Trade4go Summary
Sports nutrition is increasingly prominent in China, with its rich variety and novelty appealing to consumers. The fusion of diverse flavors in sports and functional nutrition products has also enhanced the sector's attractiveness.
Sports Nutrition Sales Trends
In the past year, China was the second-largest country in sports nutrition sales. 22% of consumers are influenced by "low-sugar/sugar-free/reduced-sugar" claims when purchasing sports and functional nutrition products. As a result, zero-sugar and low-sugar product launches have garnered significant attention, catering to consumers focused on calorie intake. Formulations using alternative sweeteners like stevia and sugar alcohols have also supported product development in the region.
Sports Nutrition Product Launch Trends
Over the past two years, new product launches in the sports nutrition category have shown fluctuating trends. Chinese consumers' positive attitude toward health has driven the diversification of sports nutrition products. Energy supplement products containing caffeine and taurine, whey protein for weight gain, vitamin C for immune enhancement, and probiotics promoting gut health have all contributed to category growth, aligning with consumers' core needs. This health philosophy reflects a "prevention-first" trend—consumers are taking proactive measures to prevent health issues and increasingly choosing products that meet their individual health requirements.
Dominant Subcategories
Sports nutrition trends indicate that 26% of Chinese consumers prefer powder-form supplements. Consistent with this, the powder supplement subcategory maintains a leading position, with new product launches averaging 59% of the entire category over the past year. Powder-form products such as whey protein, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), essential amino acids (EAA), electrolytes, and monohydrate creatine have met consumer demands, helping sports powders maintain their top position in the sports nutrition market.
Sports Nutrition Core Claims
Protein source is the most mainstream product positioning, appearing in 36% of new sports nutrition products. Sports nutrition trends show that 38% of Chinese consumers view protein as an important ingredient and pay attention to ingredient lists on product packaging. This preference is reflected in numerous new products with "protein" as the core packaging label claim, aligning with the "ingredients first" trend—brands emphasize key ingredients to strengthen consumers' positive perception of core components.
Sports Nutrition Flavor Preferences
Mainstream flavors include mango, milk chocolate, straw
Original content
Sports nutrition is increasingly prominent in China, with its rich variety and novelty appealing to consumers. The integration of diverse flavors in sports and functional nutrition products has also enhanced its attractiveness. Sports Nutrition Sales Trends In the past year, China was the second-largest country in sports nutrition sales. 22% of consumers are influenced by "low-sugar/sugar-free/reduced-sugar" claims when purchasing sports and functional nutrition products. Consequently, zero-sugar and low-sugar product launches have garnered significant attention, catering to consumers who are mindful of calorie intake. Formulations using alternative sweeteners like stevia and sugar alcohols have also supported product development in the region. Sports Nutrition Product Launch Trends Over the past two years, new product launches in the sports nutrition category have shown fluctuating trends. Chinese consumers' positive attitude toward health has driven the diversification of sports ...