A company focusing on processing corn has enjoyed extraordinary commercial success, shifting its business to the healthcare foods sector after making a technological breakthrough.

Chinese food and industrial conglomerate Xiwang Group, founded in 1986, used to work on deep processing of corn and within the special steel industry.

It started as a small company in Xiwang village in Shandong province, and has since has grown into one of the top 500 corporations in China.

In addition to processing corn oil and special steel, the group's businesses cover areas such as logistics, finance, international trade, and nutrition and healthcare products.

From January to September this year, Xiwang's sales revenue reached 32.7 billion yuan ($5.03 billion), up 39 percent year-on-year.

Spotting the commercial value of healthcare food, the company began to make great efforts in researching corn oil and fructose.

Fructose, or fruit sugar, is contained in many plants and it can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion.

Although it has a high degree of sweetness, its lower effect on postprandial blood sugar levels makes it preferable to sucrose and glucose in sugar-sweetened foods and beverages.