2024
8
China Sauces, Seasonings and Spreads Market Report 2024
2025-02-19T10:01:50+00:00
REP1D40AF9D_7CB6_4E1A_824D_F65328C01930
4995
179598
[{"name":"Oils, Sauces and Seasonings","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/food\/meals-meal-components\/oils-sauces-seasonings"}]
Report
en_GB
This report looks at the following areas: Market size and growth prospects for condiments and seasonings The company landscape and marketing activities Trends and innovations in condiments and seasonings Consumer…
  1. /
  2. All Industries
  3. /
  4. Food
  5. /
  6. Meals and Meal Components
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  8. Oils, Sauces and Seasonings
  9. /
  10. China Sauces, Seasonings and Spreads Market Report 2024

China Sauces, Seasonings and Spreads Market Report 2024

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This report looks at the following areas:

  • Market size and growth prospects for condiments and seasonings
  • The company landscape and marketing activities
  • Trends and innovations in condiments and seasonings
  • Consumer usage of condiments and seasonings, brand awareness and consumption preferences
  • Exploring innovation opportunities in different directions for ready-made sauces and seasonings

The condiment industry has shifted from competition on speed to competition on quality. Base sauces need to be optimised to align with consumers’ health concerns, which can enhance consumer confidence in both products and companies. Ready-made sauces require agile innovation, with close monitoring of category changes and the preferences of new generations of consumers feeding into new product launches.

Vera Zheng, Senior Analyst, China Insights

Market Definitions

The Report covers the most commonly seen sauces, seasonings and spreads in the Chinese market, including traditional Chinese sauces and seasonings and foreign sauces and seasonings.

Market sizes are provided for bottled/packaged sauces in the following categories:

  • Soy sauce/soya sauce/shoyu
  • Vinegar
  • Ready-made sauces and seasonings (including oyster sauce, tomato sauce, mushroom sauce)
  • Ready-made dressings (including vinaigrette, cold marinades)
  • Hot pot soup base

The following two categories are outside the scope of this report:

  • Pickled condiments
  • Cooking oils (see Mintel Report Cooking Oils – China – 2024)
Collapse All
  1. Executive summary

    • Key issues covered in this Report
    • Definition
    • What you need to know
    • The market
    • Base sauces have peaked, and ready-made sauces are exploring blue oceans in the condiment market
    • Market factors
    • Companies and brands
    • Base seasoning companies see mixed fortunes, while ready-made seasoning companies perform strongly
    • Marketing activities
    • New product trends
    • Graph 1: share of sauce launches, by minus claims, 2019-24
    • Graph 2: share of sauce launches, by natural claims, 2019-24
    • Examples of products that reflect these trends
    • The consumer
    • Chilli sauce and umami flavour enhancers are reaching saturation, and the usage frequency of other sauces needs to be increased
    • Graph 3: condiment penetration and high-frequency usage, 2024
    • Haitian has the highest penetration rate, while soy sauce-focused companies ride high
    • Consumers are more willing to buy condiments with health benefits
    • Consumers are most eager to try regional flavours; products can highlight local characteristics
    • Enhancing flavour is the primary motivation, followed by convenience
    • Soup/hotpot continues to lead, while braised/steamed dishes attract consumer interest
    • Graph 4: interest in ready-made sauces and seasonings for different dishes, 2024
    • Pasta sauces/BBQ sauces have the highest repurchase rates, Southeast Asian sauces are attracting consumer interest
    • Graph 5: foreign condiment usage and interest, 2024
    • Issues and insights
    • Eliminate pain points by balancing health and taste
    • What we think
  2. The market

    • Market size and forecast
    • Base sauces have peaked, and ready-made sauces are exploring blue oceans in the condiment market
    • Market factors
    • Foodservice growth has tumbled, while household food consumption has picked up
    • Graph 6: spending more compared to last month, by consumption type, 2024
    • Graph 7: year-on-year growth of retail sales, by consumption type, 2019-24
    • Family sizes are shrinking, and the traditional division of labour is fracturing
    • Graph 8: household size, 1982-2020
    • As working hours lengthen, the importance of simplified meal preparation becomes clearer
    • Graph 9: average weekly working hours of company employees nationwide, 2020-24
    • China encourages the development of regional food industry clusters and supports food enterprises to connect with rural industries
  3. Companies and brands

    • Market share
    • Base seasoning companies see mixed fortunes, while ready-made seasoning companies perform strongly
    • Base sauce companies have upgraded their products, but zero additive claims have not provided protection
    • Ready-made sauce companies reach out to younger audiences and develop online channels
    • Marketing activities
    • Haitian commits to transparency around factory production, providing reassurance to the younger generation
    • Yihai International launches New Year gift boxes and cooperates with ecommerce platforms; Kuai Shou Xiao Chu regains momentum
    • Looking beyond dipping sauces, Heinz strengthens market education and expands into cooking scenarios
    • New product trends
    • Strong growth in launches with ‘no additives/preservatives’ claims make it increasingly important to reinforce the claim’s effectiveness
    • Graph 10: share of launches, by natural claims, 2019-24
    • Example of innovative products with ‘no additives/preservatives’ claims
    • The share of ‘low/no/reduced sodium’ claims increases, seeing the only growth in minus claims
    • Graph 11: share of sauce launches, by minus claims, 2019-24
    • Examples of innovations with ‘low/no/reduced sodium’ claims
    • The share of private label products has surged, intensifying competition among condiment brands
    • Graph 12: share of private label products in sauces and seasonings launches, 2019-24
    • Examples of innovative private label products
  4. The consumer

