Lisbon, Portugal and MadridApril 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the global wave of health-conscious consumption surges forward, Europe’s plant-based beverage sector has seen continuous growth year after year. Riding this trend, Chinese brands are seizing a historic opportunity to deepen their international presence. From April 19 to 22, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited and Guangzhou Wanglaoji Great Health Industry Co., Ltd., as part of an entrepreneur delegation organized by the Macao Special Administrative Region’s Investment Promotion Bureau, conducted a series of business exchanges and market expansion activities in Lisbon, Portugal, and Madrid, Spain. Within four days, Wanglaoji signed trade cooperation agreements with key Portuguese distributor VOZ DA SAUDADE and Spanish distributor EMB FOOD, marking another strategic foothold in the Southern European market. This move signals Wanglaoji’s brand internationalization strategy transitioning from “point-based deployment” to a new phase of “regional deep cultivation.”
It is reported that this trip was facilitated by the entrepreneur delegation organized by the Macao SAR Investment Promotion Bureau. The delegation, comprising approximately 120 members, included representatives from the political and business sectors of Mainland China, Macao, and Hengqin, with nearly 40% from technology and health enterprises. Leveraging Macao’s unique advantage as a key platform for commercial cooperation between China and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, Wanglaoji’s first stop of its 2026 brand overseas expansion efficiently connected with high-quality partners and finalized agreements swiftly.
Signed Agreements with Two Distributors in Portugal and Spain in Four Days Strategic Foothold Established in Southern Europe
On April 19, the Wanglaoji team visited major local supermarkets in Lisbon and held discussions with core distributor Wang’s Food International Import & Export Co., Ltd. (VOZ DA SAUDADE) in Portugal. This company is a leading Asian food importer in the region, with a wholesale network covering all of Portugal and extending to multiple European countries. The following day, at the “Macao-Portugal Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Conference” hosted by the Macao SAR Government, the two parties formally signed a trade cooperation agreement. This partnership will effectively strengthen Wanglaoji’s channel coverage in Southern Europe, driving the brand’s penetration from the Chinese community into the mainstream local consumer market.
On April 22, the Wanglaoji team traveled to Madrid for discussions with Spanish mainstream distributor EMB FOOD. EMB FOOD has extensive experience in European food distribution and has previously assisted several Chinese brands in successfully entering the Spanish market. The two parties clarified the shelf placement plan and promotion strategy for Wanglaoji products in Spain’s large retail systems. That afternoon, at the “Macao-Spain Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Conference” organized by the Macao SAR Investment Promotion Bureau, Wanglaoji and EMB FOOD formally signed a trade cooperation agreement. The official signing of this agreement lays a solid foundation for Wanglaoji to deepen its overseas presence and further expand its footprint in the Southern European market.
According to the latest data from global consumer behavior research firm Circana, Spain’s plant-based food and beverage market is growing at a rate of 7.5%, ranking among the fastest-growing markets in Europe. In terms of channel layout, Spain’s beverage market is characterized by a high concentration of supermarket channels, with over 90% of juice sales completed through supermarkets. Based on this core local consumption habit, Wanglaoji’s agreement with EMB FOOD represents a key strategic move to deeply integrate the brand into Spain’s mainstream consumer scenarios.
That evening, the Macao SAR Government hosted a reception, where Wanglaoji products were showcased as a representative Chinese natural plant-based beverage. Their refreshing taste received unanimous praise from attending guests.
Notably, this trip coincided with a critical juncture as Wanglaoji Great Health prepares for its Global Investment Conference. On May 2, the Wanglaoji WALOVI Global Investment Conference will grandly open at the Wanglaoji Global Headquarters on Guangzhou’s Bio Island. During the event, Wanglaoji extended a sincere invitation to participating enterprises, welcoming global merchants to join the conference and share in the development dividends of the plant-based beverage industry.
European Sales Surge Over 30% in Five Years Brand Overseas Expansion Enters New Phase of Regional Deep Cultivation
Last year, Wanglaoji’s WALOVI international cans successively launched in markets such as Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, completing point-based deployment across major global regions. This year, with the successful dual-signing in Portugal and Spain as the first step, Wanglaoji’s globalization strategy is officially shifting from “point-based deployment” to “regional deep cultivation.”
Seizing the momentum and riding the wave, the natural health concept of plant-based beverages is gaining traction among young European consumers, providing fertile ground for Wanglaoji’s localized roots. Data provides the most compelling evidence: Over the past decade, Wanglaoji’s overseas market scale has grown 6.5 times, with a compound annual growth rate exceeding 25%, and its products now reach over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Among these, the European market leads the way, with an annual growth rate of over 30% over the past five years, showcasing the strong resilience and vibrant vitality of Chinese plant-based beverage brands.
From its debut at the London World Expo in 1925 to this strategic move on the Iberian Peninsula, Wanglaoji’s century-long journey reflects the steadfast path of Chinese brands from “going global” to “integrating deeply.” Looking ahead, Chinese natural plant-based beverage brands, represented by Wanglaoji, are leveraging solid overseas layouts and clear strategic rhythms to bring the healthful botanicals of the East into households worldwide, contributing the strength of Chinese brands to the global wave of health-conscious consumption.