American Lorain Corporation, a Linyi, Shandong Province-based producer of frozen foods and shelf stable snacks, announced on December 31 that it will supply more than 400 Walmart stores in China with its branded Youtiao products. Crispy on the outside with a honeycomb-like soft texture on the inside, the deep fried dough stick is a popular breakfast item in the PRC that is typically served with soy milk.
“Our exclusive presence in the Youtiao category with these Wal-Mart stores helps to significantly spread our brand recognition in China,” said Si Chen, chairman and chief executive officer of American Lorain. “We believe that this is just the beginning as we are working closely with Walmart to launch more innovative products in the near future.”
The company, which introduced Lorain branded Youtiao products to the Chinese market in June of 2015, rolled out a breakfast food cart pilot program two months later to create more opportunities to boost sales. It is cooperating closely with dealers across the country to gain distribution at hotels, shopping malls and schools. By the end of September approximately 100,000 cases of Lorain branded Youtiao products had been sold, generating about 5 million RMB ($790,000) in receipts.
Founded in 1995, American Lorain Corporation is China’s leading maker of value-added chestnut products. Its extensive range, however, goes far beyond that category as over 200 items ranging from frozen vegetables and fruits to ready-to-eat meals are offered. In addition to serving the domestic market, the company exports to more than 40 countries and regions including Japan, South Korea, the USA, Southeast Asia and Europe.
