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| Source: Comexposium-SIAL Exhibition Company. Poster for SIAL Guangzhou. |
SIAL in China and trend forecaster WGSN have identified seven emerging trends shaping China's food and beverage industry in 2026.
The insights follow
SIAL Shanghai 2026, which attracted 183,302 industry professionals from 132 countries and regions, and over US$14 B in intended onsite transactions, according to organisers Comexposium-SIAL Exhibition Company.
The Shanghai show, to return 18-20 May 2027, underlined demand around healthier snacks, functional foods, clean-label products, premium beverages and food-as-medicine concepts. These categories are expected to shape the 4th
SIAL Guangzhou (西雅国际食品展[广州]). Guangzhou is widely recognized as the gateway between China's production base and Southeast Asia.
The broader product mix planned for SIAL Guangzhou 2026 also includes nutritional solutions, natural products, ready-to-drink beverages, new-style tea drinks, specialty coffee, beverage ingredients, sweeteners, concentrates, convenience foods and products for the silver economy.
New-style tea drinks and specialty coffee are feeding demand for ingredients, flavours and formats that can be scaled across retail and foodservice. Functional foods are moving closer to everyday consumption, appearing in snacks, beverages and ready-to-eat formats. Convenience, meanwhile, is redefined: consumers still want speed, but increasingly expect better ingredients, stronger provenance, and a sense of occasion.
The seven trends are:
- Digestive, wellness, dairy
Functional dairy products, including A2 dairy*, camel milk and nutritional solutions, are meeting growing demand for gut health and personalised wellness.
- Clean-label protein snacking
High-protein snacks and premium meat-based products are redefining convenient nutrition with cleaner ingredients and better textures.
- Tea-flavoured innovation
Tea flavours are expanding beyond beverages into snacks, dairy, coffee and confectionery, creating new product opportunities.
- Asian low-alcohol by volume (ABV) revolution
Tea cocktails, sparkling rice wine and ready to drink (RTD) beverages are bringing new experiences to younger consumers.
- Low-glycaemic index (GI) & functional bakery
Low-sugar, slow-release energy and functional bakery products are offering healthier ways to enjoy everyday foods.
- Mood & sensory snacking
Extreme sour flavours, cooling effects and multi-sensory experiences are transforming snacks into experiences.
- Food-as-medicine wellness
Herbal nutrition, botanical drinks and zero-sugar solutions combine traditional ingredients with modern wellness concepts.
Taking place from 3 to 5 September 2026 at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo, SIAL in Guangzhou arrives at a time when international buyers, distributors and retail procurement teams are looking more closely at supplier reliability, product differentiation and faster access to Asian growth markets.
The event is expanding to four exhibition halls this year, hosting over 1,500 exhibitors across
15 sectors. The ambition is to make South China’s edition a more prominent international sourcing platform, especially for buyers seeking export-ready Chinese suppliers and Asian market insight in the same place.
New initiatives planned for 2026 include a Halal Food Village, reflecting rising demand from Muslim consumers across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East as well as growing interest from retailers and foodservice operators
looking for certified products with international potential.
The village will showcase halal-certified products from China's major
Muslim food-producing regions, including Xinjiang and Gansu, alongside
international exhibitors and country pavilions, including from
Thailand.
With Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Gulf markets
continuing to expand on halal food imports that respond to mainstream expectations around quality, convenience and innovation, the segment is expected
to become one of the exhibition's fastest-growing categories.
According to the organisers, the halal category also overlaps
with clean labelling, traceability, premiumisation and food safety, all
themes that resonate beyond Muslim-majority markets.
The
International Top Buyer Programme is another major part of the 2026 proposition at
SIAL Guangzhou. Targeting procurement leaders from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, the programme is designed to bring decision-makers closer to qualified suppliers through matchmaking, sourcing support, translation services, VIP networking, hotel accommodation and curated meetings.
Beyond sourcing, SIAL Guangzhou 2026 will include events such as the SIAL Innovation Awards, SIAL in China Awards, SIAL Snacking Awards, SIAL Cup Barista Challenge, SIAL Chic & Tea Contest, Match Me, SIAL White Paper Market Insights and SIAL Elite Hour.
