Over the past five years Mintel has established a local team in Shanghai and a nationwide network of researchers in more than 19 cities across China.
In 2007 14,246 new foods, drinks, beauty and cleaning products from China were added to the Mintel Global New Product Database.
Peter Haigh, CEO at Mintel, said: "We have invested in a local team based full time in China, which means we can keep a close eye on new emerging developments as well as those trends that are making it big over there."
By monitoring new product launches in China, the Mintel GNPD team has identified five key trends to look out for: the growing middle class in China; rising patriotism; traditions die hard; cosmetics tailored to Chinese women; and beauty foods.
According to national statistics, by 2010, 170.3m Chinese will be considered middle class and as a result premium products are now in high demand.
Mintel said that a number of trends are starting to take hold that will tap into China's growing wave of national pride. One of the key focal points for this is the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Over the past 18 months the Mintel GNPD team has seen a raft of new company initiatives in China set to tempt Olympic fans to buy their products.
Official sponsor Coca-Cola has brought out cans with the five Olympic rings, the Olympic mascot and sports personalities printed on them.
Chinese consumers also continue to believe in more traditional forms of healthcare. According to the Mintel GNPD by far and away the most popular claim for products launched in China in 2007 was "botanical and herbal".
Mintel has seen cosmetic companies starting to tailor their products to the beauty needs of Chinese women. At the beginning of this year Olay launched "China beauty", a marketing campaign looking to make an emotional connection with the sensibilities of Chinese women.
Foods that improve the way you look on the outside and feel on the inside are also becoming increasingly popular in China.