How to profit from Chinese consumers’ growing demand for food safety

When the Chinese government recently released its first policy paper of the year, known as the “number one document”, food safety was listed as one of its top priorities for 2015. It’s a policy decision that will certainly be welcomed by Chinese consumers. However, at the same time it serves as a stark reminder of the many food safety scandals that have plagued China in recent years.

First there was the tainted milk scandal in 2008 that sickened an estimated 300,000 babies, killing six, after they consumed milk powder tainted with melamine, a chemical compound often found in laminate flooring and dry erase boards. This scandal was followed by several incidences involving tainted pork. In one incident the pork was treated with paraffin and other industrial chemicals to make it look like beef, which is more expensive. In fact, selling fake meat in China is a fairly common practice.

However, the high number of nausea-inducing food scandals is very much at odds with the rapid rise of China’s consumer class. China’s strong economic growth has resulted in a wealthier population, which in turn has increased levels of consumption. With increased purchasing power comes the demand for higher quality, and this is especially true in terms of food consumption.

While the government has already made some efforts to crack down on food safety, the public remains sceptical. After the tainted milk scandal, for example, there was a significant drop in domestic output of baby formula. The Chinese consumer made it clear that safety matters, and subsequently almost half of the country’s milk powder market has now been dominated by foreign brands, which are perceived as more trustworthy.

What this tells investors looking to cash-in on China’s changing consumer class is that reputable food suppliers are a pretty good bet. Reputable doesn’t always necessarily mean foreign though: One high-profile food safety scandal in China involved a U.S-owned meat factory operating in China that sold tainted meat to clients including McDonald’s, Starbucks, KFC and Pizza Hut.

Aquatic Foods Group Plc seafood product

One company that defies the food scandal stigma in China is Aquatic Foods Group Plc. The marine foods and seafood processor, which recently successfully listed on London’s AIM market, spent many years adhering to international food safety standards and procedures that mitigate the risk to consumers. Aquatic Foods’ strong track record of exporting to international markets, has further enhanced the perception of quality and reliability at home something which the growing Chinese Middle Class demands. In short, Aquatic Foods is helping to fill the gaping hole in Chinese consumer demand for safe and healthy food.

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