China's rapidly growing economy has not only brought with it more supermarkets looking to tap into consumers' newfound spending power but international food brands are finding increased popularity as demand for new tastes is increasing at the same time.
Two such examples come in the production of dairy products and potato crisps (or chips) -- long staples of the Western diet but now more and more of what the average Chinese consumer takes home from a trip to the mall as well.
The United Kingdom's Tyrrells has recently started selling its crisps in China, as it tries to take advantage of a market dominated by the Lay's brand. The United States-based potato chips maker has tailored its products to suit Chinese tastes since first selling across the country in 1997 and has found success with the likes of its Numb and Spicy Hot Pot and Finger Licking Braised Pork flavors.
Sales of dairy products too are on the rise across a country that suffered through a tainted milk-powder scandal in 2008 that claimed six lives.
While the supermarket fridge shelves in China are loaded with processed cheeses from the likes of the Kraft label, increasingly more niche brands are making their mark. New Zealand cheese makers -- such as the Fonterra brand -- have reported a 25 percent rise in sales to China this year.
And the Chinese are determined not to let the internationals have it all their own way. A report in The Australian newspaper this week claims the country is now exporting more than 36,000 breeding heifers to China this year -- up from 1,600 five years ago -- as the country looks to expand its own dairy industry in an effort to stem the tide of imports.
MS
