The 2016 IKA Culinary Olympics, one of the most elite and competitive culinary events in the world, drew to a close in Germany on Oct. 26. China had 13 chefs participating in the competition to present the country's most authentic and high-end cuisine. Surprisingly, of those 13 chefs, nine came from Unilever, the British-Dutch multinational company.

In fact, Unilever, while best known for its consumer goods, also owns the world’s largest culinary research and consulting company, Food Solution. As part of its global campaign, Food Solution China has been operating for 22 years.

Food Solution China has established four research centers in China’s biggest metropolises, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou. The company collects consumer feedback through restaurants and other channels, seeking out tasty ingredients and improving on or creating new recipes.

“We aim to help chefs discover customers' flavor preferences and create new dishes,” a Unilever report states. The company also tests out the standard cooking processes of various Chinese dishes, working to shorten the process to make it easier for less experienced chefs. This is of great help for fast food chains.

Its reach extends to millions of ordinary households too. Several of Unilever's products, including those for making soup base, sauces and other condiments, have proven a popular hit.

Unilever is just one instance of the impact foreign companies have had on Chinese cuisine. A report by Thepaper.cn said that foreign companies have gotten involved in creating the soup bases and other components at many Chinese fast food chains, including Haidilao Hot Pot, Real Kungfu and Xiabu Xiabu.

Nestlé is extending its roots in China, too. Last month, it established its second food service consulting entity in China, to provide customized opinions for Chinese food service providers.

New Zealand dairy company Fonterra also launched its new brand, Anchor Food Professionals, in Shanghai earlier this year. The company provides Western restaurants, bakeries and casual dining eateries in China with different products ranging from cream cheese to butter, and the company can also help with product presentation, pricing and promotions.

Foreign companies are tapping into China’s food service market for a reason: its development is mind-blowing. According to data compiled in April by Dianping Holdings, China's biggest online food service rating website, the size of the food services market in China for dairy goods alone has grown from 71.2 billion RMB ($10.92 billion) in 2012 to 187.2 billion RMB in 2016, and is expected to grow to 550.8 billion RMB by 2020.