HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In today's fast-paced lifestyle, young Vietnamese consumers constantly juggle work, study, and personal activities. They want a beverage that not only quenches thirst instantly but also tastes delicious, while being healthy and safe. However, making that choice is not always easy.
Most ready-to-drink products on the market are convenient but often contain high levels of sugar, preservatives, or artificial flavors. On the other hand, many so-called "healthy drinks" take time to prepare, are difficult to store, or lose their natural taste. Young people face a tough question: how to stay refreshed and "chill" without compromising their health?
Recognizing this demand, Nature Foods Company (NFC) – a pioneer in applying freeze-dried technology in Vietnam – introduced ICHILL, a refreshing beverage line with real fruit toppings in freeze-dried cubes.
Unlike traditional drying methods, freeze-drying removes water while ingredients are frozen, turning ice directly into vapor without passing through the liquid stage. This process preserves the food's natural color, flavor, and nutrients, while eliminating the need for preservatives. With extremely low moisture, ICHILL products have a long shelf life, yet when prepared, deliver a taste experience that feels as fresh as if it were just made.
The Rise of Convenient and Healthy Beverages
This is not just a local trend. Globally, the demand for convenient yet health-oriented beverages is on the rise, driven by changing consumer habits. In Vietnam, the beverage market is projected to surpass USD 7.5 billion by 2025 (Statista), with health-focused and convenient products being the fastest-growing segment. This reflects a shift towards smarter consumption—where convenience meets wellness.
ICHILL – Convenient and Safe with a Strict Production Process
Produced in NFC's facilities certified to HACCP, ISO 22000, and BRCGS standards, ICHILL contains no preservatives, no artificial colors, and no synthetic flavors. Each compact cup comes with a freeze-dried beverage cube and a separate sachet of rock sugar, allowing consumers to customize sweetness to their liking. With just 1–2 minutes of preparation, ICHILL offers a refreshing, safe, and delicious drink—ready to "chill" anywhere, anytime.
Three Unique Flavors – A New Experience in Every Cup
- Peach Orange Lemongrass Tea – Bold black tea with crunchy peach, juicy orange, and fragrant lemongrass for instant refreshment.
- Longan, Snow Fungus & Chia Seeds – Naturally sweet from fig root and longan, balanced with chewy snow fungus and fiber-rich chia seeds for digestion and cooling.
- Strawberry & Hibiscus – Bright red color, tangy hibiscus blended with ripe strawberries, topped with chewy strawberry jelly and hibiscus petals—delicious and skin-friendly.
Featured on HTV9 – Reinforcing Brand Credibility
Recently, NFC and its ICHILL product line were featured on "Ăn Lành Sống Chất" (Eat Well, Live Well), a reputable TV program on HTV9 that provides insights into smart eating solutions. During the show, NFC representatives shared about the freeze-drying process, their strict production standards, and the company's commitment to delivering beverages that are both convenient and health-conscious.
A Sustainable Vision
With ICHILL, NFC is not only offering a convenient, safe, and tasty drink but also shaping the future of smart beverage consumption in Vietnam. Moving forward, NFC aims to expand its portfolio with more flavors, combining natural ingredients with advanced technology—so every cup of ICHILL becomes a truly refreshing experience, anytime, anywhere.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Nature Foods Launches ICHILL, a Convenient, Healthy Beverage Solution Powered by Freeze-Dried Technology
Following a defining year of growth and impact, the Group enters the Year focused on purposeful expansion and regenerative travel
SINGAPORE, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Banyan Group ("Banyan Tree Holdings Limited" or the "Group" – SGX: B58), an independent global hospitality company, enters 2026 following a year that marked a significant step in its global expansion. With 100 hotels and resorts, over 140 spas and galleries, and more than 20 branded residences now in operation across over 20 countries, the Group is advancing into its next phase of growth with new market entries, strengthening of its multi-brand portfolio, and deepening of guest experiences.
