Huang Shengming, secretary-general of the China National Food Industry Association, says that Chinese people associate foreign brands with quality, and that foreign management practices have sharpened up local companies.

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But four-year-old Baoyuanfeng, like many companies in China's food industry, is relatively small, with a processing capacity of 100, 000 birds a day, according to a profile of the company published on a local website.

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It is also making cheaper PVC-based vinyl gloves, which are marketed to the food industry, in China, where it now has one plant and is adding a second.

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Food safety scandals in China have badly damaged consumer confidence, particularly in the dairy industry.

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Women that have made the Forbes China Rich List over the years tend to come from the real estate industry such as Zhang Xin from Soho China, or food-related businesses, such as Daisy Poon from Ajisen.

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China pushed hard to make sure the government took into consideration the needs of the food service industry as well as packaged goods manufacturers.

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The new figures were revealed one month after representatives of the seafood industry attended the largest ever Scottish food and drink trade mission to Japan and China.

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