SIAL in China and World's Global Style Network (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.
The Shanghai show underlined demand around healthier snacks, functional foods, clean-label products, premium beverages and food-as-medicine concepts, all categories now expected to shape the atmosphere at SIAL Guangzhou.
The broader product mix planned for SIAL Guangzhou 2026 reads like a snapshot of Asian consumption in transition. Healthier snacks, functional foods, 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 are all set to feature.
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 being redefined: consumers still want speed, but increasingly expect better ingredients, stronger provenance and a sense of occasion.
1. Digestive, wellness, dairy
Functional dairy products, including A2 dairy, camel milk and nutritional solutions, are meeting growing demand for gut health and personalized wellness.
2. Clean-label protein snacking
High-protein snacks and premium meat-based products are redefining convenient nutrition with cleaner ingredients and better textures.
3. Tea-flavoured innovation
Tea flavours are expanding beyond beverages into snacks, dairy, coffee and confectionery, creating new product opportunities.
4. Asian low-ABV revolution
Tea cocktails, sparkling rice wine and RTD beverages are bringing new and tipsy experiences to younger consumers.
5. Low-GI & functional bakery
Low-sugar, slow-release energy and functional bakery products are offering healthier ways to enjoy everyday foods.
6. Mood & sensory snacking
Extreme sour flavours, cooling effects and multi-sensory experiences are transforming snacks into emotional experiences.
7. Food-as-medicine wellness
Herbal nutrition, botanical drinks and zero-sugar solutions combine traditional ingredients with modern wellness concepts.
As these trends continue to influence product development and consumer behaviour across Asia, SIAL Guangzhou 2026 will bring together innovative products and suppliers responding to these market shifts.
Taking place from 3 to 5 September 2026 at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo, SIAL in China South, 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.
At SIAL Guangzhou 2026, food trends will be reflected through products showcased by more than 1,500 exhibitors across 15 sectors, offering visitors a closer look at the future direction of the food and beverage market. The event is expanding to four exhibition halls this year. 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.
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. Together, they give the exhibition a more layered identity, mixing product discovery with networking, competition, category intelligence and market signals.
Some of the top buyers who will be present at SIAL Guangzhou 2026:
Retail
Yonghui Superstores Co., Ltd.
Rainbow DIGITAL Commercial Co., Ltd.
Angliss Shenzhen Food Service Limited
WAL-MART (China) Investment Co., Ltd.
Hema (China) Co., Ltd.
Busy Ming Group Co., Ltd.
Fujian Wanchen Food Group Co., Ltd.
Jiangmen Dachang Supermarket Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Jiarong Supermarket Co., Ltd.
Meiyijia Holdings Limited
GuangDong Sai Yi Convenience Stores Limited
Catering
Luckin Coffee Group Co., Ltd.
Mixue Group
Shenzhen Yiren Yiwei Hot Pot Chain Co., Ltd.
Juewei Food Co., Ltd.
Yuan JI Food Group Co., Ltd.
GYH L Limited
Guangzhou Restaurant Group Co., Ltd.
Zhongyin Babi Food Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Yamei Catering Management Co., Ltd.
Jiumao Jiu (Guangzhou) Holdings Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Tao Tao Ju Co., Ltd.
Hotels
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang New Century Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
Fuqing Longshun Hotel Co., Ltd.
Cixi Tiandi Jiayuan Hotel Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Grand Glory Hotel Co., Ltd.
Wenzhou Four Seasons Hotel Co., Ltd.
Fujian Lijiu Jiayan Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
Southern Airline Pearl Hotel
Jiangsu Yachengtong Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Zte Hetai Hotel Investment Management Co., Ltd.
E-commerce
JD
Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd.
POIZON
VIPSHOP (China) Co., Ltd.
Douyin Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Sankuai Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co., Ltd.
Shanghai 100me Internet Technology Co., Ltd.
Fuzhou Pupu E-commerce Co., Ltd.
Hangzhou Television Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Dichao (Shenzhen) Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Trading
Guangdong Wuyang Frozen Food Co., Ltd.
Dreamer Oversea Group Co., Ltd.
Xi'an Hecai Trading Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Youliang Industrial Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Dingyi Food Group Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Lingyu International Trade Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Xiangsheng Import and Export Trading Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Youxi Cheng Trading Co., Ltd.
Xiamen Kangperruixun International Trade Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Shengnong International Trading Co., Ltd.
Qingdao Ximengde International Trade Co., Ltd.
Logistics
Guangzhou Nansha Haijixing International Supply Chain Co., Ltd.
Hunan Juyuan Jicai Supply Chain Co., Ltd.
HeNan Ocean Times Supply Chain Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Asia Global Fresh Supply Chain (Group) Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Shengjia Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Jiarong Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd.
Hongpeng Supply Chain (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Wentai Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd.
Shuhai (Shenzhen) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Aojia Supply Chain Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Green Tomato Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd.
Food manufacturing & processing
Beidahuang Food Group Hebei Limited Company
Zhejiang Yiming Food Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Jiulongzhai Food Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Beary Foodstuff Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Rimei Foods Co., Ltd.
Bestore Co., Ltd.
GUANG DONG JIA YOU Food Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou Li Shanghuang Food Co., Ltd.
Henry Food Co., Ltd.
Haoxiangni Health Food Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Jiashili Food Group Co., Ltd.
Others
Lianhua (Xiamen) Aviation Food Co., Ltd.
Hubei Airport Group Aviation Logistics Co., Ltd.
Spring Airlines Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Meow Fish Cultural Gifts Co., Ltd.
China Nanhang Group Aviation Food Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Eastern Air Catering Co., Ltd.
Zhuhai Hengqin Good Sing Culture CCI Capital Ltd.
Hangzhou Leke E-commerce Co., Ltd.
Zhengzhou Qianweiyangchu Food Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Zhongshan Health Industry Technology Co., Ltd.
Wuxi Anjing Food Marketing Co., Ltd. Suzhou Branch
Details
SIAL Guangzhou 2026 | 3–5 September | Guangzhou, China
Register at https://dwz.cn/I3xC9VAY
