Vichy in China: how the first pharmacy skin care brand lost its lead and found a role in scalp care
Vichy built pharmacy skin care in China, then lost the category to La Roche-Posay, Avène and Winona; scalp care has since become its main growth area.
Paris Baguette in China: why the bakery is closing stores and testing hot meals
More than twenty years after entering China, Paris Baguette has fewer stores than in 2024 and is testing a meal-led format to compete with faster Chinese bakery chains.
How China’s stricter regulations reshape, not replace, vaping in China
China’s vaping market used to be fast-growing and free-for-all. Now it’s a tightly controlled, state-run system. Retail sales peaked at RMB 19.7 billion (USD 2.9 billion) in 2021 and then shrank to USD 2.67 billion. Rather than suppressing the market, strict regulations just changed how brands compete. Today, there are two markets running side by […]
The oat milk market in China: Inflection point from premium pioneer to mass-market battleground
The oat milk market in China reached RMB 14.53 billion in 2024, up 35-fold from RMB 410 million in 2018 and reached RMB 20.98 billion in 2025. China’s broader plant-based milk market, including soy, almond, and coconut alternatives, grew alongside oat milk but at a slower rate. Lactose malabsorption is widespread among Chinese adults, creating […]
The olive oil market in China: Driven by health-oriented consumers
Olive oil in China has long been called “liquid gold.” It is cold-pressed directly from fresh olives without heating or chemical processing, preserving its natural nutrients. Olive oil is considered one of the most nutritionally beneficial fats discovered to date. Primarily because it is rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, which accounts for […]
How Decathlon adjust to new consumer trends in China
Decathlon opened its first store in Shanghai in 2003 and has been an integral part of China’s retail scene. As the consumer landscape evolves, Decathlon has shifted its strategy. From focusing on expanding its store count, the company now aims to increase profitability and strengthen its connection to local communities. With competition heating up and […]
Lego in China: Conquering the toy market one block at a time
With almost 300 million kids under the age of 18 in 2023, the Chinese toy and games market is extremely profitable. It is expected to reach a revenue of more than USD 19.1 billion in 2025. Lego is among the major players in this sector, holding over 43% of the market share in the construction toy category as of 2021. Due […]
Despite lingering stigma, the male beauty market in China remains resilient
Beauty in China is shifting away from being an option to becoming a necessity. With growing awareness of beauty products and a desire to gain social acceptance, more men are turning to beauty products. Even the older generations, who tend to hold onto more stigma regarding beauty products, are slowly adopting them. While skincare is […]
French brands shine in the 60th anniversary of Sino-French relations
The year 2024 will mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France. Presently, China holds the position of France’s third-largest trading partner after the EU and the US. From a modest beginning of USD 100 million in 1964, the annual bilateral trade volume has surged remarkably, reaching USD 81.2 billion in 2022 […]
How health-conscious consumers are transforming the Chinese beverage market
The beverage industry in China is booming, thanks to the recovery of social events like parties and wedding banquets after the pandemic. The market grew to 1.25 trillion RMB (182 billion USD) in 2022 and produced 183.3 million tons in 2021. The most popular beverages in China in 2022 were packaged drinking water, carbonated beverages, […]
How foreign cosmetics and skincare brands in China can succeed: China Paradigm transcript #123 with Jean-Philippe Benoist
GED localizes and establishes foreign cosmetics and skincare brands in China. Currently, GED is partnering with about 20 cosmetics brands. Having initially started with offline channels and distribution with SEPHORA, they are now focusing on digital online sales and marketing channels such as RED, WeChat, Weibo, Bilibili, TikTok, Tmall, JD, VIPshop, and others. Their target […]
Gardening tools market in China: Rapid expansion driven by urbanization
The gardening tools market in China has grown substantially in the past 5 years. According to a report by ASKCI, the market size for gardening tools in China has grown from less than 600 million RMB in 2014 to more than 850 billion RMB in 2019, at a CAGR of 7.6%. The market is expected […]