    • The consumer section will be divided into three topics:
    • Condiment usage
    • Chilli sauce and umami flavour enhancers are reaching saturation, and the usage frequency of other sauces needs to be increased
    • Graph 13: condiment penetration and high-frequency usage, 2024
    • Western-style sauces can increase their usage frequency by being incorporated into Chinese cuisine
    • Graph 14: dining habits and frequency, 2024
    • 18-39s use ready-made sauces more frequently due to convenience
    • Graph 15: high-frequency condiment usage, by age, 2024
    • Cold marinades/brines have greater potential among 25-39s
    • Graph 16: cold soak marinade/brine (f), usage frequency, 2024
    • Condiment brand awareness
    • Haitian has the highest penetration rate, while soy sauce-focused companies ride high
    • Graph 17: condiment brand penetration rates, 2024
    • Haitian enjoys a high penetration rate in all regions, while other brands have their own regional advantages
    • Graph 18: condiment brand penetration rates, by region, 2024
    • Attitudes related to condiments
    • Consumers are more willing to buy condiments with health benefits
    • Graph 19: agreement with statements about condiments, 2024
    • Families with multiple children have a strong willingness to purchase healthful and nutritional condiments
    • Graph 20: agreement with statements about condiments, by living situation, 2024
    • Graph 21: agreement with statements about condiments, by family structure, 2024
    • 25-39s who are keen on weight management are more cautious in their choice of condiments
    • Graph 22: agreement with statements about condiments, by age, 2024
    • Consumers are most eager to try regional flavours; products can highlight local characteristics
    • Graph 23: agreement with statements about condiments, 2024
    • High-income groups have a particular fondness for foreign flavours
    • Graph 24: agreement with statements about condiments, by monthly personal income, 2024
    • Exploring opportunities for innovation in ready-made sauces and seasonings
    • Enhancing flavour is the primary motivation, followed by convenience
    • Graph 25: reasons for using ready-made sauces and seasonings, 2024
    • Complex dishes are more appealing to 30-39s
    • Graph 26: reasons for using ready-made sauces and seasonings, by age, 2024
    • Younger women are more interested in the dishes themselves
    • Graph 27: reasons for using ready-made sauces and seasonings, by gender and age, 2024
    • Soup/hotpot continues to lead, while braised/steamed dishes attract consumer interest
    • Graph 28: interest in ready-made sauces and seasonings for different dishes, 2024
    • Braised food seasonings have great potential and enjoy a good repurchase rate in Eastern China
    • Graph 29: ready-made sauces and seasonings for braised dishes, by region, 2024
    • Freshippo braising seasoning packs have sparked a homemade braised food craze among consumers
    • Steamed dishes are more suitable for families of two or more
    • Graph 30: ready-made sauces and seasonings for steamed dishes, by living situation, 2024
    • Exploring opportunities for innovation in foreign seasonings
    • Pasta sauces/BBQ sauces have the highest repurchase rates, Southeast Asian sauces are attracting consumer interest
    • Graph 31: foreign condiment usage and interest, 2024
    • 18-24s are full of curiosity about familiar yet unfamiliar coconut cream
    • Graph 32: coconut cream usage and interest, by age, 2024
    • Tom yum paste elicits strong willingness to try among people aged 40-49
    • Graph 33: tom yum paste usage and interest, by age, 2024
    • Comprehensive supermarkets/shopping websites are the most common purchasing channels, followed closely by gourmet stores/short video platforms
    • Graph 34: foreign condiment purchasing channels, 2024
    • The south and mid-west mostly use online channels, while the east favours warehouse clubs
    • Graph 35: foreign condiment purchasing channels, by region, 2024
  5. Issues and insights

    • Focus on the potential of cold marinades/brines
    • New launch activity is increasing in cold marinades/brines
    • Graph 36: share of cold marinades/brines in condiment launches, 2019-24
    • Male consumers aged 18-24 have the highest consumption frequency, followed by females aged 25-39
    • Graph 37: usage frequency* of cold marinades/brines, by gender and age, 2024
    • Launch a variety of cold marinades/brines to cater to growing consumption
    • Focus on increasing consumer demand for steamed dishes
    • Eliminate pain points by balancing health and taste
    • Graph 38: reasons for using ready-made sauces and seasonings, 2024
    • Steamed dishes are trending, driving up demand for complementary condiments
    • Graph 39: share of condiment launches featuring the keyword ‘steam (蒸)’, 2019-24
    • Regional steamed dishes could be a new area for innovation
    • Graph 40: social media data, by region, January-December 2024
    • Explore condiment solutions to weight management demands
    • Diet management is key to maintaining a healthy weight
    • Graph 41: ways to achieve weight management goals, 2024
    • Salad dressing/vinaigrette launches are declining
    • Graph 42: share of condiments including the keyword ‘salad (色拉)’, 2019-24
    • Launch condiments suitable for low-fat, low-calorie meals for the whole family
    • Graph 43: value sales (RMB) of ‘cold dish dressing (凉拌汁)’ on ecommerce platforms, 2023-24
  6. Appendix – market size and forecast, research methodology and abbreviations

    • Market size and forecast
    • Methodology

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