2018年CRI Chinese instant noodle market cools down

 

When it comes to instant noodles, China is the world's biggest producer, and its biggest market.

But as more and more Chinese people pursue healthier lifestyles, the market for the cheap and convenient snack faces falling demand.

Instant noodles, invented in Japan in the 1950s, have flourished in China since the 1980s.

The cheap and time-saving snack became a popular convenience food in China, despite concerns that they are unhealthy.

"For example, when I go aboard, I like to buy some noodles in case I am not used to the food there. And I like to choose the noodles packaged in bags rather than bowls, because those plastic bowls might contain something unhealthy," said a consumer who did not give her name. 

Data from the World Instant Noodle Association shows that more than 46 billion packets of instant noodles were sold in China in 2013, which is equal to 1,500 packets every second.

However, sales of instant noodles started to plunge¹ in the same year, as online food delivery services started to spring up in the country.

The number of noodle packets sold fell 17 percent in 2016, which is equal to 8 billion fewer packets sold than in the peak year.

"The most important thing is that innovation in the instant noodle industry fell far behind demand. With people becoming rich, they would like to eat fresh, nutritious², and healthy food. But instant noodles just can give people convenience. People would like to eat some meat and vegetables, people would like to eat some fiber," said Zhao Ping from the China Council for the Promotion³ of International Trade.

Thanks to the boom in China's online food delivery industry, consumers can order any food they like and have it delivered to their home or office.

And consumers are more willing to pay a higher price for take-out food as it is fresher and offers more varieties of taste.

"The second reason is that more and more competitors have appeared. In China, the Internet has become part of daily life for everybody. So if people would like to eat something fresh and hot, they can order take-out food online," said Zhao.

Sales of instant noodles on railway trains during the Spring Festival travel rush are also falling, after railway authorities launched an online meal ordering and delivery service on high-speed trains last July.

China laid out a national fitness plan for the population in 2016, which led to the increasing participation⁴ of the general public in exercise. This growing attention to healthier lifestyles has also contributed to the contraction⁵ of the instant noodle and soft drink markets.

1 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

2 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

3 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

4 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

5 contraction   

n.缩略词，缩写式，害病

参考例句：

• The contraction of this muscle raises the lower arm.肌肉的收缩使前臂抬起。
• The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction.扩张力和收缩力相互平衡。