From Trends to Practice: Bakery China Autumn 2026 (Oct 22–24, Wuhan International Expo Center)

Unlocking New Profit‑Making Strategies for China’s Bakery Industry

ORGANISERS: China Association of Bakery & Confectionery Industry, Bakery China Exhibitions Co., Ltd.

DATES: Oct 22–24, 2026 ｜ VENUE: Wuhan International Expo Center

Organised by the China Association of Bakery & Confectionery Industry and Bakery China Exhibitions Co., Ltd., the 11th Bakery China Autumn 2026, China Home Baking Show 2026, and “UNI‑Bakery” the 6th Bakery China Summit 2026 will be held at the Wuhan International Expo Center from 22 to 24 October 2026.

Built around the theme “From Trends to Practice,” the Autumn Bakery Exhibition will bring together more than 500 leading companies from across the value chain and more than 100,000 professional visitors. It focuses on three core industry priorities — turning trends into revenue, reimagining consumption scenarios, and unlocking new channel growth — to create the largest, most specialised and most commercially effective bakery event in the second half of the year. The event is designed to help the industry turn market tailwinds into real business and innovative ideas into profit‑ready solutions.

2026 is the opening year of China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan. Boosting domestic demand and consumer spending is a top policy priority: expanding domestic demand has been named the government’s lead task for two consecutive years, and a campaign to stimulate consumption has been set as a key annual priority. In parallel, the Ministry of Commerce and six other departments have issued the Implementation Opinions on Boosting and Upgrading Consumer Spending, calling for stronger brand leadership, higher standards and wider adoption of new technologies. China’s bakery industry, meanwhile, has entered a new phase defined by maturity, sophistication and health. According to iMedia Research, the Chinese bakery market reached RMB 662.15 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to RMB 859.56 billion by 2029. The companies that turn trends into workable business models will win the second half. That is precisely the answer the Autumn Bakery Exhibition 2026 sets out to deliver.

A “Fresh” Track: Finding the Industry’s Next Growth Engine

Fresh short‑shelf‑life snacks — often shortened to “fresh snacks” — are the defining trend China’s food industry cannot ignore in 2026. Data from LeadLeo Research Institute and Zheshang Securities show the market growing from under RMB 5 billion in 2020 to RMB 18 billion within five years, and it is expected to surge to RMB 40–50 billion in 2026. Capital keeps flowing in, with more than 20 financing deals in the sector since 2025. Industry data indicates that over 70% of value snack chains and supermarket channels are already rolling out fresh short‑shelf‑life ranges, and bakery chains are actively exploring how to move from baked goods into fresh food.

Reflecting that momentum, the Autumn Bakery Exhibition turns “fresh snacks” from a concept into a complete ecosystem. At the show, Bakery China will partner with a specialist consultancy to release the White Paper on China’s Fresh Snack Market (2026), examining how the revaluation of freshness is reshaping retail capability in the snack category. The opportunities are presented through six formats:

• Competition — the “Yihai Kerry” 2026 Bakery China Fresh Snacks Innovation Competition, focused on short‑shelf‑life fresh food and clean‑label formulations, scouting innovative and market‑ready products.
• Conference — “UNI‑Bakery” the 6th Bakery China Summit 2026, Supermarket & New Retail Bakery Session, examining channel integration, win‑win brand‑and‑sales synergy, and the product‑selection logic and growth playbooks behind bakery in supermarkets and new retail.
• Sourcing Matchmaking — the Match‑Making to Supermarket & Fresh Snack Decision Makers. Procurement decision‑makers from Jiduquan, Pumama, Metro, Dingdong Maicai and Lingtuantuan have already confirmed. Supply meets demand face to face, maximising business conversion.
• Training — the Fresh Snacks Revamp Practical Workshop for the Bakery Industry. No fluff — just actionable, replicable playbooks.
• Study Tour — Wuhan, a powerhouse of fresh snacks. Participants will visit benchmark local stores including Yili (nutco), Bestore and Youdian Tuijian to see how “freshness” can be made both visible and sellable.

