Recently, various high-level exhibitions in Shenzhen have been staged in turn. The just-concluded 2024 World Food (Shenzhen) Expo brought together more than 500 global brands, among which the topic of "prefabricated dishes and central kitchens" continues to attract attention.
What is the current development trend of the world's food industry? Why does the Food Expo set up a special area for "prefabricated dishes"? What opportunities and challenges does the development of the prefabricated food industry face? How can we better smooth the domestic and international "dual circulation" and make the pace of catering go to sea faster? How can Shenzhen further play its role? In this regard, Shenzhen Satellite TV's "Evening Report" column invited the chairman of the Catering Service Professional Committee of the China Cuisine Association to interpret it.
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The size of the mainland prefabricated food market in 2023
It has reached 516.5 billion yuan
The 2024 World Food (Shenzhen) Expo held in Shenzhen will set up a special "Prefabricated Food and Central Kitchen Zone", which comprehensively covers all sectors of prefabricated food products, helping prefabricated food enterprises and brands to quickly penetrate the catering and distribution market in South China.
In recent years, the prefabricated food industry has developed rapidly. According to the data, as of January 2024, there are nearly 64,000 related enterprises with prefabricated dishes in the country, and the market size of prefabricated vegetables will reach 516.5 billion yuan in 2023.
Guangdong is the source of the domestic prefabricated food industry, and has formulated the country's first prefabricated food standard system, gathering more than 6,000 upstream and downstream related enterprises, accounting for 8.5% of the country, and has become one of the core areas for the development of the national prefabricated food industry. In 2023, the output value of Guangdong's prefabricated vegetables will exceed 70 billion yuan, an increase of more than 25%, and the industrial development index will rank first in the country for three consecutive years. In addition, in 2023, the total value of prefabricated vegetables exported from Guangdong ports will be 31.7 billion yuan, accounting for 18.3% of the country.
The fair attracts many well-known F&B brands Overseas pavilions are optimistic about the Greater Bay Area market
Liu Yongzhong, chairman of the Catering Service Professional Committee of the China Cuisine Association and president of the Shenzhen Cuisine Association, introduced that at the 2024 World Food (Shenzhen) Expo, he observed that the relevant forums invited entrepreneurs from many well-known brands across the country and overseas intermediaries, and all walks of life were more interested in Shenzhen, the outpost of food going to sea. At the same time, he also noticed that the pavilions from Italy, Germany and Poland are very optimistic about the future market of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
Take multiple measures to promote the standardized development of the prefabricated food industry
The prefabricated vegetable industry is connected to the field at one end and the table consumption at the other, which is a new industry for the integrated development of modern agriculture, food processing industry and catering industry. How to better develop and how to further standardize has attracted the attention of all parties.
In March this year, the State Administration for Market Regulation and other six departments jointly issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Food Safety Supervision of Prefabricated Dishes and Promoting the High-quality Development of the Industry", which clarified the definition and scope of prefabricated dishes for the first time at the national level, clarified that prefabricated dishes do not add preservatives, strictly use food additives, and strengthen the food safety supervision of prefabricated dishes.
In order to make pre-made dishes feel at ease, Shenzhen is also taking active actions. In April 2023, the Shenzhen Municipal Market Supervision Bureau drafted and formulated the Guidelines for the Review of Production Licenses for Prefabricated Dishes in Shenzhen (Draft for Comments) to further unify the licensing review standards for prefabricated dishes in Shenzhen, unify the basic requirements for food safety of prefabricated dishes, and standardize the market access mechanism for prefabricated dishes.
Catering enterprises have strengthened self-discipline and the government industry has strengthened supervision to allow consumers to choose prefabricated dishes with confidence
Liu Yongzhong believes that the development of China's prefabricated dishes is in an upward period, and during this period, it is hoped that the catering industry will be self-disciplined and operate in strict accordance with the national food safety law, so that consumers are more willing to choose prefabricated dishes.
He also suggested, "Whether this dish is semi-processed, or operated on site, or pre-made, catering companies can post signs to make everyone more clear and more assured to make a choice." ”
Develop and produce special dishes to promote the "fragrance" of prefabricated dishes overseas
95% of Shenzhen's ingredients depend on the surrounding input, and the cost of prefabricated dishes will be higher than in the place of origin, and the cost of cold chain transportation and storage in Shenzhen is also relatively high. Liu Yongzhong suggested that it is necessary to use ingredients in the province as much as possible, reduce the cost of prefabricated dishes in addition to processing, and promote the high-quality development of the prefabricated food industry.
He said that in the future, the prefabricated food market is very large, and enterprises should actively communicate with overseas markets through product development, and promote prefabricated dishes from Shenzhen and Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to overseas markets.
Evening observation: Nowadays, the mainland's prefabricated food industry is experiencing a golden period of development and its own "Age of Discovery", in the face of huge market demand and fierce global competition, food clean, hygienic and safe is always the bottom line, on this basis, combined with the tastes and needs of different markets and different groups of people, through the development of new dishes, technology to empower the whole chain, increase brand marketing and promotion and other diversified layout, and then open up a larger market, so that more prefabricated dishes in the mainland are fragrant overseas and served on the global table.
Writer: Liu Fengxuan
Editor-in-chief: Yin Meng, Zhou Zhanwu
Reporter: Liu Fengxuan, Li Jian, Jiao Jiao, Xiao Jun
Editor: Yang Chuhan