"Crossing the 100-resort milestone marks a new chapter for Banyan Group as we build on our legacy by expanding into new and meaningful markets, strengthening our brands, and deepening our focus on wellbeing-led and regenerative travel," said Eddy See, President and CEO of Banyan Group. "Guided by purpose-driven growth, design-led experiences, and responsible stewardship, we remain committed to creating long-term value for destinations, partners, and communities as we expand into new parts of Africa and the Caribbean."
Expansion Highlights Across Key Regions
In Africa, the Group will enter safari hospitality with the grand opening of Ubuyu, a Banyan Tree Escape in Tanzania, marking its debut in East Africa. In West Africa, Dhawa Ouidah will open in Benin, extending the Group's footprint into the region.
In the Caribbean, Banyan Group will establish its presence in the Dominican Republic with the openings of Angsana Cap Cana and Cassia Punta Cana, introducing both resort and extended-stay offerings to the market.
In Europe, the Group will officially unveil Mamula Island by Banyan Tree in Montenegro when it reopens for the 2026 season later this year, introducing the full Banyan Tree experience through design enhancements, refreshed dining concepts, signature rituals, and integrated spa and wellbeing programming.
Across Asia and the Middle East, Banyan Group will continue to advance its multi-brand strategy with openings across its luxury, lifestyle, and urban brands. The Banyan Tree brand will expand its presence in China with Banyan Tree Guangzhou Jiulong Lake, a modern ecological resort featuring Lingnan-inspired design drawn from traditional Southern Chinese culture, and Banyan Tree Mount Emei, nestled within a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sichuan Province.
The Angsana brand will grow across resort destinations with Angsana Ashar Valley Tents in Saudi Arabia and Angsana Bogor in Indonesia. The Group will also strengthen its portfolio with Garrya Danang in Vietnam, alongside continued expansion of the Homm brand with Homm Mandaue Cebu in the Philippines, Homm Yibin Lizhuang in China, as well as Homm Pondok Indah Jakarta and Homm Palembang in Indonesia. It will also open its second Folio hotel globally with Folio Bogor in Indonesia later this year.
Deepening Wellbeing-led Experiences
In 2026, Banyan Group will deepen its wellbeing-led guest experiences across the flagship Banyan Tree brand portfolio, anchored by Banyan Tree Connections, a private holistic wellbeing journey for two designed to foster deeper connections between partners, friends, and family members through movement, mindfulness, and shared rituals in nature.
Following its initial rollout at Banyan Tree Anji in China, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru in the Maldives, Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Mexico, and Banyan Tree Phuket in Thailand, the programme will be also be available at eight additional resorts from April 2026, including Banyan Tree Nanjing Garden Expo and Banyan Tree Guangzhou Jiulong Lake in China, Banyan Tree Bintan and Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape in Indonesia, Banyan Tree AlUla in Saudi Arabia, Banyan Tree Samui in Thailand, Banyan Tree Dubai in the United Arab Emirates), and Banyan Tree Lang Co in Vietnam.
2025 in Review: A Year of Milestones & Impact
A key milestone in 2025 was the grand opening of the Group's 100th resort, Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree in Singapore, marking its symbolic homecoming. The opening was commemorated with the inaugural Rainforest Festival, which attracted more than 4,000 visitors and raised more than SGD 600,000 (approximately USD 468,000) for the President's Challenge in support of 52 charities and social service organisations through festival proceeds, corporate partner contributions, Banyan Group donations, and a Singapore government matching grant.
During the year, the Group also celebrated several milestone anniversaries, including 10 years of the Cassia brand since the debut of Cassia Phuket in Thailand, 20 years in China following the opening of Banyan Tree Ringha, and 30 years in both the Maldives and Indonesia, commemorating the openings of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Banyan Tree Bintan respectively.
