Core Insights - The Chinese food industry is at a critical juncture for high-quality development, transitioning from "Made in China" to "Chinese Brands" is a pressing issue [1] - The forum discussed three main dimensions: policy guidance, cultural inheritance, and internationalization, focusing on the strategic deployment of the China Food Industry Association [1][3] - A report titled "The Transformation and Expansion Code of the Candy Industry" was released, providing new ideas for the transformation of the candy industry [1][4] Policy Guidance - The overall scale of the snack food industry is projected to grow from 784.5 billion yuan in 2020 to 1,009.3 billion yuan in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% [3] - The share of candy and chocolate within the snack food category is expected to decrease from 15.2% in 2020 to 14.5% in 2024, although the absolute scale will still grow [3] Cultural Inheritance and Innovation - The integration of food industry and cultural creativity is seen as a solution for traditional candy companies [4] - Collaborations between candy companies and cultural IPs have led to significant premium rates, with some partnerships achieving a premium of 40%-60% [4] - The "Ma Da Jie" brand has successfully combined regional characteristics with cultural elements, launching products that reflect the aesthetics and emotional experiences of the Palace Museum [4][7] Market Opportunities - The rise of instant retail has significantly boosted the snack food category, with brands like "Hao Xiang Lai" achieving nearly 2 million monthly orders through partnerships with platforms like Meituan [5] - The international market presents both opportunities and challenges, with brands like Xu Fu Ji experiencing continuous growth in overseas markets, covering over 60 countries [8][9] Technological Innovation - The snack food industry is focusing on health and digital transformation, emphasizing "reducing salt, sugar, and oil" while maintaining flavor [6][7] - Companies like Xu Fu Ji are investing heavily in R&D, with nearly 200 million yuan annually, and collaborating with universities to innovate in product development [7] International Expansion - Companies are establishing overseas factories to localize operations and penetrate global markets, with examples including the establishment of a factory in Vietnam by Wang Wang Group [9] - The sugar industry is also exploring international cooperation models, increasing imports of sugarcane and establishing raw material bases in ASEAN countries [9]

Core Insights - The Chinese food industry is at a critical juncture for high-quality development, with a pressing need to transition from "Made in China" to "Chinese Brands" [1] - The forum highlighted the importance of integrating cultural creativity into the food industry, particularly in the candy sector, to drive transformation and growth [2] Policy Guidance - The overall scale of the leisure food industry is projected to grow from 784.5 billion yuan in 2020 to 1,009.3 billion yuan in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% [2] - The share of candy and chocolate within the leisure food sector is expected to decrease from 15.2% in 2020 to 14.5% in 2024, although the absolute scale will still grow [2] - Collaborations between candy companies and cultural IPs have shown significant premium rates of 40%-60%, indicating a successful strategy for enhancing brand value [2] Balance of Tradition and Innovation - The food industry is focusing on health and digital transformation, emphasizing "three reductions" (reducing salt, sugar, and oil) while maintaining flavor [3][4] - Traditional brands are integrating intangible cultural heritage with modern consumer demands, exemplified by the Ma Dajie brand's low-sugar products that meet health-conscious consumer needs [4] International Market Opportunities - Companies face challenges in international markets, including regulatory barriers and differing consumer preferences [5] - The "Da Zuozhan" gummy candy from Wangwang Group serves as a case study for innovation in product flavors and packaging to penetrate the competitive Japanese market [5] Future Directions - The integration of cultural creativity, technological innovation, and an international perspective is becoming the core driving force for the Chinese food industry to transition from manufacturing to branding [6]

Core Insights - The Chinese food industry is at a critical juncture for high-quality development, transitioning from "Made in China" to "Chinese Brands" is a pressing issue [1] - The forum highlighted the release of a report on the transformation of the candy industry, providing new strategies for upgrading [2] Industry Growth - The overall scale of the leisure food industry is projected to grow 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] - The share of candy and chocolate within the leisure food sector is expected to decrease from 15.2% in 2020 to 14.5% in 2024, although absolute growth continues [2] Innovation and Collaboration - The report emphasizes the integration of food industry with cultural and creative sectors, suggesting that collaboration with cultural IPs can enhance product value, with premium rates for co-branded products reaching 40%-60% [2] - The partnership between candy companies and popular cultural IPs, such as the collaboration with the game "Black Myth: Wukong," is expected to drive market growth by 30% [2] Market Dynamics - The rise of instant retail, particularly through platforms like Meituan, has led to significant growth in the leisure food category, with monthly orders for a popular snack brand reaching nearly 2 million [3] Health and Technology Trends - The industry is focusing on health and digital transformation, with innovations aimed at reducing salt, sugar, and oil content in products [4] - Smart processing equipment is being developed to enhance automation and efficiency in food production [4] Cultural Heritage and Modern Demand - Traditional brands are integrating intangible cultural heritage with modern consumer needs, exemplified by the Ma Dajie brand's low-sugar products that meet health demands [5] - Xu Fu Ji Group emphasizes continuous R&D investment, amounting to nearly 200 million yuan annually, to foster innovation while preserving cultural heritage [5] International Expansion - Companies face challenges in international markets, including regulatory barriers and differing consumer preferences [6] - Xu Fu Ji has achieved consecutive years of overseas market growth, expanding its products to over 60 countries [7] - Wang Wang Group's international strategy includes establishing local operations, with products now available in 64 countries [7] - The establishment of overseas factories is crucial for localizing operations and penetrating global markets [7]

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]

Core Insights - The forum highlighted the importance of high-quality development and independent innovation in the Chinese food industry, particularly in response to the evolving demands of Generation Z consumers [1] Group 1: Company Initiatives - Ma Lijia Food Group emphasizes the need to balance traditional values with modern health and cultural demands, showcasing a commitment to innovation [1] - The company has launched a low-sugar product, the low-sugar Huasheng Su Tang, which has a sugar reduction of up to 97%, catering to health-conscious consumers [1] - Ma Lijia uses high oleic peanuts in its products to further meet consumer health needs, demonstrating a focus on quality ingredients [1] Group 2: Regional Collaboration - As a local Beijing brand, Ma Lijia has collaborated with the Forbidden City to create co-branded products, integrating regional characteristics into its offerings [1]