WITH on-site preparation, minimal additives and short shelf lives, freshly made snacks are winning over health-conscious consumers and reshaping the retail landscape in Changsha, Hunan province.

At a bustling downtown shopping mall, customers throng a retail store where they can see a wide selection of snacks and beverages – from spicy beef and sauce-braised duck to Swiss rolls, fruit juice and milk tea – being prepared or assembled, offering an immediate dose of trust.