• Exhibition — the Fresh Snacks Supply Chain Upgrade Zone, where hundreds of bakery and snack suppliers present new products for one‑stop, professional sourcing and matchmaking.

From concept to product, product to channel, channel to retail outlet — “freshness” is being made to work end to end.

A New Growth Engine: Supermarkets and New Retail

Supermarket channels are emerging as one of the core battlefields for growth in the bakery industry. Facing three structural challenges — heavy category homogenisation, slow supply‑chain response and limited brand‑building capability — the exhibition for the first time presents a full‑chain upgrade path from supermarket bakery to new‑retail bakery. Combining solution sourcing, OEM resources and brand incubation, it pairs the Match‑Making to Supermarket & Fresh Snack Decision Makers with practical forums on bakery in supermarkets and new retail. Procurement decision‑makers from Jiduquan, Pumama, Metro, Dingdong Maicai and Lingtuantuan have confirmed their participation. Study tours to renowned Wuhan fresh‑snack stores including Yili (nutco), Bestore Fresh Life, Youdian Tuijian and Puxialongjiu are also arranged. Together they help supermarkets, new‑retail outlets and suppliers bridge the last mile from product selection to profit.

The franchise section reflects the industry’s clear shift toward branding, chaining and scale, as domestic bakery brands thrive and regional players flourish. In a market where growth now comes from deepening penetration in existing markets and improving quality and efficiency, franchising has become a strategic route to scale, broader reach and long‑term growth. The “A Good Start‑Up Bakery: China Bakery Franchising Zone” recreates three store formats in real life — community stores, mall stores and kiosk outlets — turning franchise investment from theory into something investors can see and touch.

5 High‑Potential Tracks: Healthy Bakery, Pre‑Baked Bakery, Chocolate, Pet Bakery and Regional Specialty Ingredients

1. Healthy Bakery

Health has become one of the most dependable growth drivers in China’s bakery industry. According to iMedia Research, the healthy bakery category is projected to exceed RMB 180 billion in 2025. Sales of low‑sugar, whole‑grain and low‑GI bakery products have grown at a double‑digit annual rate, while products with functional additions such as probiotics and dietary fibre can command a price premium of 1.8 times that of conventional bakery products. The exhibition features a Healthy Profit Solutions Zone, presenting complete profit models — from ingredients and formulations through to in‑store display and sales scripts — for low‑GI bread, probiotic pastries and more. With a focus on clean labels, food‑medicine homologous ingredients, and high‑protein formulations, it delivers workable profit solutions for bakeries and supermarkets of every size.

2. Pre‑Baked Bakery

According to Euromonitor International, China’s frozen bakery market exceeded RMB 20 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate above 20%. A “central kitchen plus in‑store bake‑off” model can lift store productivity by 30% and cut labour costs by more than 40%. The show features the 11th Pre‑Made Bakery Festival & Tiktok E‑commerce Bakery Festival, showcasing three core product lines: frozen dough, pre‑baked semi‑finished products and ready‑to‑bake dough pieces.

3. Regional Specialty Ingredients

In 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and ten other authorities jointly issued the Guiding Opinions on Cultivating Traditional Advantageous Food Production Regions and Local Specialty Food Industries. The document sets a target of developing more than five traditional advantageous food regions with annual revenue above RMB 100 billion each, and building a landscape of “RMB 10 billion leading enterprises, RMB 100 billion clusters and RMB 1 trillion industries” in local specialty food. This gives bakery companies solid policy backing to integrate regional character and develop differentiated products.

The exhibition follows that direction closely, drawing on a nationwide library of regional ingredients. Regional pavilions such as the Yishui Food regional public brand (“Moshang Huakai”, Yimeng) will appear together, exploring innovative bakery applications for distinctive local ingredients. Dedicated zones including Bakery China Galaxy of Tourist Products and Bakery China Galaxy of Festival Products focus on deeper integration between regional specialty ingredients and the cultural‑tourism souvenir market, presenting creative bakery souvenirs built on regional ingredients. Renowned bakers will give live demonstrations, working premium regional ingredients into mooncakes, Chinese New Year gifts, cultural‑tourism souvenirs and city‑themed gift sets. The goal is to help brands turn authentic regional flavours into high‑demand, high‑margin retail hits — and to open a full upgrade path that converts resource advantages into product and market strength.

