China focus: Feihe’s profit decline, personalised probiotics, H&H Group’s adult nutrition business, BYHEALTH’s growth drivers, Nestle’s adult milk powder
China infant nutrition challenges: Feihe’s profit shrinks 33.5% as country struggles with low birth rate
China’s infant formula giant Feihe says group profit was down 33.5% to RMB$3.29bn (US$455.08m) in FY23, as the country struggles with raising its birth rate despite introducing a three-child policy three years ago.
In its financial results released on March 28, Feihe said that group revenue was down 8.3% year-on-year to RMB$19.53bn (US$2.7bn).
Chairman Leng Youbin cited the low birth rate in China and a highly competitive industry as the primary factors causing the decline.
Personalised probiotics: Tailoring to individual needs boosts health outcomes – new language-based tool
In a recently published study, researchers developed a language-based tool called metaProbiotics, where DNA sequence parts are used as “words” for modelling purposes to better understand how probiotics work within the body.
The researchers used the new tool to identify probiotic strains that could improve health, as well as probiotic bins (clusters) that protect against various diseases.
It was found that individuals often lack certain probiotic gene modules, with significant variation of the missing modules across different diseases. This can affect the interaction of the gut microbiota with probiotics, therefore suggesting that probiotics tailored to individual needs will be more beneficial.
NAD+, liver health needs driving China’s adult nutrition revenue jump – H&H Group
Health & Happiness Group (H&H Group) says demand for its high-end brand Swisse Plus+ is key to the 37.4% revenue jump for its adult nutrition and care (ANC) business in mainland China in FY23.
H&H Group announced its FY2023 financial results in March, with Akash Bedi, Group CEO and CEO of North America, Europe, Middle East and India, stating that the company’s ANC business in China, which mainly consists of supplements under the brand Swisse, has “exceeded expectations”.
Both Swisse Liver Cleanse and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) range from Swisse Plus+ were highlighted as the key products driving growth.
BYHEALTH reports nearly 20% revenue growth in FY23 led by protein, probiotics powder sales
China’s dietary supplement giant BYHEALTH has reported strong revenue growth for its business last year, with operating revenue up 19.66% yoy to RMB$9.41bn (US$1.31bn) led by demand for its protein and probiotics powder supplements.
Net profit attributable to shareholders rose 26.01% to RMB$1.75bn (US$242.6m).
The growth coincided with the increase in average spending on vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements among China consumers, which increased 11.5% to US$23.30 last year.
The company’s financial results for FY2023 was announced on March 19.
Sleep benefits: Nestle China’s new milk powder for adult contains mulberry leaf extract, tryptophan
Nestle China has launched a new milk powder containing mulberry leaf extract, tryptophan, vitamin B, and minerals to support sleep quality in adults.
Known as Yiyang Wanning (怡养晚宁), the milk powder contains five key nutrients, including tryptophan sourced from whey protein concentrate, mulberry leaf extract, magnesium, and zinc, and is rich in protein. It is targeted at consumers aged 40 to 60.
Top-line data has shown that consuming the product could significantly reduce the time to fall asleep by about 15% in the intervention group as compared to the control group.
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