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, 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 Viewpoint - 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 that needs to be addressed [1] Group 1: Policy Guidance and Industry Growth - The leisure food industry in China 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% [3] - The candy and chocolate segment, while decreasing in market share from 15.2% in 2020 to 14.5% in 2024, continues to grow in absolute terms [3] - The report released at the forum provides new insights for traditional candy companies, suggesting a combination of food industry and cultural creativity [3] Group 2: Brand Innovation and Market Expansion - The collaboration between candy companies and cultural IPs has deepened, with co-branded products achieving a premium price increase of 40% to 60% [3] - Instant retail has significantly boosted the growth of leisure food categories, with brands like "Hao Xiang Lai" seeing monthly orders reach nearly 2 million within four months of collaboration with Meituan [4] - The partnership between Meituan and Xu Fu Ji has created a phenomenon in marketing, enhancing both brand visibility and sales [4] Group 3: Heritage and Innovation - The transition from "Made in China" to "Chinese Brands" emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage and product innovation [5] - The food industry is focusing on health and digital transformation, with innovations in reducing salt, sugar, and oil content while enhancing product health value [5] - Traditional brands like Ma Da Jie are integrating intangible cultural heritage with modern consumer demands, launching low-sugar products to meet health needs [6] Group 4: International Market Opportunities - Chinese brands face challenges in international markets, including regulatory barriers and differing consumer preferences, but companies like Xu Fu Ji have achieved significant overseas growth [7] - The establishment of overseas factories is crucial for localizing operations and penetrating global markets, with companies like COFCO Sugar increasing imports and exploring international cooperation [8] - The trend of empowering brand value through cultural creativity, enhancing product capabilities through technological innovation, and expanding markets with an international perspective is becoming the core driving force for the Chinese food industry [9]

Core Insights - The forum titled "The Backbone of National Brands - The Global Path of High-Quality Development and Independent Innovation in China's Food Industry" was held during the 2025 China International Service Trade Fair [1] - Chen Junjiang, the head of the R&D center at Want Want Group, shared the innovative growth journey of the "Big Battle" gummy candy, highlighting its evolution from startup to growth phase [1] Company Innovation - From 2019 to 2024, the "Big Battle" gummy candy has launched over 7 flavors, showcasing continuous product innovation [1] - The company emphasizes the importance of innovation in taste, shape, and packaging to meet market demands and cater to different consumer groups [1] Marketing Strategy - Want Want Group has focused on innovative packaging design and marketing strategies to enhance product appeal and reach diverse consumer demographics [1] - The approach of continuous experimentation in product development is seen as essential for long-term growth and market success [1]

Core Insights - The forum highlighted the innovative growth journey of Wangwang Group's "Da Zuo Zhan" gummy candy, showcasing its development from inception to growth phase [1] Group 1: Product Innovation - From 2019 to 2024, "Da Zuo Zhan" gummy candy has launched over 7 flavors, indicating a strong focus on product variety [1] - The company emphasizes continuous innovation in taste, shape, and packaging to meet market demands [1] Group 2: Marketing Strategies - Wangwang Group is actively engaging different consumer groups through innovative packaging designs and marketing strategies [1] - The approach of thick accumulation and gradual release of innovations is seen as a key to future growth [1]