Pre-made meals stand out in holiday feast

An array of pre-made food in a supermarket in Beijing. [Photo/China Daily]

As Spring Festival comes, catering consumption surges, with restaurant reservations for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner filling up quickly. Pre-made meals are becoming a popular option for customers.

In supermarkets, featured items such as "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall," "Braised Sheep Scorpion," and "Chicken in Pig Stomach Soup" attract a lot of attention.

"These ready-to-eat meals were just launched at local shops. As the Lunar New Year approaches, we expanded our supply of these items because they all sold well," a supermarket sales representative said.

The variety of pre-made meals includes frozen hot pot dishes, ready-to-eat gift boxes, cured meat products, and frozen dumplings. Recently, there has been a constant increase in sales for mid-to-high-end meals, encouraging supermarkets to launch promotions such as the "Reunion Family Feast" to boost sales.

"When friends come over for dinner, I can cook some simple dishes, but there should always be some main courses for the guests. Pre-made meals greatly simplified the cooking process," said citizen Liu.

The orders for New Year's Eve feasts have recently increased. According to a Haidilao representative, private rooms for New Year's Eve feasts have been booked in numerous Haidilao branches in Beijing.

Traditionally, families took the lead in Spring Festival feast reservations, as highlighted by catering officials from Tongqinglou and Fengzeyuan. However, a Tongqinglou representative pointed out, "This year, there's a significant uptick in reservations for corporate annual meetings, typically starting from 20 tables."

Reports suggest that China's pre-made food market is forecasted to hit 543.4 billion yuan by 2023, surpassing 1 trillion in 2026, boasting an annual compound growth rate exceeding 20%.

Industry insiders contend that pre-packaged dishes not only cut catering expenses but also boost meal prep efficiency. As restaurant chainization and industrialization advance, the demand for pre-packaged meals is expected to persistently rise.