As the Chinese New Year nears, the popular, traditional Huangpu cured meats send forth aroma once more. In cured meat factories in Huangpu Town, sales staff bustle through retail outlets while production lines hum with activity, as goods flow steadily in and out of workshops.

"The peak season runs from Mid-Autumn Festival to Spring Festival, with sales tripling off-season levels," says Guo Shaofeng, sales director of Taiyu meat products factory. The company started raw material procurement and production scheduling two months in advance and increases its capacity by over 30%.

Offline markets thrive, and online sales boom too. Taiyu opened flagship stores on Tmall, JD.com, Douyin and PDD through partnerships. "Younger shoppers prefer ordering online," Guo adds.

In recent years, Huangpu has been continuously elevating the national GI-protected "Huangpu Cured Meat" brand through holding culinary carnivals, leading or formulating industry standards, and supporting corporate technological reform and brand building. These initiatives propel the traditional industry toward standardization, premium branding, and high-end development.