4. Chocolate+

China’s chocolate market is shifting from festival gifting to everyday indulgence. According to a report by OC&C, China’s chocolate and confectionery market reached RMB 24 billion in 2025, accounting for just 2% of global chocolate consumption — leaving substantial headroom compared with mature markets. At the show, the zone will gather 10 craft chocolate makers and chocolate studio brands, showcasing creative concepts such as “chocolate + bakery” and “chocolate + tea drinks,” focused on bringing craft chocolate and “chocolate+” consumption scenarios to market.

5. Pet Bakery

Reports from the Paidu Pet Industry Big Data Platform show the global pet baked food market at approximately USD 5.293 billion in 2025 and projected to reach USD 9.2 billion by 2032, a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%. Three trends — pet humanisation, refined pet care and ritual‑driven spending — are reshaping the category, and around 70% of cat owners prefer baked pet food. Pet bakery and human bakery share highly similar techniques: cake‑batter baking, decorative piping and low‑temperature slow roasting are largely identical. That is Bakery China’s unique edge. The show sets up a Pet Bakery Market Zone, where nearly 10 premium pet bakery brands will gather to discuss sourcing, demand and the sector’s next growth opportunities.

6 Business Scenarios: Bringing Buyers to Where Business Happens

1. Chain Store Scenario

Decision‑makers and senior managers from Holiland, Jiahua, Luxihe, Qianji, Huangquan, Aidale, Bao’s Pastry, Youhe, Paris Baguette, Maimo, Mr Stone’s Oven and others have already registered. In the Pre‑Baked Bakery Application Solutions Zone they can taste products made from frozen dough and pre‑formed semi‑finished dough to judge how well an in‑store bake‑off restores the original taste. In the AI + Smart Store Experience Zone they can explore lightweight tools for inventory forecasting, bigger baskets and product shrinkage control. In the Franchise Ecosystem Zone they can try out new store formats on site, tackling four stubborn problems: labour costs, new‑product testing, store replication and operational efficiency.

2. Fresh Snack Store Scenario

Procurement and R&D teams from Pumama, Jinlinem, Jiduquan, Youdian Tuijian, Yili (nutco), Juewei Fresh Snacks, Bestore Fresh Life, Laiyifen Fresh Life, Three Squirrels Fresh Snacks, Puxialongjiu, “I’m Snack?”, Jiushishan, Qingshansen and Lingtuantuan have confirmed their attendance. The Fresh Snack Theme Zone presents a full product matrix of short‑shelf‑life fresh food and clean‑label recipes, while dedicated sourcing sessions handle supply‑chain matching in one stop. The focus is on bringing bakery and snacks together in both directions to make short‑shelf‑life fresh food work.

3. Independent Bakery Owner Scenario

Hundreds of emerging independent bakery operators and startup teams from across the country — among them Shanshanjia, Qiben’s Bakery, No.8 Butter, No.5 Kura, Yupingfang, Tang Dadan and Guwu Bread — will connect with leading suppliers through the Independent Bakery Owner Startup Competition and dedicated capital matchmaking sessions, resolving the practical problems of turning ideas into products, securing funding and sourcing ingredients. The Craft Chocolate Zone and the Mengbei Pet Bakery Theme Zone open up second growth curves for independent operators.

4. Supermarket Bakery Scenario

Procurement heads from Freshippo, Pangdonglai, RT‑Mart, Yonghui, BBK, Sam’s Club and local premium supermarkets will gather on site. The Match‑Making to Supermarket & Fresh Snack Decision Makers and the Healthy Bakery Profit Solutions Zone help supermarkets deliver solution sourcing, OEM resources and brand incubation in one go — turning bakery from a passive shelf‑filler into a profit driver for the store.

