GNG President Takeda Takeshi (武田猛) visited trade shows in Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand and said it was important to understand not only trends shared worldwide but also market differences and their backgrounds in each country and region. His approach was to assess markets by combining what he saw at trade shows with local feedback.
This year, Takeda visited BIO Asia–Taiwan, Hi Korea and Vitafoods Asia in succession, saying that overseas markets share global keywords such as Longevity, Women's Health, Gut Health and Beauty-from-Within. At the same time, he said that the way these keywords are turned into products differs by region, suggesting that there is no single global trend, and stressed the need to observe how broader trends change and emerge in each market.
He pointed out that understanding overseas markets requires checking not only trade shows but also products on the shelves of local supermarkets, drugstores and specialty stores. He stressed the importance of confirming at retail how themes seen at trade shows are actually commercialized, including how they are priced and marketed, and of identifying market opportunities through feedback from local partners and industry participants.
Based on continued observation, he identified changes such as Overcap products, packaging with an outer cap. He explained that after attracting attention in South Korean stores, products with a similar format had also become increasingly noticeable at this year’s BIO Asia–Taiwan. Many products using liposome technology were on display at Hi Korea, and he also noted that new ODM/OEM proposals were driving market differentiation. At Vitafoods Asia, amid the large number of exhibitors from China, South Korean companies were gaining a stronger presence, and expressions referring to CDMO services were also seen.
He said that each country’s systems and regulations also influence its market, citing differences in areas such as the classification of foods and pharmaceuticals, restrictions on ingredients and requirements for scientific evidence. Global trends are “translated” in each market, and it was said to be important to interpret them in light of the Japanese market environment and the company’s own technologies and customers.