Some of the buyers who will be present at SIAL Guangzhou 2026:
Retail
- Angliss Shenzhen Food Service (上海安得列郎晴食品贸易)
- Busy Ming Group Company (湖南鸣鸣很忙商业)
- Fujian Wanchen Food Group Company
- Guangdong Jiarong Supermarket Company
- GuangDong Sai Yi Convenience Stores (广东赛壹便利店)
- Hema (China) Company
- Jiangmen Dachang Supermarket Company
- Meiyijia Holdings
- Rainbow DIGITAL Commercial Company
- WAL-MART (China) Investment Company
- Yonghui Superstores Company
Catering
- Guangzhou Restaurant Group Co., Ltd.
- Guangzhou Tao Tao Ju Company (陶陶居)
- GYH L
- Jiumao Jiu (Guangzhou) Holdings Company
- Juewei Food Company
- Luckin Coffee Group Company
- Mixue Group (蜜雪冰城)
- Shenzhen Yamei Catering Management Company
- Shenzhen Yiren Yiwei Hot Pot Chain Company
- Yuan JI Food Group Company
- Zhongyin Babi Food Company (中饮巴比食品)
Hotels
- Cixi Tiandi Jiayuan Hotel Company
- Fujian Lijiu Jiayan Hotel Management Company
- Fuqing Longshun Hotel Company
- HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Company
- Jiangsu Yachengtong Hotel Management Company
- Shanghai Grand Glory Hotel Company
- Shenzhen ZTE Hetai Hotel Investment Management Company (深圳市中興和泰酒店投資管理)
- Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
- Southern Airline Pearl Hotel
- Wenzhou Four Seasons Hotel Company
- Zhejiang New Century Hotel Management Company
E-commerce
- Douyin Company
- Dichao (Shenzhen) Network Technology Company
- Fuzhou Pupu E-commerce Company
- Guangzhou Sankuai Network Technology Company
- Hangzhou Television Network Technology Company
- JD
- POIZON
- Shanghai 100me Internet Technology Company
- Taobao (China) Software Company
- VIPSHOP (China) Company
- Zhejiang Tmall Technology Company
Trading
- Dreamer Oversea Group Company
- Guangzhou Dingyi Food Group Company
- Guangdong Lingyu International Trade Company
- Guangdong Shengnong International Trading Company
- Guangdong Wuyang Frozen Food Company
- Guangzhou Xiangsheng Import and Export Trading Company
- Guangzhou Youxi Cheng Trading Company
- Qingdao Ximengde International Trade Company
- Shanghai Youliang Industrial Company
- Xi'an Hecai Trading Company
- Xiamen Kangperruixun International Trade Company
Logistics
- Guangdong Green Tomato Supply Chain Management Company (广东绿番茄供应链管理)
- Guangdong Jiarong Supply Chain Management Company
- Guangdong Wentai Supply Chain Management Company
- Guangzhou Nansha Haijixing International Supply Chain Company
- HeNan Ocean Times Supply Chain Company
- Hongpeng Supply Chain (Shenzhen) Company
- Hunan Juyuan Jicai Supply Chain Company
- Shenzhen Aojia Supply Chain Company
- Shenzhen Asia Global Fresh Supply Chain (Group) Company
- Shenzhen Shengjia Supply Chain Management Company
- Shuhai (Shenzhen) Supply Chain Management Company
Food manufacturing & processing
- Beidahuang Food Group Hebei Company
- Bestore Company
- Guangdong Beary Foodstuff Company
- Guangdong Rimei Foods Company
- Guangdong Jiashili Food Group Company
- GUANG DONG JIA YOU Food Company
- Guangzhou Li Shanghuang Food Company
- Haoxiangni Health Food Company
- Henry Food Company
- Shenzhen Jiulongzhai Food Company
- Zhejiang Yiming Food Company
Others
- China Nanhang Group Aviation Food Company
- Guangdong Meow Fish Cultural Gifts Company (广东喵鱼文化礼品)
- Guangdong Zhongshan Health Industry Technology Company
- Hangzhou Leke E-commerce Company
- Hubei Airport Group Aviation Logistics Company
- Lianhua (Xiamen) Aviation Food Company
- Shanghai Eastern Air Catering Company
- Spring Airlines Company
- Wuxi Anjing Food Marketing Company, Suzhou Branch
- Zhuhai Hengqin Good Sing Culture CCI Capital
- Zhengzhou Qianweiyangchu Food Company (郑州千味央厨食品)
Details
SIAL Guangzhou 2026 | 3–5 September | Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo, Guangzhou, China
Register at https://dwz.cn/I3xC9VAY
*A2 dairy does not contain A1 proteins. Traditionally, cow's milk contains both A1 and A2 proteins.