OptiCept Technologies has signed an agreement with one of Vietnam’s largest food companies to validate the CEPT^® technology for juice extraction. The project includes a fee-based testing period during which the CEPT^® application will be integrated into the customer’s production lines for pineapple and passion fruit juice.

This initiative marks an important step in OptiCept’s strategic expansion in Southeast Asia and strengthens the company’s position in the global juice segment. During the third quarter of 2025, an OPTICEPT^® LJ7 unit is planned to be installed at the customer’s facility in Vietnam. The goal is to demonstrate the technology’s ability to increase extraction yield and improve product quality.

“We see great opportunities in the region, and this collaboration confirms our ambition to grow in the Southeast Asian market. We already have very strong results for pineapple and see significant potential in passion fruit as well, which is a more technically challenging raw material. Taking these results from lab scale to industrial scale is an important step forward,” says Thomas Lundqvist, CEO of OptiCept Technologies.

Coca-Cola has rolled out a new energy drink – Coca-Cola Energy – in Vietnam as part of the company’s larger focus to evolve into a complete beverage company and offer the Vietnamese consumers a wide range of drinks to cater the different lifestyles and occasions, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to GlobalData’s 2018 Q4 Consumer Survey, around 41 % of Asia-Pacific (APAC) consumers prefer to experiment with new kind of soft drinks and around 40 % of them are willing to pay more for better quality soft drinks.

Shagun Sachdeva, Consumer Insights Analyst at GlobalData, says: “Soft drinks brands have been coming across increased competition amidst intensifying scrutiny of sugar-sweetened beverages and corresponding consumer efforts to make healthier choices. Against this backdrop, they are mapping out the wellness considerations for the products they are offering to attract a niche market of specialists such as sports enthusiast and athletes, whilst also appealing to the mainstream of active lifestylers.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Market Analyzer reveals that APAC energy drinks market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9 % from US$24.7bn in 2018 to US$36.2m in 2023. The Vietnamese energy drinks market is expected to reach US$1.46bn by 2023 from US$1.34bn in 2019.

Sachdeva adds: “Energy drinks have become a key thrust for Coca-Cola to rejuvenate growth in the APAC soft drinks market. The company is quick to understand that soft drinks category needs an image makeover. As a result, it is breaking the long-standing lead in Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSDs) by expanding its range of drinks portfolio to tap the correct set of active and time-scarce consumers and embracing innovation to sustain a highly competitive marketing profile.”

The other factors contributing to the emerging growth of the Vietnam energy drinks’ market are improving economic climate, socio-political stability and likelihood of stringent regulations as the Ministry of Finance has proposed a new sugar tax of 10% on sugary drinks from 2019.

Sachdeva concludes: “The launch comes at a time when most of the beverage companies are going beyond soda and there is growing competition in the carbonated market following the influx of countless other carbonated brands. Even though, Coca-Cola is already offering energy drinks under the brand name Monster, the company’s decision to launch energy drinks under its trademark will reinforce local identity, foster reassurance, create emotional resonance among the consumers and further deepen brand’s equity in Vietnam.”

As part of its 2020 strategy to strengthen its naturals capabilities and its presence in the high growth markets of Asia Pacific, Givaudan announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Golden Frog, a Vietnamese flavour company.

Golden Frog manufactures natural flavours, extracts and essential oils for the food and beverage industry. It offers a wide range of natural ingredients including herbs, spices, fruit and vegetable extracts and essential oils from the great biodiversity of Vietnam. With headquarters and manufacturing facilities in the Ho Chi Minh area, Golden Frog employs 156 people and caters to the needs of the ASEAN markets.

While terms of the deal have not been disclosed, Golden Frog’s business would have represented approximately CHF 10 million of incremental sales to Givaudan’s results in 2018 on a proforma basis. Givaudan plans to fund the transaction from existing resources and is expected to close in the second half of 2019.