The Rise of China's Trillion Dollar Health Food Industry

Food

In the age of growing health awareness and improved nutritional science, countries are taking food health more seriously, even intervening at the market level to influence the type of foods produced and sold. Countries like the United Kingdom and Mexico have introduced sugar taxes to reduce the sugar content in sweetened beverages, while others, such as France, South Korea, and Singapore, have implemented food labelling policies to encourage producers to develop healthier versions of their products.

^{Singapore’s Nutri-Grade beverage labelling.}

Coining the “Big Health” Industry (大健康产业) in China

Since the launch of the “Healthy China 2030” national initiative in 2016, the country has seen a surge in consumer demand and innovation for healthier food products. According to a report by the China Consumers Association, the Big Health industry (大健康产业) is expected to hit 17 trillion Chinese Yuan (CNY) in revenue by 2025 (USD 2.36 trillion), up from CNY 8 trillion in 2021. This amount is larger than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over 95% of countries globally.

At the heart of this movement is a shift from basic food safety to holistic nutrition. Grain and oil food products are an important part of the Big Health industry and play a vital role in promoting public health. Inspired by the traditional Chinese medicine belief that "food therapy is the best medicine", grain and oil food companies are now integrating health elements into their products. This evolution is not just about reducing sugar or fat—it’s about tailoring nutrition to diverse needs: from diabetics and hyperlipidaemia patients to growing children and ageing populations.

^{70% black barley and bitter buckwheat noodles and other health food products.}

Diabetics monitor their sugar intake, while those with hyperlipidaemia avoid high-fat, high-salt, and high-cholesterol foods. Growing children require specific nutrients and seniors need food that are easy to digest but still nourishing. The question is, how do we meet all these needs without giving up the joy of delicious meals? This is where food companies like Wilmar’s Chinese subsidiary, Yihai Kerry Arawana (YKA), can take the lead.

From whole grains to low-sugar drinks and heart-friendly oils, the Chinese market has seen a surge in health-conscious products in recent years. Since YKA’s Arawana (金龙鱼) brand launched its second-generation blended oil in 2002, YKA has shifted the production focus of edible oils from taste alone to the health benefits of balanced fatty acids. This move kicked off the "nutrition balance revolution” in the edible oil industry.

Arawana (金龙鱼), the flagship brand of YKA, is a household name in China with over 30 years of heritage, leading the market in edible oils, rice, and flour products, and consistently topping rankings such as the China Brand Power Index (C-BPI) and Brand Finance’s Global Food Brand Value Top 100.

^{Arawana's Guweiduo Rice Bran Oil}

YKA has been continuously researching new technologies and investing in scientific innovation, rolling out high-quality grain and oil products such as Guweiduo (谷维多), a brand of rice bran oil that is low in saturated fats and utilises the 6-step fresh rice (6步鲜大米) process, which retains essential nutrients by preserving freshness of the grains from field to table.

^{The "Zero Trans" series of edible oils not only cut trans fats to zero but also retain over 80% of vitamin E and plant sterol nutrients. For health-conscious people, especially those with cardiovascular issues, zero trans fat edible oil has become a key part of their daily diet.}

Research and Innovation

The Healthy China initiative places strong emphasis on scientific research in nutrition and health. In 2018, YKA and the Chinese Nutrition Society jointly established the “National Nutrition Research Fund”, to advance dietary nutrition through food safety science and technology, providing scientific basis for the development of numerous nutritious and healthy food products. By 2023, the initiative had entered its fourth phase. As a leading player in the Big Health functional food industry, YKA has a global R&D centre in Shanghai, supported by a team of over 300 world-class researchers. Over the years, YKA has invested billions of CNY into research and development, laying a solid foundation for its continued expansion in the Big Health sector.

^{Zero Trans Fat Vegetable Oil}

^{Plant Sterol Soy Milk}

^{Instant Wheat Germ}

^{Plant Sterol Product Series}

^{Diacylglycerol oil (DAG oil)}

^{Arawana 6-Step Fresh Wuchang Rice}

When it comes to building product strength and differentiation, YKA goes beyond technological innovation, placing equal emphasis on identifying unmet market needs. It specialises in extracting functional nutrients from natural sources and harnessing nutritional science to develop targeted health foods.

The Big Health industry is entering a new era. As nutritional science continues to advance, the boundaries between food, health and medicine are increasingly blurred. For YKA, the challenge is clear: to stay at the forefront of innovation and lead the next wave of science-based, health-driven food products into the market.

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The Rise of China's Trillion Dollar Health Food Industry

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