Learning from Mixue Bingcheng: Decoding China's Medical Supply Chain Breakthrough Strategies at VBEF 2025

The Secret to Mixue Bingcheng’s Success Lies in Its Supply Chain.

By reducing the cost of core raw materials through large-scale procurement, eliminating middleman markups by establishing an in-house production system, and improving distribution efficiency via a dedicated logistics network, we have built a closed-loop, end-to-end supply chain system that covers raw material sourcing, production and processing, warehousing and logistics, and terminal retail stores.

This ultimate supply chain management has not only created substantial commercial value for “Snow King,” but also validated the strategic significance of supply chain development in the consumer sector—Haidilao, likewise, relies on its central kitchen system and the Shuhai Supply Chain Platform to support the expansion of its catering empire through an industrialized framework.

Turning our attention to China’s healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, the “chokehold” predicament facing the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors similarly points directly to pain points in the supply chain.Unlike the consumer sector, breakthroughs in the medical supply chain require not only mastering an autonomous and controllable industrial system but also directly addressing the profound challenges of weak foundational research and insufficient original innovation.

Taking medical devices as an example, this field relies heavily on the interdisciplinary integration of medicine, mechanics, electronics, and other disciplines, yet it remains constrained by external dependencies in critical areas. For instance, core components such as X-ray tubes and high-voltage generators in CT equipment are still monopolized by international giants; upstream materials like high-end medical-grade polymers and precision sensors depend on imports; and equipment manufacturing faces bottlenecks in process technology and quality control.

As the current international geopolitical landscape undergoes accelerated restructuring, the security of medical supply chains has become a national strategic issue. This trend not only creates development opportunities for domestic pharmaceutical and medical device supply chain service providers but also imposes higher requirements on their technological breakthrough capabilities and level of industrial chain integration.

Thus, we are also witnessing the emergence and growth of an increasing number of pharmaceutical and medical device supply chain and service enterprises, with sparks of innovation beginning to shine.

Taking the pharmaceutical supply chain as an example, according to data from VBInsight, a total of 24 financing rounds were recorded from January to October 2024 for integrated supply chain enterprises providing services or products across various therapeutic modalities, ranging from small molecules to large molecules, and from cell and gene therapy (CGT) to peptides. The total financing amount reached RMB 3.249 billion. Furthermore, three integrated service/product supply chain enterprises successfully completed initial public offerings (IPOs).

Total Financing Amount and Number of Deals in Sub-sectors of the Innovative Drug Supply Chain, January–October 2024

However, we must also recognize that the development history of China’s pharmaceutical and medical device supply chains and service enterprises is relatively short, with numerous issues gradually coming to light. On one hand, an increasing number of innovative Chinese medical products are gaining regulatory approval and market entry, yet domestic medical innovation companies lack effective platforms for visibility and systematic opportunities for exposure. On the other hand, distributors seeking breakthroughs, along with upstream and downstream enterprises, similarly lack a centralized venue for discovering innovative medical products.

How to more “seamlessly” foster cooperation and transactions between upstream and downstream enterprises in the pharmaceutical and medical device supply chain, and help supply chain and service providers achieve a balanced development of scale and quality, has become a critical issue for the industry.

As a dedicated partner to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, VCBeat has also made “pharmaceutical and medical device supply chains” a key focus at present,2025 Future Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Top 100 Exhibition, Held on May 9–10(hereinafter referred to as “VBEF”), where it has organized multiple forum events related to the pharmaceutical and medical device supply chain, providing a platform for all industry stakeholdersEfficient Investment and Financing, BD Partnerships, Industrial and Supply Chain Transactions, Finished Product Trading, Overseas Market Expansionthe optimal venue for comprehensive, multi-level needs.

