over the long run, the goal would be to make the jump from descriptive analytics to more predictive and prescriptive solutions.

“I am super excited to be at The Coca-Cola Company. This is a company that I have always admired and it’s a privilege to be here. I look forward to driving a data culture and unlocking analytical solutions to deliver actionable insights to further fuel business growth,” said Biswas. 

Meanwhile, Alex Clarke, the global head for Analytics & Insights at Coca-Cola, and to whom Biswas will be reporting, commented, “We are thrilled that someone with the talent and experience of Anu has chosen to join the Coca-Cola Analytics & Insights team. This is an exciting time to join our company as we step-change how we leverage analytics and data science to support our growth ambitions. Anu will play a key role in the region in helping us achieve our goal of being a truly data-driven organization.”