In today's society, entrepreneurship seems to have become a trend, especially in the restaurant industry. However, the F&B market in 2023 has given us another profound lesson: entrepreneurship is not always easy, especially in the F&B sector, which can be the graveyard of dreams.
A cold winter in the restaurant industry
In 2023, the restaurant industry has undergone an unprecedented transformation. On the one hand, the store opening boom has swept by, and on the other hand, the wave of store closures has followed. Behind this phenomenon, there is a group of people who are silently harvesting: that is, second-hand catering equipment recyclers. They have witnessed the ups and downs of countless catering dreams, and have also made a lot of money in the process.
According to Red Meal, the recycling of second-hand catering equipment in 2023 has increased by 50% compared to 2022. This is not only a digital growth, but also a visual reflection of the changes in the catering market. An Dawei, a second-hand equipment recycler, said: "A batch of equipment has been pulled to the warehouse before it has been opened. Such a phenomenon makes people sigh: it is better to be a catering "corpse collector" than to open a restaurant.
Equipment Recycling: Pros and Cons
The windfall profits in this industry may seem tempting, but in reality not everyone can benefit from it. With the intensification of competition in the industry, profit margins are constantly being compressed. An Dawei shared his observations: "In 2019, the machines purchased for 1,000 yuan can be sold for 6,000 or 7,000 yuan. Now, the price is more transparent, and the same machine can only be sold for 2000-3000 yuan. ”
At the same time, with the saturation of the market, the price of used equipment is also rising. Liu Hongbing mentioned that the equipment that could be collected for 10,000 yuan in the past may now take 15,000 yuan. This increase in prices has undoubtedly increased the operational risk for recyclers.
The dream of entrepreneurship is shattered
The difficulty of catering entrepreneurship is not only reflected in the operation, but also in the cruel competition in the market. According to the data of enterprise investigation, in 2023, more than 50,000 new enterprises will be added in the field of tea drinks, but more than 30,000 will be cancelled and suspended, and more than 70,000 will be added to the hot pot track, and more than 30,000 will be cancelled and revoked. Behind these figures, there are the blood and tears of countless entrepreneurs.
An Dawei said that milk tea shops, takeaway restaurants, hot pot restaurants, etc. have become "entrepreneurial killers". These seemingly highly standardized and low-difficulty industries are actually the graveyard for entrepreneurship in 2023. Among them, the entrepreneurial loss of hot pot restaurants is particularly heavy, because in addition to equipment investment, there are also high decoration costs.
The dilemma of entrepreneurs
For many entrepreneurs, their failure is not due to lack of effort, but to the cruelty and inexperience of the market. Novices are easy to fall into the franchise pit, while veterans are often involved in price wars. In the process, many entrepreneurs not only lost money, but also lost confidence.
Liu Hongbing shared a case: "A husband and wife joined a chain coffee brand, investing hundreds of thousands of yuan in the early stage, but eventually had to close their doors. Such stories are not uncommon in the restaurant industry.
Future directions
The F&B market in 2023 is a wake-up call: starting a business is not an easy task, especially in the F&B industry. But that doesn't mean we should give up on our dreams. Instead, we should learn from this and approach entrepreneurship more cautiously.
For entrepreneurs who want to enter the catering industry, market research, cost control, innovative operation and avoiding blind followers are crucial. Only in this way can we gain a foothold in this uncertain market.
epilogue
Catering entrepreneurship is indeed a life-or-death adventure. But as with any adventure, it's not just about failure and setbacks, it's also about learning, growth, and ultimately success. May every F&B entrepreneur find their way through this difficult journey.