Top 10: Food & Drink Leaders in APAC

The Asia-Pacific region is home to some dynamic food scenes, driven by passionate leaders who enthusiastically want to share their culture with the world. Through reshaping culinary traditions, promoting sustainability and addressing health challenges, from social media sensations to corporate titans, these individuals are making significant impacts on food culture, business practices and public health across the region. 

10. Tiffy Chen 

Founder of Tiffy Cooks

Taiwan

Tiffy Chen has gained a significant following for her simple recipes which blend Asian and Western cuisine. Her content is present on TikTok and Instagram which resonates with a young audience looking for easy and flavorful recipes. Tiffy has successfully bridged cultural gaps through food and collaborated with major brands. 

“Cooking started to become my therapy, my stress reliever,” Tiffy shared on her blog. “After a long day, all I wanted to do was go grocery shopping and cook in the kitchen for hours.”

Tiffy’s success story highlights the changing landscape of culinary influence, where social media personalities can have a significant impact on food trends.

9. Elisiva Na'ati 

NCD (Non-Communicable Diseases) adviser for the Pacific Community

Fiji

Soaring rates of obesity in the Pacific Islands have put Samoa, Nauru and the Cook Islands at the top of the worldwide obesity scale. As a result, nutritionists like Elisiva Na'ati are working to reduce this and advance the health of the Pacific community. 

Elisiva focuses on addressing the challenges of processed foods and obesity in the Pacific region and advocates for policy changes to promote healthier diets, including restrictions on unhealthy food imports and promotion of local, nutritious foods. She works closely with Pacific Island governments to develop and implement strategies to combat NCDs and her efforts include public education campaigns and support for local agriculture.

8. Madame Le Hoang Diep Thao 

CEO of TNI - KING COFFEE

Vietnam

TNI - KING COFFEE is a leading Vietnamese coffee brand, in one of the world’s biggest coffee producing countries. Madame Le Hoang Diep Thao co-founded Trung Nguyen Group, which became Vietnam's largest coffee company, before establishing her own brand, King Coffee, in 2016. 

Thao has been instrumental in promoting Vietnamese coffee globally, expanding King Coffee's presence to over 120 countries. This is due to her strong focus on developing high-quality, sustainably sourced coffee products, alongside investment in modern production facilities. Thao is also known for her philanthropic efforts, supporting coffee farmers and promoting women's empowerment in business.

7. Monique Tumema Fiso 

Chef and Author 

Aotearoa New Zealand 

Monique Tumema Fiso is known for her significant contribution to the revival of Māori and Polynesian cuisine, which blends traditional Māori ingredients and techniques with modern culinary methods. Monique gained international recognition through her pop-up restaurant, Hiakai, which later became a permanent establishment in Wellington. 

“I grew up in Porirua. It was a very Polynesian upbringing — Sunday lunches with Nan at her house with taro and chop suey and that sort of thing. It wasn’t until later in life that I started seeking out more about my Māori heritage,” Monique said.

She has appeared on Netflix's The Final Table and authored the book Hiakai: Modern Māori Cuisine.

6. Sanjeev Kapoor

Celebrity chef, entrepreneur and television personality

India

The long-running Indian cooking show Khana Khazana made Sanjeev a household name, but the entrepreneur has many skills. Sanjeev has authored cookbooks and launched his own food channel, FoodFood. He also established a successful restaurant chain, The Yellow Chilli, and a range of cookware and food products. 

Sanjeev has led the global popularisation of Indian cuisine globally and has served as a culinary ambassador for Indian food. He has also embraced digital platforms, reaching millions through social media and online cooking classes.

5. Carlos Chan

President of the Oishi brand and Chairman of Liwayway Group. 

The Philippines

Carlos Chan took his family's cornstarch-repacking business and expanded it into an international snack manufacturing company, launching the Oishi snack brand in 1974. It became hugely successful in the Philippines and later expanded to China and other Southeast Asian nations. Carlos’ success in China resulted in his appointment as a special envoy to Beijing by President Rodrigo Duterte. The Management Association of the Philippines recognised Chan's achievements by naming him Management Man of the Year in 2012.

4. Miles Hurrell 

CEO of Fonterra

New Zealand

Fonterra is New Zealand's largest company and the world's biggest dairy exporter. Appointed in 2018, Miles has led the company through a transformation of New Zealand’s milk and a move away from overseas dairy. He has implemented a back-to-basics strategy, emphasising financial discipline and divesting non-core assets. 

Under Miles’ leadership, Fonterra has improved its financial performance, reduced debt and returned to paying dividends to its farmer-shareholders. Hurrell has also pushed for sustainability initiatives, including plans to reduce carbon emissions and improve water quality on farms.

3. Tak Niinami

CEO of Suntory Holdings

Japan

Suntory is one of Japan's largest beverage companies, known for green tea, oolong tea, coffee, carbonated drinks and mineral water.

In 2014, Tak became the first CEO from outside Suntory’s founding family in the company’s history. Tak has led Suntory through significant international expansion, including the US$16bn acquisition of Beam Inc., which transformed Suntory into a global spirits leader. 

Under his leadership, Suntory has diversified its portfolio, while advocating for corporate governance reform in Japan. Tak has pushed for more diversity in Japanese boardrooms, while also emphasising sustainability in Suntory's operations, setting ambitious environmental goals.

2. Anthoni Salim

Chairperson of the Salim Group

Indonesia

Anthoni Salim is the head of the Salim Group, where he oversees a vast conglomerate spanning food, retail, banking, telecom and energy. He is also CEO of Indofood, best known for its Indomie brand, the world's largest instant noodle producer, which Anthoni has expanded globally. 

Recently, Indofood has warned consumers against unauthorised parties conducting fraudulent activities using the company's name online. 

The Salim family holds significant stakes in Hong Kong-listed First Pacific, which has investments in Indofood and Philippine telecom firm PLDT. Anthoni also holds interests in Medco Energi and Amman Mineral.

1. Sunil D'Souza

Managing Director & CEO of Tata Consumer Products

India

Sunil has led Tata through a significant transformation, merging the consumer products business of Tata Chemicals with Tata Global Beverages. Under his leadership, Tata Consumer Products has expanded its portfolio beyond tea and coffee, to include a wide range of food and beverage products. 

Sunil has focused on streamlining operations and leveraging digital technologies to drive growth. He has also emphasised sustainability and health in product development. 

Prior to joining Tata, D'Souza held leadership positions at Whirlpool India and PepsiCo, which laid a great foundation for his work at Tata. Sunil’s strategic vision has helped Tata Consumer Products become a formidable player in India's fast-moving consumer goods sector and the wider world.

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