China product innovation needs to prioritise natural and functionality
Clean label as a concept for example has been growing fast in Asia in general, but China consumers are very sensitive and sometimes critical when it comes to natural versus synthetic products.
“So clean label and natural products have been rapidly growing in demand here in the past year, whether it concerns colours, flavours, additives or any other aspects – traditionally we have always seen textures be the more important topic in China, but now it has become things like this as well as sugar reduction and replacement,” said Barentz APAC CEO Marc Duchene.
China cage-free eggs crusade gets buy-in from major retailer Ole Supermarket
Various major egg producers in the country such as Tudama and Happy Egg previously voiced commitments to increase their supply of cage-free eggs or even completely transform their production, and the movement has also seen support from various government bodies and local consumers.
Most recently, this support has gone up another level with national retail major Ole Supermarket announcing its commitment to transform its egg supply over the next 10 years.
China’s STARFIELD expands plant-based snacks, taps R&D and partnerships for growth
Food tech outfit STARFIELD is expanding its China market reach through partnerships with major brands, including KFC, Luckin Coffee, and FamilyMart.
Its most recent collaboration features the firm’s latest plant-based chips alongside More Yogurt, a franchise brand specialising in yoghurt smoothies with more than 1,500 stores in China’s top tier cities. The aim is to offer consumers a complementary beverage-and-snack experience.
Production revolution: Food biosynthesis eyed as major solution to meet China’s ‘new demands’
Biosynthesis here refers to the process of using microorganisms as ‘factories’ to produce end products such as nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and more.
Whilst biosynthesis per se is not a new process, there is a particular drive in China right now to fully develop this as a full-fledged production solution for the food industry, a movement spearheaded by academic and industrial research and supported by the government.
Reinventing classics: Hyperlocal ingredients and strong aromas crucial for food innovation in China
Upcoming food and beverage innovation in China should incorporate hyperlocal elements, strong aromas or radical reinventions of well-known classics to resonate with China’s ‘sensitive’ taste buds.
“China is a unique market compared to the rest of the world, and this is firstly because we have such a large population leading to increased demands compared to other regions; but more importantly because consumer taste buds here are truly more sensitive,” said Kerry China Marketing Director Helen Tang.