Has the Golden Age of Imported Snack Distribution Ended?

Craving Japanese raw chocolate during a late-night binge-watching session, reaching for a New Zealand oat smoothie after a workout, or impressing guests with Spanish ham slices at weekend gatherings—these scenarios reveal a 143.2 billion RMB imported snack market. When Gen Z is willing to pay premium prices for exotic flavors, is distributing imported snacks a blue ocean opportunity or a minefield?

Ms. Li's cross-border e-commerce data shows a 27% year-on-year increase in imported snack repurchase rates in 2023, with average order values surpassing the 200 RMB threshold. This growth is driven by three key factors:

• Supply chain revolution: Cross-border cold chain systems like those built by Zhongshitong have reduced transportation costs for Belgian chocolate by 40%
• Generational shift in consumption: Among post-95 consumers, 68% will try unfamiliar imported brands due to "Instagrammable packaging"
• Channel expansion opportunities: Imported snack specialty stores in third-tier cities are growing at 133% annually

Mr. Zhang lost 800k in his first year distributing Korean chips by overlooking these details:

• Product selection pitfalls: A full container of Malaysian curry puffs was returned due to missing halal certification
• Tariff blind spots: Misclassification of German candies led to 27% excess VAT payments
• Warehouse hazards: Swiss cheese melted due to temperature control failures, causing over 150k in losses

To stand out among 3,000 homogeneous distributors, create unique value propositions:

• Scenario-based bundles: Package Italian sparkling water with French biscuits as "Afternoon Tea Set for Besties"
• Cultural enhancement: Include handwritten Kyoto-themed postcards with Japanese wagashi
• Data-driven selection: Mine cross-border platform trends for emerging products (e.g., 300% surge in searches for "low-GI Thai coconut rolls")

As the industry consolidates, true winners are developing these capabilities: Establishing in-house labs to meet stricter food safety standards, creating WeChat mini-programs for "bonded warehouse direct shipping + community group buying" dual models, and negotiating exclusive distribution rights with overseas factories for customized low-sugar versions tailored to Chinese tastes.

At this inflection point of snack consumption upgrade, which approach do you favor? Focusing on single hit products with extreme cost performance, or creating multinational snack experience stores? Share your business insights in the comments.