A Tech Engineer’s Pivot to Food Preservation (Image Credits: Unsplash)
China’s rich culinary traditions, passed down through generations of master chefs, have long resisted industrialization. Liu Zexuan, drawing from his technology background, developed a rigorous system to capture these intangible arts and scale them worldwide. His efforts with Xiaomai Group now supply major chains and export certified heritage dishes to international markets.[1]
A Tech Engineer’s Pivot to Food Preservation
Liu Zexuan spent years at JD.com, China’s leading e-commerce platform, mastering complex supply chains for perishable goods. There, he learned to convert subjective expertise into measurable, scalable processes amid millions of daily transactions across dozens of countries. This foundation proved pivotal when he shifted focus to Chinese cuisine, an area plagued by the tension between authenticity and mass production.[1]
He founded Xiaomai Group to tackle what he saw as a critical gap: Chinese food lacked a technical framework for industrial replication while retaining its cultural essence. Previously dismissed by markets favoring standardized Western fare, Chinese heritage dishes demanded innovation. Liu’s approach treated culinary mastery not as art alone but as engineerable knowledge.[1]
The HDER Framework: Digitizing Heritage Techniques
At the heart of Liu’s innovation lies the Heritage Digitization and Engineering Replication (HDER) framework, a patented methodology now serving as an industry benchmark. In its first stage, teams deployed sensors, computer vision, and precision tools alongside certified Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) inheritors. These efforts quantified centuries-old techniques into structured data sets.[1]
The second phase mapped these parameters to industrial specifications, with products undergoing double-blind sensory tests against originals crafted by masters. Finally, stage three codified everything into auditable standards, allowing any certified facility to replicate dishes without relying on individual skill. Liu explained, “In internet product development, the hardest problems are always the ones where the expert can’t explain what they know. They just know. The great engineer’s job is to instrument that knowledge – to capture it, systematize it, and make it transferable.”[1]
Partnerships That Proved the Model
Xiaomai’s collaboration with Dadong, Beijing’s renowned Peking duck specialist, demonstrated HDER’s power. The team reproduced the dish – reliant on decades of nuanced skill – to a level endorsed by Dadong’s master chefs. This success extended to equipment innovation through a partnership with Welbilt, yielding an intelligent roast duck oven.
After 12 months of research and development, the oven embedded process parameters directly into its controls. It passed Dadong’s blind tests and quickly became a bestseller in major retail channels. Such ventures established a template for restaurant groups seeking to extend premium brands via industrialized production.[1]
Achieving Tier-1 Supplier Status and Global Reach
From inception, Xiaomai built operations to exceed international standards, a strategy honed at JD.com. Audits by KFC and Sam’s Club confirmed compliance, often surpassing expectations, securing Tier-1 supplier roles. Distribution now spans Japan, the United States, and further, with ICH-certified products generating substantial international revenue.[1]
The certified heritage line repeatedly sold out in the US and Japan via retail and e-commerce, where demand exceeded supply. Expansion plans target South Korea, Europe, and Australia by 2027. Liu emphasized, “We built to international first-class standards on day one… When KFC and Sam’s Club conducted their audits, our daily operating standard was already their requirement – in some areas, beyond it.”[1]
- Quantified master techniques using advanced sensors and vision systems.
- Conducted blind sensory panels for industrial validation.
- Developed auditable standards for global replication.
- Partnered with Dadong for Peking duck and Welbilt for specialized ovens.
- Secured Tier-1 supply deals with KFC and Sam’s Club.
- Launched ICH-certified exports to US and Japan markets.
Key Takeaways
- Liu Zexuan’s HDER framework bridges tradition and industry, enabling authentic Chinese dishes at scale.
- Xiaomai Group’s supplier status with global giants validates the model’s rigor.
- Future expansions promise broader access to heritage cuisine worldwide.
Liu Zexuan’s work redefines Chinese culinary heritage not as fragile tradition but as robust, exportable engineering. By prioritizing cultural continuity over mere convenience, Xiaomai ensures these flavors endure globally. As demand grows, this model could reshape how the world experiences authentic Chinese food. What do you think about blending tech with ancient recipes? Tell us in the comments.[1]
