Core Insights - The Chinese food industry is at a critical juncture for high-quality development, focusing on transitioning from "Made in China" to "Chinese Brands" [1] - A forum held on September 10 discussed the national policy guidance, innovation, and internationalization trends in the food industry, emphasizing the importance of building national brands [1][3] - The report "The Transformation and Expansion Code of the Candy Industry" was released, providing new strategies for the candy sector's transformation [1][3] Policy Guidance - The leisure food sector has seen significant growth, expanding from 784.5 billion yuan in 2020 to 1,009.3 billion yuan by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% [3] - The candy and chocolate segment's market share decreased from 15.2% in 2020 to 14.5% in 2024, although its absolute scale continues to grow [3] - Collaboration between candy companies and cultural IPs has increased, with co-branded products achieving a premium of 40%-60% [3] Heritage and Innovation - The focus on health and digital transformation in the leisure food industry includes innovations in reducing salt, sugar, and oil content [5] - Traditional brands are integrating intangible cultural heritage with modern consumer demands, exemplified by the Ma Dajie brand's low-sugar products [6] - Xu Fu Ji Group invests nearly 200 million yuan annually in R&D, emphasizing collaboration with universities for product innovation [6] International Market Opportunities - Companies face challenges in overseas markets, including regulatory barriers and differing consumer preferences [7] - Xu Fu Ji has achieved consecutive years of doubling overseas market growth, with products available in over 60 countries [7] - Wang Wang Group's "Da Zuo Zhan" gummy candy has successfully penetrated the Japanese market through continuous innovation [7] Globalization and Local Operations - Establishing overseas factories is crucial for localizing operations and expanding into global markets [8] - Companies like COFCO Sugar are increasing imports of sugarcane and exploring international cooperation models [8] Conclusion - Empowering brand value through cultural creativity, enhancing product capabilities via technological innovation, and expanding market reach with an international perspective are key drivers for the Chinese food industry's transition from manufacturing to branding [9]

Core Insights - The Chinese food industry is at a critical juncture for high-quality development, transitioning from "Made in China" to "Chinese Brands" [1] - The forum discussed three main dimensions: policy guidance, cultural inheritance, and internationalization [1] Policy Guidance - The leisure food sector has seen rapid growth, expanding from 784.5 billion yuan in 2020 to 1,009.3 billion yuan by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% [2] - Despite a decrease in market share from 15.2% in 2020 to 14.5% in 2024 for candy and chocolate, the absolute scale continues to grow [2] - The report on the candy industry's transformation emphasizes the integration of food industry and cultural creativity as a new solution for traditional candy companies [2] Cultural Inheritance and Innovation - The industry is focusing on health and digital transformation, with innovations in reducing salt, sugar, and oil content [4] - Traditional brands are combining intangible cultural heritage with modern consumer needs, as seen with the "Palace Pastry" series from the Ma Dajie brand [5][6] - Xu Fu Ji Group invests nearly 200 million yuan annually in R&D, focusing on health snacks and digital transformation [6] International Market Opportunities - Companies face challenges in overseas markets, including regulatory barriers and differing consumer preferences [7] - Xu Fu Ji has achieved consecutive overseas market growth, expanding its products to over 60 countries [7] - The establishment of overseas factories is crucial for local operations and global market penetration [8]