TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — What began as a small-town revitalization project has expanded as teams navigated strict standards to land locally selected products on shelves at Taipei 101, CNA reported Thursday.

Backed by the National Development Council, the program has helped promising regional goods enter retail channels. Since October, 57 food items and 20 non-food products have been listed at Mia C’bon in Taipei 101 and at Carrefour’s Chongqing and Neihu concept stores.

National Development Council Department of National Spatial Planning and Development Director-General Huang Wen-yen (黃文彥) described the process as “painful.” He said entering major retail chains proved far more difficult than expected.

Teams discovered local support did not guarantee market readiness. Some lacked stable mass production. Others did not meet labeling rules or inspection standards.

However, retailers insisted teams meet the standards. Some teams grew frustrated by repeated revisions or withdrew midway.

After more than six months of mentoring and adjustments, nearly 80 products reached store shelves. Sales performance varied by channel and consumer base.

At Taipei 101’s Mia C’bon, products with strong storytelling and regional identity performed well. These included pastries from Chiayi, herbal vinegar from Yunlin, and pomelo flower tea from Alishan.

At Carrefour’s Neihu concept store, where customers are mainly families, red oolong tea cookies from Taitung and spicy peanut hotpot products from Yilan sold strongly. Retailers said clear packaging, stable quality, and distinct branding were key to success.

Huang said the initiative is not meant to guarantee permanent shelf space but to help local teams understand retail systems. Entry, he said, is not the final goal but a starting point for sustainable growth.