2025-11-16 15:36Summary of Conference Call Notes Industry Overview - The conference call discusses the dairy products, seasoning, and frozen food industries, focusing on the performance of major companies like Yili and Mengniu, as well as market trends and challenges faced by various brands. Key Points on Dairy Products - The overall dairy market is expected to stabilize in 2025, with Yili outperforming Mengniu. Mengniu's ambient liquid milk has seen a significant decline, but product innovation and channel optimization may lead to growth [1][4]. - Dairy product terminal prices are gradually stabilizing from the second half of 2024, while upstream raw milk prices continue to decline, resulting in a decrease in net profits for distributors, with about one-third currently operating at a loss [1][17]. - The demand for liquid milk is declining, primarily due to reduced gifting and everyday consumption, particularly among low-income consumers [10][18]. - Mengniu's ambient liquid milk sales have declined by approximately 14% to 15% year-on-year, while Yili's decline is around 3% [5][12]. - The dairy industry is experiencing a cyclical downturn, but a rebound is expected in 2026, particularly for high-end products [9][19]. Key Points on Seasoning Market - The seasoning market is overall sluggish in 2025, with many brands failing to meet growth targets. The hot pot base market share is declining, while compound seasoning's share is increasing, but total sales are still in negative growth [1][22]. - Yihai International's hot pot base has declined due to overall industry downturn and competition from private label products, necessitating product innovation and expansion into B-end business [1][23]. - The online and offline price chaos has impacted the market, with a 10% decrease in offline prices compared to 2024 [25][26]. Key Points on Frozen Food Market - The frozen food market has shown signs of recovery in 2025, particularly in October, driven by the sales of hot pot balls. C-end growth is outperforming B-end growth [3][49]. - The overall sales of frozen food have increased by approximately 3% from January to October 2025, with significant growth in products like dumplings and wontons [37][50]. - The sales recovery in the fourth quarter is attributed to inventory clearance and promotional activities [38][39]. Additional Insights - The restaurant industry is witnessing a closure trend, particularly among large stores in shopping malls, but there is potential for recovery in 2026, which may boost hot pot base sales [1][33]. - The performance of brands like Tianwei is hindered by weak channel price control and uneven regional development, resulting in negative growth [30][31]. - The competitive landscape is shifting, with smaller brands struggling to survive due to financial pressures and market competition [56]. Conclusion - The dairy, seasoning, and frozen food industries are navigating a challenging environment with varying performance across different segments. While there are signs of stabilization and potential growth in certain areas, companies must focus on innovation, channel management, and adapting to changing consumer behaviors to capitalize on future opportunities.