Chinese consumers’ dietary habits are going through tremendous changes, generating demand for higher quality ingredients and healthier lifestyles in the process. For the UK’s many world-leading food and drink companies, this creates a wide range of opportunities.

With this in mind, CBBC's food and drink team collaborated with Santander Bank and the Food & Drink Exporters Association.

On the first day of FHC 2023, CBBC first organised a market update briefing and roundtable discussion. We then took the delegation to a number of stores in Shanghai, delivered a meet-the-buyer programme and provided on-site assistance – including buyer coordination and interpretation services.

Briefing and Roundtable

6 November,2023

To begin the visit, Ran Guo (Director of Consumer Economy, CBBC) and speakers from CBBC members China Skinny, WPIC and Chemlinked led a briefing that detailed the latest in-market insights for delegates, with topics including: 

• How to make the most of China’s regional business hubs
• New trends in the health and wellness, dairy and other food and drink sectors
• Compliance requirements when exporting to China
• Wider e-commerce landscape

The briefing also included insightful and interactive roundtable discussions and Q&A sessions, better preparing delegates for the mission’s subsequent activities.

Store Visit

6 November,2023

To deepen delegates’ understanding of current retail business formats and Chinese consumers’ shopping habits, we accompanied them on visits to three boutique grocery stores: the Freshippo Premier store in Long Dream City Living Center, the Ole’ store in Jing’an Kerry Center, and the City’super store in IAP. While in these stores, we facilitated communications between the UK brands and local sourcing managers, so as the former could better understand retailers’ preferences and specific requirements when seeking imported food and drink products.

For the ten UK brands that then took part in the meet-the-buyer programme, each had bespoke meetings with three selected Chinese importers and distributors, with many of them generating positive business leads.

The meet-the-buyer programme

7 November 2023

The UK pavilion and a selection of our delegates’ stands at FHC 2023

During FHC 2023 itself, we led the delegates on a tour of the trade show and provided on-site assistance to them. This year’s FHC was particularly busy, with our delegates’ stands attracting attention from professional buyers and visitors alike, demonstrating the further potential for long-term brand growth and sales in China for UK brands.

Thank you for the support received from Santander and the Food & Drink Exporters Association during this mission and wish all participating delegates success.

CBBC will continue to support UK food and drink companies at all stages of their China journeys. 

For more information about how we can help you, please reach out to our food and drink team.

UK:

Antoaneta Becker at Antoaneta.Becker@cbbc.org

China:

Ran Guo at Ran.Guo@cbbc.org