Advancing Stewardship and Community Impact
Banyan Group continued to advance its stewardship agenda in 2025 through long-term partnerships and associate-led initiatives. Its collaboration with the China Environmental Protection Foundation supported coral reef restoration efforts in Sanya and the Campus Water Safety Programme in Lijiang.
Internally, the Group delivered more than 30 Greater Good Grants across Biodiversity Conservation and Wildlife Protection, Community Health and Well-being, Education and Youth Empowerment, Preserving Local Culture and Heritage, Sustainable Agriculture, and Waste Reduction and Circular Economy, alongside continued integration of sustainability considerations into business and investment decisions.
Growth of Branded Residences Portfolio
In 2025, Banyan Group expanded its branded residences portfolio with eight new sales launches, including Banyan Tree Padilla Madrid Residences – its first residential development in Europe located in Madrid's prestigious Salamanca district and housed within in a 1948 architectural landmark. The Group also unveiled its new Bellaguna residential brand, alongside its inaugural development Bellaguna Lake Residences – Lotus. Designed for year-round living, Bellaguna residences are professionally managed by Banyan Group and operate independently from hotel inventory.
Banyan Group is currently ranked No. 1 in Asia by volume and fifth globally in branded residential development. In Phuket, the Group anticipates launching up to USD 1 billion in new luxury residential projects over the next two to three years.
Gallery, Spa & Wellbeing Highlights
Banyan Gallery, the Group's artisan-led retail concept, continues to grow its international footprint. For over three decades, it has partnered with 339 artisan communities and commissioned more than 400,000 products, supporting the preservation of intangible cultural heritage and sustainable design. With more than 70 outlets globally, its curated range of crafts and wellbeing products is also offered through inflight retail partnerships with leading airlines such as Singapore Airlines, China Airlines, EVA Air, Emirates, and Starlux Airlines. In 2025, Banyan Gallery also expanded its corporate gifting portfolio with new international clients, including Royal Thai Airways, and Christian Dior.
The Banyan Spa & Wellbeing Academy, which has trained more than 2,800 therapists since its establishment in 2001, received multiple distinctions from Thailand's Ministry of Education, including the Outstanding Educational Institution Award 2025, alongside awards recognising educational leadership and teaching excellence.
Global Recognition Recognition Across Design, Sustainability, and Travel Awards Design excellence and sustainability continued to anchor Banyan Group's global recognition in 2025. The Group was admitted into the Design Power Index under the Social Impact of Design category, acknowledged as a leading example of how design can deliver meaningful social, economic, and environmental impact. Architectural Digest honoured Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe in its Great Design Hotel Awards, Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree won three awards in the Sustainability, Resort, and Lodges, Cabins and Tented Camps categories in the AHEAD Asia Awards.
Across other industry and consumer platforms, Banyan Tree was ranked No. 2 Best Hotel Brand in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific, and Banyan Group was named among the Top 10 Most Favourite Hotel Brands in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards. The Group was also recognised as Outstanding Hotel Group, Pioneer in Sustainable Tourism by Travel + Leisure China, with additional recognitions for many of its resorts and hotels across the portfolio at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards, Michelin Keys, and Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards, among others.
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ABOUT BANYAN GROUP
Banyan Group ("Banyan Tree Holdings Limited" or the "Group" - SGX: B58) is an independent, global hospitality company with purpose. The Group prides itself on its pioneering spirit, design-led experiences and commitment to responsible stewardship. Its extensive portfolio spans 100 hotels and resorts, more than 140 spas and galleries, and 20 plus branded residences in over 20 countries. Comprising 12 global brands, including the flagship brand Banyan Tree, each distinct yet united under the experiential membership programme withBanyan. The founding ethos of "Embracing the Environment, Empowering People" is embodied through the Banyan Global Foundation and Banyan Academy. Banyan Group is committed to remaining the leading advocate of sustainable travel, with a focus on regenerative tourism and innovative programmes that elevate the guest experience.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Banyan Group Highlights New Chapter of Growth in 2026 Following its Landmark 100-Resort Milestone
