In the wave of globalization, various exotic foods are gradually landing on the shelves of supermarkets around the world.
Recently, durian from the Philippines also began to Beijing, Shanghai And other supermarkets in major cities of China.
Durian, the "king of Southeast Asia", is internationally renowned for its unique flavor.
However, this attempt to enter the Chinese market has unexpectedly attracted many consumers' "complaints".
Interestingly, the reason for these complaints is not related to the quality of durian.
Durian is known as "The king of fruit" Because of its rich nutrition and unique taste, durian is loved by many people, but also because of its almost unavoidable strong smell, many people avoid it.
In some Southeast Asian countries, Durian is even banned from public transportation.
Philippines - one of durian producing countries
This time, when Durian arrived at high-end supermarkets in Beijing and Shanghai by air, The reason of "making people laugh" has become the focus of consumer discussion.
Durian, Philippines Attempts to enter the Chinese market It is not only a simple export activity, but also reflects the new strategy of Philippine agricultural export and changes in global market dynamics.
According to statistics, the Philippines is one of the major durian producing countries in the world, The annual output of durian is up to hundreds of thousands of tons.
The Philippine government has been promoting diversified export of agricultural products in recent years, Try to open up new international markets And increase the country's export income.
As the most populous country in the world, China's huge market potential has attracted exporters from all over the world.
The entry of Philippine Durian can be regarded as the Philippines A test of China's market potential.
Although Durian is not completely new to China, especially in some southern regions, Durian has a certain market foundation, But it is a new attempt to extend Durian to big cities in the north, such as Beijing and Shanghai.
However, Durian's "invasion" is not without challenges.
Durian Challenge
First, durian The preservation and transportation are extremely demanding and need to be carried out under specific temperature and humidity conditions, To maintain its freshness and taste.
This puts forward high requirements for logistics, and also increases Transportation costs.
Secondly, the market acceptance of Durian is still unknown.
Although some consumers are curious about this unique fruit, more people may be deterred by its strong smell.
In Beijing and Shanghai, although Durian has attracted some attention, But the sales volume is not ideal.
Braving the No Man's Land of Taste
The reaction of consumers is polarized, and some people have different opinions about Durian The taste is full of praise, While other people are difficult to accept because of their smell.
This situation has triggered a round of discussion on social media, some people jokingly Calling Durian "olfactory challenger", Some people compare trying durian to "venturing into no man's land of taste".
This phenomenon not only aroused interest among consumers, but also made Durian an interesting topic, and even some food bloggers and gourmets began to intervene;
Publish a tasting video and blog, It further promoted the topic of durian market.
For Philippine exporters, this "water test" is challenging, but it also provides important market feedback.
By observing the Beijing and Shanghai markets, exporters can better understand the tastes and acceptance of Chinese consumers, and provide data support for future market strategy adjustment.
marketing strategy
For example, they may consider making changes in durian packaging and marketing strategies, such as reducing the smell of durian through packaging technology;
Or put more emphasis on the health and nutritional value of durian in marketing To attract consumers who are interested in healthy diet.
In addition, Philippine exporters can also consider cooperating with local businesses to develop durian products suitable for local tastes, such as durian desserts or durian flavor drinks, in order to reduce consumers' resistance to the original durian products.
In fact, the catering industry in some southern cities of China has tried to integrate durian into various dishes and desserts, which indicates that the market potential of durian is far from being fully developed.
From a more macro perspective, this market attempt of Durian in the Philippines reflects the increasingly active role of Southeast Asian countries in global agricultural trade.
With the change of global trade pattern and the strengthening of regional economic cooperation, Southeast Asian countries are expected to play a more important role in the international market.
fierce competition
For the Chinese market, with the increase of consumers' acceptance of international cuisine and their health awareness, tropical fruits and other special products from Southeast Asia have a promising future market prospect.
For the Philippine government and the agricultural export sector, this experience provides valuable insights on how to effectively enter and expand its position in the complex and competitive international market.
By continuing to monitor market responses, adjust export strategies and adopt innovative market entry methods, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries can continuously optimize their product lines and enhance their competitiveness in the global market.
In a word, although Durian Philippines encountered some cultural and market challenges during its water trial in Beijing and Shanghai, it also provided valuable lessons and development opportunities for exporters in the Philippines and even the whole Southeast Asia.
Through continuous market trial and innovation, The Philippines Durian is expected to find its unique foothold in the international market in the future.
Reasons for being criticized
Although durian's taste and smell are its most well-known characteristics, durian has been criticized for another unexpected reason in the Beijing and Shanghai markets—— Its appearance.
The shell of durian is regarded as an "alien species" by many consumers who first contact it. Its unique prickly shell appearance makes many people feel curious and afraid.
Durian's shell is hard and sharp, covered with numerous thorns, and looks unfriendly, Even a little scary.
In nature, this design is to protect fruits from animals, but in the fruit and vegetable area of modern supermarkets, this shape does not attract customers.
When many consumers see durian at first sight, Because of its "unfriendly" appearance.
In addition, for consumers who are not familiar with how to deal with durian, even after they buy it home, how to break the "natural armor" is also a big problem.
Although supermarket staff will provide cutting service, many consumers Still feel uneasy about handling such troublesome fruit at home.
On social media, the appearance of Durian has become a popular complaint point.
Netizens have released photos of durian, accompanied with humorous words to describe its strange appearance, and jokingly compared them with alien creatures in science fiction movies.
The popularity of these contents not only reflects the general reaction of consumers to the appearance of durian, It also unexpectedly increased the popularity of Durian, making it the center of the topic.
For Philippine exporters and Chinese importers, this situation presents an interesting market challenge:
How to turn a product that is objectionable due to its appearance into a point of sale.
One strategy may be to change the way Durian is displayed in the market.
For example, through more attractive packaging design, or Display the cut durian at the sales point, Direct display of its attractive internal meat quality can reduce the initial negative impact of appearance.
In addition, Educating consumers how to handle and eat durian is also key.
Organize a durian tasting meeting, release a tutorial video on handling durian, or provide a pamphlet to guide how to safely open and enjoy durian;
Can help consumers overcome their initial fear of the appearance of durian and appreciate its unique taste and nutritional value.
To sum up, Durian's market response in Beijing and Shanghai has presented some challenges due to appearance, but it also provides Philippine exporters with opportunities to insight into consumer behavior and optimize product promotion strategies.
Through innovative marketing strategies and customer education, it is expected to gradually change the first impression of consumers on Durian, thus achieving success in the Chinese market.
With the gradual deepening of Durian's promotion in the Chinese market, the measures taken to change consumers' negative views on its appearance have begun to bear fruit.
Philippine exporters And Chinese importers began to break through the traditional sales model through more strategic marketing methods, so that the unique flavor of durian exceeded the first impression brought by its appearance.
For example, some supermarkets and retailers began to set up durian tasting activities at their sales points, Let customers experience the taste of durian directly, Don't worry about how to handle its hard shell.
Through this direct experience, many consumers who were biased against durian began to change their views and gradually accepted and even loved this unique fruit.
In addition, Philippine exporters have begun to cooperate with local food bloggers and influencers in China to spread the diversified eating methods and nutritional value of durian through social media.
The food blogger makes various creative recipes related to durian, such as Durian pizza, Durian milk shake, even Durian ice cream , effectively attracted the attention of young consumers, and gradually changed their initial impression of durian.
At the same time, in order to solve consumers' doubts about the appearance of durian, some innovative packaging designs have also been introduced into the market.
These packages are not only visually more attractive, but also particularly emphasize the ease of opening. Some even adopt a resealable design, which is convenient for consumers to save the unused durian.
These humanized design details have significantly improved the acceptance of durian as a fresh fruit.
