China’s imported food market in a post Covid-19 world

Jonathan Smith from ADN Import Foods discusses the details of a recently-released report showing how China’s imported food market has been affected by Covid-19.

The main focus of the report is to paint a picture of what the prospects are in the Chinese food and drink sector over the next 12 months and beyond, and address some of the changes that have been caused due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

ADN interviewed a sample of 30 food and drink buyers from China’s leading importers, distributors and retailers – the people who make the decisions on whether a brand is suitable for China and collectively can grant access to tens of thousands of distribution points. Experts in their field, they strive to provide Chinese consumers with the best brands and products from around the world.

Covid-19 has changed a lot and created numerous challenges for food and drink exporters. Many predictions about the future made in 2019 or even early 2020 are no longer relevant. The report aims to provide as clear a picture as possible as to what the post-Covid-19 food and drink market in China will look like, and provide valuable information for companies already in-market or considering launching in China.

The report explains that the market will, in many ways, be in line with post-Covid-19 global trends. For example, consumers globally are shopping more online, cooking more at home and going out to restaurants less. However, some trends are more pronounced in China, such as healthier eating and the desire for convenient food; while other global trends, such as environmental awareness, are currently not prevalent in China.

The swifter recovery of the Chinese economy and the huge size of the market means that these trends will be supercharged in China. The Chinese market for food and drink will remain one of the fastest-growing and most exciting in the world, continuing to create opportunities for growth for international brands. This creates openings for savvy and quick-moving brands who have a product that fits in well with what consumers want or can localise effectively, to benefit from the knowledge this report provides on where this market is heading.

Click here to read the full report