Industry Overview - The ready-to-drink beverage market, including tea and coffee, has shown continuous growth. The tea beverage market is expected to exceed 1,700 billion yuan in 2024, while the coffee beverage market surpassed 1,000 billion yuan in 2023 and is projected to reach 1,100 billion yuan in 2024 [1][8] - Z-generation consumers are the core demographic for ready-to-drink beverages, with 47.6% of them increasing their frequency of purchasing freshly ground coffee, compared to 36.9% for tea beverages [1][27] - The perception of price changes among Z-generation consumers varies by gender, with 43.1% believing prices have decreased, while 40.2% feel prices have remained stable [1] Market Trends - The tea beverage market is entering a health-focused 4.0 era, while the coffee market is experiencing a golden age of localization [5] - The tea beverage market is characterized by a "one superpower, multiple strong players" competitive landscape, with brands like Mixue Bingcheng leading in store count [13] - The coffee beverage market is rapidly expanding, with 48.7% of coffee shops targeting a price range of 20-30 yuan per cup [16] Consumer Behavior - 72.6% of Z-generation consumers purchase ready-to-drink beverages weekly, with 47.6% increasing their coffee consumption frequency [27] - Z-generation consumers are driven by self-indulgence (51.1%), stress relief (36.9%), and functional needs like thirst quenching (33.3%) and mental alertness (23.8%) [30] - Brand reputation and cost-effectiveness are key decision-making factors for Z-generation consumers, with 53.5% prioritizing brand reputation and 33.3% valuing quick service [34][35] Product Preferences - Z-generation consumers prioritize taste and flavor (over 60%), followed by price, quality, and healthiness of ingredients [37] - 38.1% of Z-generation consumers prefer beverages priced between 15-20 yuan, while 36.9% favor the 10-15 yuan range [39] - Latte (60.7%) and fruit tea (54.7%) are the most popular beverage types among Z-generation consumers [58] Innovation and Marketing - Z-generation consumers are highly receptive to innovative and fun marketing activities, with 58.3% noting increased marketing creativity in the ready-to-drink beverage sector [70] - Cross-brand collaborations and festival marketing have become common strategies to engage Z-generation consumers [74][76] - Social media plays a significant role in influencing Z-generation consumers' purchasing decisions, with platforms like Weibo, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu offering unique marketing advantages [72][73] Challenges and Future Outlook - Z-generation consumers identify high product premiums (41.6%), inconsistent quality (38.1%), and lack of innovation (35.2%) as major pain points [90] - The future of the ready-to-drink beverage market will focus on health-conscious upgrades, personalized and diversified products, and functional and scenario-based innovations [91] - Brands are expected to emphasize low-sugar, low-fat, and natural ingredient options to meet the growing health demands of consumers [91]

Industry Overview - The sour soup flavor has a long history in China, with unique culinary cultures in regions like Southwest, Northwest, and South China, particularly in Guizhou, Yunnan, and Hainan [1] - The sour soup hotpot segment has not yet produced a leading national brand, with most brands having fewer than 10 outlets, and larger brands having around 100 outlets [1] - Three major trends in the sour soup flavor industry are the fusion of standardization and regionalization, product innovation and health focus, and cross-border collaborations and cultural integration [1] Sour Soup Flavor Characteristics - The sour flavor is one of the key taste profiles in Chinese cuisine, with popular types including sour-spicy, sweet-sour, and pickled pepper, which have gained consumer favor for their unique and stimulating tastes [5] - The sourness in sour soup comes from natural sources like fruits and vegetables, as well as fermentation processes using ingredients like starch, wheat, and vinegar [7][8] - Regional variations of sour soup, such as Guizhou and Yunnan sour soups, have gained popularity due to their unique flavors and standardized production processes [9] Market Trends and Popularity - The sour soup flavor has seen a surge in popularity, with related topics on Douyin (TikTok) reaching over 540 million views, and search indices peaking multiple times in 2024 [12] - The number of sour soup-related enterprises has been steadily increasing, with over 1,000 new registrations annually in the past four years [14][15] - The sour soup flavor is highly adaptable, with strong consumer appeal and high standardization, making it a popular choice for various culinary applications [16][17][18] Key Players and Product Development - Both upstream supply chain companies and downstream餐饮 brands are capitalizing on the sour soup trend, with brands launching sour soup-flavored products and specialty stores [20] - Key调味料 companies like Meixin Catering have developed a range of sour soup products, including Guizhou and Yunnan sour soups, which have gained strong market recognition [25][26][27] - The sour soup flavor has been integrated into multiple餐饮 segments, including hotpot, noodles, and砂锅 dishes, with both popular and niche regional dishes emerging [29][30] Sour Soup Hotpot Segment - The sour soup hotpot segment has emerged as a独立赛道, with popular varieties including Guizhou red sour soup, Yunnan sour soup, and Hainan糟粕醋 hotpot [37][39] - The segment is characterized by diverse汤底 and食材 combinations, with brands focusing on regional flavors like Guizhou and Yunnan sour soups [40][41][42] - Despite the growing number of players, the segment has not yet produced a dominant national brand, with most brands having fewer than 10 outlets and人均消费集中在60-100元 [45][46] Sour Soup in Other Segments - The酸辣粉 segment has matured, with brands like魔都三兄弟 achieving over 300 outlets nationwide, focusing on affordable pricing and丰富产品矩阵 [57][58][59] - The酸菜鱼 segment has seen both正餐化 and快餐化发展, with brands like太二酸菜鱼 and鱼你在一起 leading their respective sub-segments [66][67][68] -酸菜鱼 brands are expanding their product offerings with new flavors and complementary items like小吃 and茶饮, with酸汤 flavor gaining popularity [72][73]

新中式餐饮洞察报告2024 ...