What are the new trends in dairy products and infant nutrition products?
Published Time:
2026-01-16
China News Service, December 25th (Reporter Zhao Fangyuan) In recent years, the consumption of dairy products in China is undergoing changes. On the one hand, about 660 million people in China suffer from lactose intolerance or suspected lactose intolerance. Drinking regular milk can easily cause discomfort such as bloating and diarrhea, while traditional milk makes them "want to drink but dare not". On the other hand, there are significant differences in nutritional needs among different populations. Children in the transition period need more friendly nutrition, while nearly one-third of the population over 50 years old face multiple problems such as osteoporosis and joint degeneration, making it difficult for universal products to meet their specific needs. At the same time, consumers' health awareness is increasing day by day. Young parents pursue refined parenting, fitness enthusiasts focus on high protein and body management, while silver haired individuals focus on bone and digestive health. Under the contradiction of "drinking less" and "drinking incorrectly", the dairy industry has begun to shift from traditional universal supply to a more targeted "precision nutrition" path. The intensive launch of segmented products targeting different demographics and functions has become a new growth direction for the industry. Major domestic dairy companies are implementing differentiated layouts and practices based on their own resources and technological advantages. For example, three small cows under the Mengniu Group have successfully entered the broad market of lactose intolerance by creating the "soft milk" category. Based on this, they have further launched "Baohu Milk" that increases human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and "Gulian Milk" that focuses on skeletal muscle and meat health, targeting "one elderly and one young". They have completed a precise product matrix from solving the problem of "not drinking" to meeting the "right drinking" requirement. Despite the broad prospects, the industry still faces challenges in moving towards "precision nutrition". At present, the form of related products in the market is still relatively single, mainly consisting of milk powder or liquid milk with added DHA and probiotics, with obvious homogenization competition. At the same time, sales channels still mainly rely on traditional offline mother and baby stores, making it difficult to effectively reach new target groups such as middle-aged and elderly people. In addition, the research and development production system, regulations, and industry standards for functional products also need to be further improved. At present, the development of precision nutrition by dairy companies is still in a relatively early stage of exploration, "industry insiders pointed out." Whether from financial reports or online sales, the related products of major dairy companies are still far from becoming the "main source of revenue." However, with more companies investing strategically, competition in the field is becoming increasingly fierce. For future development, dairy analyst Song Liang predicts that the precision nutrition business is expected to enter a golden development period from 2026, and the industry will enter a rapid upward trend. By 2028, the market size is expected to reach 100 billion to 150 billion yuan. (End)
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