China Baby Food Market Report by Products (Prepared Baby Food, Dried Baby Food, Milk Formula, and Others), Distribution (Specialized Stores, E-commerce, and Supermarkets), and Company Analysis 2024-2030

China Baby Food Market Analysis

Baby food is specialized nutrition that aims to replicate the composition of breast milk, the gold standard, as nearly as possible. It is highly balanced. The baby food industry provides a vast array of goods to meet the evolving needs of infants and young children in their formative years. These typically consist of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins carefully cooked to facilitate easy digestion and be suitable for even the most delicate palates. Baby food is a deeply culturally significant item in China, combining modernity and tradition.

• According to data from the China National Bureau of Statistics, Chinese parents dedicate 30% to 50% of their household income to raising their kids. The majority of this money is spent on feeding infants and little children.

China Baby Food Market Growth Opportunities

    Economic growth and urbanization

China's robust economic growth has raised disposable incomes and encouraged parents to spend more on premium kid meals for the best nutrition for their toddlers. The nation's swift urbanization has sparked lifestyle changes, with convenience rising to the top and driving the China baby food industry.

• The World Bank projects China's growth to be 5.2% in 2023.
• The government work report presented at the opening meeting of the second session of China's 14th National People's Congress (NPC) indicated that the income gap between urban and rural residents was narrowing. In 2023, the per capita disposable income of Chinese citizens increased by 6.1 percent, with income in rural areas lifted out of poverty growing by 8.4 percent.
• According to the World Bank, 64% of Chinese people were urban dwellers in 2022.

    Evolution of customer choices

In baby food, the notion of feeding and nourishing infants differs significantly between Western and Chinese nations, primarily because of cultural, behavioral, and consumer background disparities. One could argue that Western customs have had an impact on Chinese moms' infant feeding practices in recent years. Most sales have historically gone to rice cereal, but several manufacturers have begun to broaden their marketing focus. Brands invest more in other infant food subcategories, like snacks and fruit puree. The need for more practical and effective ways to feed young children has grown due to brand education and parents' evolving lives. The focus on organic and premium products also adds to the growth in the China baby food market.

• Mothers of a younger age are more receptive to giving their kids purees that are ready to eat, such as those offered by Little Freddie or Ella's Kitchen.
• Young parents in China are particularly interested in infant food products that include attributes like organic, additive-free, and all-natural meals, according to Nielsen data from 2020.

    Increasing use of Social Media

Influencer marketing has been very effective for companies producing toddler meals. In the China baby food market, collaborating with the country's incredibly powerful social media influencers (KOLs) is one of the best strategies to increase brand recognition and boost sales.

• Chinese consumer research company CBNdata said in 2021 that 79% of young mothers' time is spent online. They spend a lot of their time looking for parenting, health, and baby food advice and shopping for their kids.
• Danyang Li, often known as "Nicomama," is a well-known parenting influencer in China. She holds a Master's degree in medicine and has amassed over 40 million followers across Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Weibo. Because her advice and suggestions are well-liked there, she has written six best-selling books.
• One of China's most widely used social media sites is Weibo, which the Chinese government controls. According to Sagepub Journals, by the end of the first quarter of 2021, Weibo will have 530 million monthly active users. People between the ages of 23 and 39 make up about 80% of users. Many Chinese women utilize Weibo as a source of information while going through life events like pregnancy and the first few months of motherhood. More than 1.5 million corporates, including brands and businesses that provide milk formula, have authenticated their official Weibo accounts.

China Baby Food Industry Analysis

The China baby food market is populated by China Feihe Limited, China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, Health and Happiness (H & H) International Holding Limited, China Modern Dairy Holdings Limited, Yashili International Holdings Ltd, and the a2 Milk Company.

•    China Feihe Limited

In January 2021, the patent application for a unique medical-use goat milk powder submitted by the well-known Chinese infant formula brand Feihe was approved. Market watchers anticipate that the company will increase the number of retail channels and product offerings.
In September 2020 - Milk formula manufacturer China Feihe Ltd. is bidding to buy dairy supplier YuanShengTai Dairy Farm Ltd. for 63 Hong Kong cents per share. China Feihe claimed that YuanShengTai Dairy Farm, its supplier since 2010, will enable it to maintain a steady supply of fresh milk. China Feihe will be able to utilize the dairy supplier's experience in quality control for raw milk acquired from smaller dairy farmers due to the acquisition.

•    China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited

In June 2023, The Mengniu Ningxia facility, the first fully intelligent dairy factory in the world, officially finished and put into operation, according to a statement released by China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited. The new plant is the world's largest factory, producing only one liquid milk.

•    Health and Happiness (H & H) International Holding Limited

In May 2023 - The Biostime Pi-Star, Biostime Organic Milk (Healthy Times), and Biostime Goat Milk (Cute Betty's Care) are the three main series of Biostime infant formula that H&H Group announced have successfully passed the new national standard registration in China after investing in scientific design and professional research and development. These officially become another range of high-quality products after the Biostime Alpha Star infant formula series, which was certified in February of this year. Four series have now obtained national certification by the new regulations.

•    Yashili International Holdings Ltd

In May 2022 - Yashili International Holdings, a soy milk and infant formula manufacturer registered in Hong Kong, is anticipated to sell Dumex to Danone.
During the 2020 "Yashili - Reeborne public service," Yashili traveled to various locations, including Sanjiang Town (Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province), Anqing City and Liuan City (Anhui Province), Yucheng County (Shangqiu City, Henan Province), and others, to distribute Reeborne Kieember infant formula milk powder, Yashili cereals, and other nutritional products to the elderly and children in the area. Yashili hosted family feasts in the gerocomium, inviting elderly guests to bring them health and warmth.

•    The a2 Milk Company

In January 2023 - At its location close to Gore, Mataura Valley Milk (MVM) began the construction phase of its initiative to install a new steam boiler powered by renewable electricity. The installation of the new boiler represents a significant advancement in MVM's capacity to manufacture premium, emission-free baby formula and other food items, primarily for a2MC. Under the GIDI (Government Investment in Decarbonizing Industry) fund, the a2 Milk Company, China Animal Husbandry Group (CAHG), and EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) together contributed $5 million to the initiative.

In June 2023, the a2 Milk Company's manufacturing partner obtained essential permits for selling infant formula in China, allaying investor concerns and enabling the ASX-listed company to increase sales. Products manufactured by China's new standards, including formula stages 1, 2, and 3, have received approval from the State Administration for Market Regulation. Due to this ruling, Synlait Milk will be able to continue producing a2 Milk products at its Dunsandel, New Zealand, factory through September 27.

Products – Market breakup from 3 viewpoints:

1.    Prepared Baby Food
2.    Dried Baby Food
3.    Milk Formula
4.    Others

Distribution – Market breakup from 3 viewpoints:

1.    Specialized Stores
2.    E-commerce
3.    Supermarkets

All companies have been covered from 3 viewpoints:

•    Overview
•    Recent Developments
•    Revenue 

Company Analysis:

1.    China feihe limited
2.    China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited
3.    Health and Happiness (H & H) International Holding Limited
4.    Yashili International holdings ltd
5.    China Modern Dairy Holdings Limited
6.    the a2 Milk Company

Report Details: