Black Gold: China's Strategy to Conquer the Global Fine Dining Market

Chinese-produced caviar is now entering the realm of luxury food and has become the world's largest exporter of this high-end ingredient. According to an annual report by Franceinfo, the scale of large sturgeon farms in China is continuously expanding.

The report states that Chinese caviar grains are sweeping across the globe. On the tables of gourmet lovers, Chinese caviar is gradually replacing products from France and Iran.

In Paris, the top caviar brand Kaviari was one of the first companies to recognize the potential of Chinese products. The price of Chinese caviar per kilogram ranges from 3,000 to 9,000 euros, comparable to French caviar. For example, a 250-gram box of caviar costs 825 euros. According to reports by Franceinfo, for one customer, it has become the leader of the market. The customer said, "It meets all our requirements for caviar: size, texture, taste... the origin of the sturgeon doesn't matter to me."

However, initially, brands had to convince customers who were hesitant. Now, half of the Michelin-starred chefs in France source their caviar from there. Karin Nebot, general manager of Kaviari, admitted: "Now we can confidently say that this caviar comes from China."

China: The World's Largest Caviar Exporter

The report continues, stating that the reason Chinese caviar has taken over the global market is due to its massive production. In this new "black gold" country, farms are increasing constantly. Nearly half of the caviar consumed globally is produced in China. In China's largest farms, sturgeon are fed multiple times a day. Sturgeon require a long time (up to 25 years) to mature before they can lay eggs.

Chinese companies have become market leaders: in 2024, caviar production reached 200 tons, and their ambitions go far beyond that. Shaoefeng Zhang, marketing director of the leading brand Kaluga Queen based in Hangzhou, told Franceinfo:

"France is one of our main clients. By 2026, our goal is to increase sales of Chinese caviar in France by 15% to 20%."

In the early days, Kaluga mainly served as an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) supplying bulk caviar to brands in France, Switzerland, and the United States. Many European established merchants re-packaged it and put their own labels on it.

As the quality gradually gained recognition from international top chefs (such as the late chef Joël Robuchon), Kaluga began to directly enter the international market under its own brand.

In recent years, due to geopolitical factors, caviar from traditional sources such as Iran and Russia has faced obstacles in international trade. In just ten years, China has firmly held the position of the world's largest caviar exporter.

This luxury item, originally from the Caspian Sea and thriving in Russian and French royal families, now has its core technology and production entirely in China's "laboratories" and "lakes."

Source: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853256172572683/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author."