The Baby Food Sector in China, 2019

The Baby Food Sector in China, 2019

Summary
'The Baby Food Sector in China, 2019', is an analytical report by the author which provides extensive and highly detailed current and future market trends in the Chinese market.

Despite the scrapping of the one-child policy, birth numbers fell to 15.2 million in 2018. Sales of baby food are focused in the major cities, although increasingly affluent consumers are emerging in lower-tier cities and some rural areas. Although the market is still underdeveloped, it has benefited from greater consumer spending power, rising urbanization, and increased numbers of working women. Baby milks continue to dominate, accounting for 92.5% of value sales. Compulsory registration of infant formula from January 2018, disrupted sales less than expected. Most milks are imported, due to consumer preference for imported products, but most cereals, meals, and other products are produced locally. The market remains highly fragmented, reflecting the difficulties in achieving nationwide distribution, although all the larger companies are now trying to expand their geographic and channel distribution. Nestlé (including Wyeth) and Danone continue to dominate, but Feihe has ousted Mead Johnson from third position. Heinz dominates in the non-milks category. The major distribution channels for baby food have changed dramatically over the past few years, with specialist mother & baby stores now handling 50% of sales. China has the world's second largest baby population and low per capita consumption, and untapped potential remains vast. However, the high cost of child-rearing and the lower number of women of childbearing age will restrain increases in births. Conversely, sales should be boosted by improved distribution and rising incomes.

What else does this report offer?

• Consumption data based upon a unique combination of industry research, fieldwork, market sizing work and our in-house expertise to offer extensive data about the trends and dynamics affecting the industry.
• Detailed profile of the companies operating and new companies considering entry in the industry along with their key focus product sectors.
• Market profile of the various product sectors with the key features & developments, segmentation, per capita trends and the various manufacturers & brands.
• Overview of baby food retailing with a mention of the major retailers in the country along with the distribution channel.
• Future projections considering various trends which are likely to affect the industry.

Scope

• China has the world's second largest baby population and low per capita consumption, meaning, in theory, that untapped potential remains vast.
• Baby milks continue to dominate, accounting for XX % of value sales. Cereals & dry meals account for XX % of value, but have lost ground to wet meals, a category which is increasingly popular
• Nestlé (including Wyeth) and Danone continue to dominate the market, but Feihe is thought to have ousted Mead Johnson from third position in milks and in the total sector in 2018.Heinz dominates in the non-milks category
• The baby food market remains highly fragmented, reflecting the difficulties in achieving nationwide distribution.
• The market is forecast to increase by 42 % in value between 2018 and 2024, resulting in a market worth C¥ 149 billion (US$ 22.5 billion at 2018 exchange rates)

Reasons to buy

• Evaluate important changes in consumer behavior and identify profitable markets and areas for product innovation.
• Analyse current and forecast behavior trends in each category to identify the best opportunities to exploit.
• Detailed understanding of consumption by individual product categories in order to align your sales and marketing efforts with the latest trends in the market.
• Investigates which categories are performing the best and how this is changing market dynamics.