Prepared food gains favour and flavour, and supermarkets are serving it up.

摘要

The supermarket retail revolution has spread across China, with modernisation of the infrastructure providing frozen food to consumers. For the first time, a segment of the population has become interested in non-Chinese food and can afford imported products. Western-style cuisine has been introduced via quick-service restaurants, with KFC being the market leader. Frozen food aisles of supermarkets are stocked with curries, pasta dishes and ice creams, as well as Chinese speciality items like frozen seafoods. Demand for frozen meat products has increased. Major hypermarkets such as Carrefour, Wal-Mart and Metro have spread from southern China to major cities in the north and north east. Strong local competitors are also fighting for market share, with imported food being viewed as a profitable niche. Beijing has a significant expatriate population, creating sufficient demand to support small grocery stores specialising in imported products.