Foreign flavor, local twist: How the chocolate market in China is evolving
When chocolate was introduced to the Chinese market in the 1980s, companies lacked three things: a temperature-controlled supply chain, retail stores equipped with air-conditioning, and most importantly, Chinese consumers’ trust. Chocolate was a foreign oddity, and as much as an exotic product had piqued consumers’ interest, its high price and low availability did not encourage consumption. […]
E-commerce platforms in China: The battle between shopping titans and rising stars
The Chinese e-commerce platform market generated a staggering sales volume of RMB 15.5 trillion in 2024. This makes China the world’s largest e-commerce market. This flourishing market is growing steadily year on year, reaching an annual growth rate of 7.2% in 2024. Chinese consumers are pampered with a myriad of platforms to choose from, such […]
How the cheese market in China is developing despite widespread lactose-intolerance
According to the 2021 China Dairy Index, most adults in China — roughly one billion people — are lactose intolerant. This high prevalence is largely due to the genetic factors common among Asian populations. However, this doesn’t mean Chinese people don’t consume dairy products at all. In fact, they do but just in smaller amounts […]
Beyond Baijiu: Young consumers, e-commerce, and premium experiences redefining Chinese alcoholic beverage market
The Chinese alcohol market continues to lead globally, reaffirming its position as the world’s largest by market value. According to the latest report from the Chinese Alcoholic Beverage Industry Association (中国酒业协会), China’s brewing industry achieved sales revenue of RMB 1.08 trillion (approximately USD 148 billion) in 2024, reflecting a robust 9.3% year-on-year growth. Concurrently, total […]
When nostalgia meets rebellion: The new face of Hello Kitty in China
In April 2025, Beast 野兽派, a leading Chinese lifestyle brand known for its premium floral products and artistic collaborations, launched a high-impact Hello Kitty pop-up campaign on Shanghai’s West Bund. Tapping into the strong cultural resonance of Hello Kitty in China, the activation aligned with the ongoing Shanghai Flower Show. It quickly gained traction on social media, generating […]
How the zoo and aquarium industry in China is overcoming monotony
In the zoo and aquarium industry in China, many parks have been for failing to innovate, mainly relying on animals without offering new experiences to encourage repeat visits. However, those that have transformed into immersive and comprehensive spaces — incorporating hotels, restaurants and attractions — are successfully bringing more people. Download the winter sports market […]
How Costco in China thrives with few SKUs
In August 2019, American warehouse club Costco officially entered the Chinese market with a physical store in Shanghai. The opening weekend marked a hive of activity, with three-hour waits for parking spaces and thirty-minute queues at the checkouts. In January 2024, Costco in China expanded to the South with the opening of its Shenzhen location, receiving […]
2025 China’s winter sports market recap report
China’s winter sports market is in its early stages, as reflected in challenges like the shortage of snowboards available for rent and the airports’ reputation for mishandling ski equipment. However, since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, public interest in winter sports has grown significantly — and as consumption shifts to experiences, winter sports will not […]
Will Chinese beauty brand Perfect Diary make a comeback with its skincare-infused makeup?
Perfect Diary (完美日记), a Chinese cosmetics brand, achieved early success through KOL (Key Opinion Leader) marketing, co-branding, and private traffic pools. However, despite being recognized as one of the leading makeup brands in China, Perfect Diary’s success has waned over time. To recover, it has been focusing more on product quality, integrating skincare functionalities into […]
Energy drinks market in China: Red Bull leads whilst local brands are catching up
According to China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision and Standardization Administration, energy drinks are classified as “drinks with other special functions” as they contain caffeine, taurine, and sugar, together with other ingredients such as guarana, yerba mate, and B vitamins. Energy drinks that contain taurine are not traditional Chinese drinks, but they are gaining popularity […]
From milk tea to chili sauce: Can Sexy Tea (茶颜悦色) catch up with CHAGEE (霸王茶姬)?
Founded in 2013 in Changsha, Hunan, Sexy Tea (茶颜悦色) built its brand around “New Chinese-style Fresh Tea”(新中式鲜茶) focusing primarily on light milk tea (轻乳茶). Thanks to its distinctive flavor and exclusive local business model, it quickly gained popularity. However, while its reputation soared, Sexy Tea remained cautious about expansion and only ventured beyond Changsha […]
China’s winter apparel market: What Chinese wore for their “New Year Battle Outfits” (新年战袍)
In 2024, China’s winter apparel market held the largest share in the Asia Pacific region, which accounted for 35.4% of the global market revenue. Drivers for winter apparel purchases include the growing popularity of winter tourism and winter sports. Around 313 million people have participated in ice and snow sports or other winter-related leisure activities […]