China focus: Our 10 most-read China stories of 2022 revealed

Next gen products: Swisse’s parent firm lists five key NPD areas including immunity, healthy ageing, to mobility​​

Swisse’s parent company Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group) has identified five key areas, namely immunity, digestion, healthy longevity, mobility support, and beauty benefits, in developing its next generation products.

The firm is also conducting human studies on formulations designed to support consumers who experience urinary tract infections, complaints related to osteoarthritis, high cholesterol, neurocognitive functions and mood.

Last year, the company launched 73 new supplement products, up from 65 in 2020. The largest growth in new product development came from its baby nutrition and care portfolio.

Commercial launch decisions: Nestle’s novel infant formula lands in China following Hong Kong debut​

Nestle had introduced new infant formulas containing a novel nutrient blend in China, after the product made its global debut in Hong Kong in July.

Launched under the brand WYETH S-26 Ultima, the product contains alpha-lipids, sphingomyelin, vitamin B12, DHA, iron, folic acid, and 2’-Fucosyllactose.

This specific nutrient blend, marketed as Nutrilearn Connect, has been clinically shown to increase myelin volume in the brain. Myelin is a lipid-rich sheath that insulates and protects nerve fibres crucial for cognitive and behavioural development.

Anti-allergy and immunity with HMOs: Nestle China launches new infant formulas via CBEC​

Nestle China launched three new infant formulas containing human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) that cater to newborns allergic to cow’s milk protein.

Currently, HMOs such as 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) are pending approval from the China authorities for use in infant formula. As such, products containing HMOs are entering China via cross-border e-commerce.

The three products that Nestle China has launched are Alfamino HMO, Althera HMO, and Alfare HMO, catered to infants between 0 and 12 months old.

Triple tipples: Danone’s three latest healthy ageing powder drinks in China launched on Tmall, Douyin​

Danone launched a set of three healthy ageing nutritional products in China via online channels Tmall and Douyin – the China version of TikTok.

The three products are meant to be taken at three different times of the day, namely 1) a probiotics fibre powder drink for gut and immune health at 7am, 2) a multi protein powder drink for mobility at 2pm, and 3) an evening powder drink for sleep and brain health at 9pm.

Sold under the name ‘Ganmai’ （敢迈）which means daring to take a step out, the product line “advocates the spirit of taking challenge and accepting new things”, ​according to the firm.

Probiotics for healthy ageing: Yili details solid beverage innovation for China launch​

Yili launched a solid beverage formulated with probiotics and GABA as the key ingredients as a new option for the middle-aged and elderly population.

Healthy ageing is one area where Yili is seeing opportunities for new probiotics product innovation.

The new product, known as BL-99, is said to offer digestive, bone, immune health benefits and blood pressure control, Dr. Zhanyou Yun, assistant president of Yili Group told NutraIngredients-Asia.​

Immune focus: China’s Junlebao increases lactoferrin content in latest infant formula launch​​

China’s Junlebao Dairy Group launched a new infant formula, which is said to contain one of the highest lactoferrin content in the market at 468mg/100g of milk powder.

Before that, the firm has been selling products containing 100mg of lactoferrin in per 100 grams of milk powder, with the goal of increasing lactoferrin content to 2.5g/100g eventually.

The intention is to mimic the amount of lactoferrin found in mature breastmilk, according to Celia Ning, who joined the company as the director of Nutrition Research Institute in April.

‘Specific Chinese needs’: Nestle’s Garden of Life launches two new probiotics for kids’ growth and immune health​

Nestle Health Science’s probiotics brand Garden of Life launched two new probiotics targeted at kids’ growth and immune health on China’s offline retail market.

The probiotic strains in the products include Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ​GG, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ​HN001, Bifidobacterium animalis ​BB-12, and Bifidobacterium lactis ​HN019.

Both new products, which come in the form of solid beverages​, are sold as general foods. 

Nestle launches China’s first FSMP for patients suffering from tumour-related conditions​

Nestle launched China’s first Foods for Special Medical Purpose (FSMP) for patients suffering from tumour related conditions, after going through a five-year long approval process from the Chinese regulator.

Known as Oral Impact Su Yi Su, the product is also the only FSMP specially approved for nutritional supplementation in this group of patients currently.

Containing arginine and fish oil omega-3 on top of other basic nutritional ingredients, it was formulated to address the problem of inflammation and compromised immunity in patients.

Swisse cushions H&H’s baby nutrition challenges by growing double-digit in China​

Swisse’s double digital growth in mainland China and growing business in APAC had cushioned parent company Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group) from a challenging baby nutrition market in Q1 this year.

The Hong Kong exchange listed company, which operates adult, baby, and pet nutrition businesses, said on March 22 that group revenue was up 3.2 per cent to RMB11.5bn (US$1.8bn) in FY2021.

Gross profit was up 0.8 per cent to RMB7.2bn (US$1.1bn).

Profits drop: Slump in gross margins for major Chinese infant formula players in first six months of 2022​​

Key players in China’s infant formula industry reported a drop in their gross profit margins in the first six months of this year, including the biggest local player Feihe, Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group), and Ausnutria.

The three companies, which are all listed in Hong Kong Exchanges (HKEX), have pointed out the above in their most recent financial reports for the first six months of this year.

Some of the reasons include a drop in product revenue and rising material costs.