5. Industrial Bakery Factory Scenario

R&D and procurement teams from Panpan, Dali, Bimbo, Taoli Bread, Youchen, Haoshi and Bibizan will be present. They can source OEM/ODM customisation and innovative packaging design at themed pavilions including Bakery China Galaxy of Festival Products and Bakery China Galaxy of Tourist Products, draw new‑product inspiration from the Regional Specialty Ingredients section, and secure real orders for the second‑half festive season.

6. Distributor Scenario

Major bakery distributors and regional agents from nearly 30 provinces and municipalities across China will converge in one place. In three days, without travelling between factories, they can complete one‑stop sourcing across every track — fresh snack transformation, healthy bakery, pre‑baked bakery, seasonal gifts, travel souvenirs, chocolate and pet bakery — and get ahead of the next hit product.

Startup Empowerment: From 1.0 to 2.0 for Independent Bakery Operators

Independent bakery operators are one of the most innovative and promising entrepreneurial groups in the industry. To help emerging operators break through bottlenecks, strengthen their businesses and widen their options — while avoiding homogenised operations, mismatched supply chains and weak industry connections — the Autumn Bakery Exhibition has built a comprehensive startup empowerment ecosystem.

The framework works on five fronts: talent through competitions, direction through research, community through salons, growth through capital, and delivery through industry partners. The 2nd “Aizhen Cup” China Bakery Startup Competition 2026 brings emerging operators together to compete, while connections to consumer‑focused investors and leading supply‑chain partners solve the funding and sourcing challenges that stand between a good recipe and a real business — helping independent bakeries move from artisanal workshops to branded operations.

An Industry Carnival and New Digital Infrastructure

Held alongside the show, “UNI‑Bakery” the 6th Bakery China Summit 2026 covers four themed forums — supermarket and new retail, industrial bakery, independent bakery entrepreneurship and chain stores. It brings together industry leaders and thousands of procurement decision‑makers, using the exchange of ideas to drive business decisions and trend insight to support real action. This is not a side event to the exhibition but a major industry flagship event running in parallel with the Autumn Show.

The competition line‑up has been fully upgraded, with seven events running in succession: the 26th China National Baking Skills Competition; the “Yihai Kerry” 2026 Bakery China Fresh Snacks Innovation Competition; the 2nd “Aizhen Cup” China Bakery Startup Competition 2026; the 8th “Angel Yeast Cup” National Youth Baker Competition; the Hiroad Cup — the 15th National Creative Pastry Technical Competition for Students of Vocational and Technical Colleges; the 5th “Arowana” Bakery Competition; and the World Beverage Master Championship (WBMC) — China Finals. These contests judge not only hands‑on baking skill but commercial innovation in the channel.

Markets and festival events run alongside the exhibition. “Call for Bakery Fans” — the 11th “GOBEI” Bakery and Coffee Festival 2026 — creates an immersive bakery experience through markets, interaction and hands‑on activities. The 11th Pre‑Made Bakery Festival & Tiktok E‑commerce Bakery Festival builds on last year’s momentum, which recorded 2.29 million impressions across bakery category leaderboards, nearly RMB 60 million in category sales and more than one million orders, closing the loop between show floor, content and point of sale. The Bakery China Galaxy of Festival Products, Bakery China Galaxy of Tourist Products, and the Group Purchase of Home Baking Supply run in parallel, extending the show beyond the exhibition hall into a city‑wide bakery experience.

As new digital infrastructure for the industry, iBakeryChina (the Bakery Cloud Trading Platform) has onboarded nearly 6,000 merchants and brings together a million targeted buyers and tens of thousands of SKUs. Integrated online and offline with the Bakery China exhibition series and its live events, it forms a year‑round digital exhibition ecosystem and offers companies across the value chain one‑stop digital solutions, from business matchmaking to trend insight.

From global trade inside the exhibition hall to win‑win collaboration across the wider ecosystem, the Autumn Bakery Exhibition 2026 is redefining growth for the second half of the year around “freshness” and “health”: turning visible tailwinds into sellable business, and cutting‑edge trends into repeatable solutions.

Join us at the Wuhan International Expo Center from 22 to 24 October, for this golden‑autumn celebration of China’s bakery industry — and a sweet new chapter of growth.