South Korean confectionery giant Orion is extending its zero- and low-sugar snack lineup from China to Vietnam, underscoring how rapidly health-driven food reformulation is spreading across Asian markets.
The company introduced reduced-sugar versions of its flagship Choco Pie and Custas cakes in Vietnam, each containing 50% less sugar than the originals. The products, now sold through major supermarkets and online platforms, are designed to maintain texture and flavor while lowering calorie content.
In China, Orion earlier launched a Choco Pie variant with less than 5% sugar and a 35% increase in cocoa content, aligning with national health initiatives promoting reduced sugar, fat, and salt intake. The Vietnam rollout builds on that strategy, emphasizing local preferences such as the use of unsweetened soy milk to achieve a milder sweetness.
The shift reflects a broader evolution in the Asian food market, where urbanization, rising incomes, and government-backed health policies are changing how consumers approach packaged snacks. Major food producers are reformulating classic products to meet new expectations without sacrificing familiarity—a trend increasingly shaping global manufacturing and export strategies.
For multinational snack and beverage companies monitoring Asia’s consumption patterns, Orion’s approach illustrates how the balance between indulgence and nutrition is becoming a defining feature of the post-sugar era in global food production.
Orion Expands Zero-Sugar Snack Line Across Asia as Health Trends Accelerate
South Korean confectionery giant Orion is extending its zero- and low-sugar snack lineup from China to Vietnam, underscoring how rapidly health-driven food reformulation is spreading across Asian markets.
The company introduced reduced-sugar versions of its flagship Choco Pie and Custas cakes in Vietnam, each containing 50% less sugar than the originals. The products, now sold through major supermarkets and online platforms, are designed to maintain texture and flavor while lowering calorie content.
In China, Orion earlier launched a Choco Pie variant with less than 5% sugar and a 35% increase in cocoa content, aligning with national health initiatives promoting reduced sugar, fat, and salt intake. The Vietnam rollout builds on that strategy, emphasizing local preferences such as the use of unsweetened soy milk to achieve a milder sweetness.
The shift reflects a broader evolution in the Asian food market, where urbanization, rising incomes, and government-backed health policies are changing how consumers approach packaged snacks. Major food producers are reformulating classic products to meet new expectations without sacrificing familiarity—a trend increasingly shaping global manufacturing and export strategies.
For multinational snack and beverage companies monitoring Asia’s consumption patterns, Orion’s approach illustrates how the balance between indulgence and nutrition is becoming a defining feature of the post-sugar era in global food production.