From May 9 to 10,Industry Trends SummitAt the event, distinguished guests leveraged the supply chain as a strategic pivot, focusing on breakthroughs in core technologies (component innovation), digital technology empowerment (supply chain reshaping), and global layout (iteration of overseas expansion models). They explored how to create a closed loop encompassing "hardcore R&D – resilient supply chain development – ascent in the global value chain," ultimately achieving industrial evolution from passive risk defense to proactive ecosystem restructuring, and completing the value leap from "Made in China" to "Intelligently Made in China."

ReviewMedical Device Design and Manufacturing Forum, creating resonance across three dimensions—technological breakthroughs (addressing “chokepoint” issues), industrial organizational innovation (vertical supply chain integration), and transformation of innovation paradigms (clinical demand-driven R&D)—to propel China’s transition from a medical device manufacturing hub to a global source of innovation, achieving a historic leap in the value chain from “assembly and integration” to “setting standards.” The forum invites key players across the industry chain, including leading domestic upstream raw material and core component suppliers, medical device CRO/CDMO service platforms, and medical device companies, to jointly discuss the challenges and opportunities in independent innovation and intelligent manufacturing of medical devices.

VBEF does not stop at raising questions; it also aims to solve them through the forum as a medium.Medical Distributors ConferenceOn-site, the B2B one-stop business opportunity sharing and service platform analyzed practical experience to help medical device manufacturers and distributors quickly and accurately connect; for example,New Business & New Channels Conference for the Out-of-Hospital Market, channel partners such as pharmaceutical e-commerce platforms, instant retail services, O2O providers, and MCNs join forces with multi-category enterprises in the out-of-hospital market—spanning home medical devices, pharmaceuticals, foods for special medical purposes (FSMP), and medical aesthetics—to jointly explore hot topics including the latest policies, product opportunities, marketing strategies, and channel innovations in the out-of-hospital sector, providing participants with cutting-edge market insights and practical experience sharing.

Building a stable and sustainable supply chain is not an overnight endeavor; it requires collaboration among all industry stakeholders. To better demonstrate innovation value and facilitate product commercialization, VBEF has established five core pillars: “Forums, Awards, Exhibitions, Reports, and Resource Matchmaking.” This framework continuously creates new channel expansion opportunities for innovative products, providing an optimal platform for industry participants to meet their comprehensive, multi-level needs in efficient financing and investment, business development (BD) partnerships, supply chain transactions, finished goods trading, and overseas market expansion.

The VBEF Innovation Exhibition features eight exhibition zones, covering the Innovative Medical Device Products Exhibition, Medical Device Design and Manufacturing Exhibition, Digital Health and Services Exhibition, Biomanufacturing Special Exhibition, Life Science Instruments Exhibition, Health Consumer Products Collection Exhibition, Regional Government and Industrial Park Exhibition, and International Exhibition Zone. It aims to provide enterprises with a professional platform for display and exchange, jointly promoting industry development.

VBEF is expected to host over 150 medical innovation enterprises, with the on-site debut of more than 400 innovative products. Concurrently, a variety of matchmaking activities—including networking sessions, closed-door meetings, and project roadshows—will be held. You will have the opportunity to engage in direct face-to-face discussions with over 2,000 participants from more than 20 countries and regions, including medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, supply chain providers, and distributors. These diverse activities are designed to facilitate efficient and precise business matchmaking.

Event Agenda:

1. Repost this post to your WeChat Moments (set visibility to "Public," not restricted to any group);

2. Keep the tweet up for 1 hour and accumulate 18 likes on WeChat Moments;

3. Add customer service on WeChat and send the screenshot;

4. Obtain a complimentary conference ticket valued at 399 yuan;

Event Agenda:

1. Your company is an upstream or downstream enterprise in the pharmaceutical and medical device supply chain and services sector;

2. Add the customer service representative on WeChat and provide your personal business card;

3. Obtain a free conference ticket worth 399 yuan;

(Choose One of Two Promotional Offers)

Scan the QR code below to participate in the benefits event and contact the organizing committee to obtain tickets!