It would appear that diners across China are leaning more toward home-cooked food than takeout, with a pre-made twist.
It seems that meal kits, which arrive on people’s doorsteps chilled ready to be heated to enjoy at their leisure have become a viable alternative to getting a takeaway or cooking at home.
“Ready-made meal kits are quality meals at home without sacrificing flavor,” Zhang Qian, Head of Procurement at hypermart Freshippo‘s ready-made food business 3R, told Alizila. “We are seeing heightened interest from young consumers and restaurants seeking avenues for growth,” Zhang noted.
Until recently, restaurants accounted for the bulk of pre-packaged food orders. Produce and meat processing plants would regularly sell their pre-washed, chopped, and seasoned items to restaurant chains as part of a domestic B2B industry valued at USD34.6bn in 2021 by Guangzhou-based consultancy iiMedia Research.
