Text | Red Meal Think Tank, author | Red Meal Industry Research Institute
As cost-effectiveness, personalization, and diversification have become new standards for consumers to measure catering experience, catering brands have also written new stories in terms of products, overseas expansion, and digital intelligence. Some popular catering tracks are “taking advantage of the new opportunities” And rise.”
Looking back on 2024, Yunnan-Guizhou flavor has swept the country, brown sugar pearl milk tea has successfully become popular, Jiangxi stir-fry and casserole dishes have become the “new top trend”, Chinese fried chicken, blanched beef noodles, potato chips shop, Korean bibimbap, etc. Many tracks also exploded.
What is the current development status of the popular catering industry? What trends are worth paying attention to in 2025? In order to find answers to these questions,The Red Food Industry Research Institute took stock of the development of 23 popular catering tracks in 2024 and released the “Insight Report on Popular Catering Tracks in 2024”. The following is a partial display of the report.
Catering revenue breaks the 5 trillion yuan mark again.The industry reaches a new turning point
In 2024, my country’s catering market will grow steadily. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics,National catering revenue will exceed 5.5 trillion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 5.3% from 2023.
In the past two years, the growth rate of national catering revenue has been higher than the growth rate of total retail sales of consumer goods and the growth rate of commodity retail sales. In September 2024, the growth rate of catering revenue was 3.1%, which was lower than the growth rate of total retail sales of consumer goods (3.2%) and the growth rate of commodity retail sales (3.3%). The “crisis” of slow growth in the catering market has gradually emerged.
Currently, the number of entrants in the catering industry is still “huge.” According to the company’s investigation,As of December 2024, the number of catering companies nationwide will exceed 16 million, a year-on-year increase of 7.8%.
However, the growth rate of new entrants into the catering industry is slowing down. Qichacha data shows that for the whole of 2024, the number of registered catering companies nationwide was 3.574 million, a year-on-year decrease of 13.7%. Compared with the trend of rising catering company registrations in the past four years, the number of catering company registrations in 2024 has declined, and catering investors and entrants appear to be more cautious.
In 2024, the catering industry will also face a new turning point. The Internet celebrity traffic bubble has been burst, the direction of “price war” has changed, and “chasing quality” is expected to become the “breaking point”.
In the new situation, competition among catering companies has become more diversified. Some companies are accelerating “land encirclement” through franchising, going overseas, opening sub-brands, etc.; some companies are expanding their business through “price reduction” and “product +” models. Operating time periods, creative marketing strategies, etc. to seize the consumer market; other companies further consolidate their competitiveness by emphasizing product value, upgrading service quality, and innovating consumption scenarios.
At the same time, there are also some new developments in the catering industryNew trends and needs.
In terms of products, local special flavors have emerged and product quality has been continuously upgraded; in terms of catering brands, Chinese food has further accelerated its overseas expansion, and many companies have joined the “Great Voyage Expedition” team; consumers are more inclined to pay attention to pyrotechnics, cost-effectiveness, quality-price ratio, and Price ratio, relaxation, etc. pay for it. New changes in the market have helped many segments of the catering industry “ride the wind.”
Sour soup hotpot, Jiangxi stir-fry, handmade pearl milk tea, etc.trackUshering in the “highlight moment”
When sorting out the growth process of some popular catering tracks, the Red Food Industry Research Institute found that some catering tracks can grow into popular tracks. There are three main ways in which they are born or rise: traditional tracks “become popular”; niche competitions The road is “excavated”; the cutting-edge track is “born”.
In recent years, many tracks have achieved “highlight moments” in the catering market every year.
Among them, there are phenomenally popular tracks such as making tea by the fire, Zibo BBQ, and Tianshui Malatang, as well as long-standing tracks such as coffee drinks and new Chinese catering. According to incomplete statistics from the Red Food Industry Research Institute,There will be more than 23 popular catering tracks in 2024, such as potato chips shop, small hot pot, hand-made pearl milk tea, Qiqihar barbecue, Jiangxi stir-fry, sour soup hot pot, freshly made health tea, fresh-cut beef hot pot, casserole dishes, Chinese style Burgers, blanched beef noodles, etc.
According to incomplete statistics from the Red Food Industry Research Institute, one of the most popular related topics from each popular catering track is selected to calculate. In 2024, there will be more than 15 popular catering tracks with video views on related topics on the Douyin platform exceeding 100 million. Among them, videos on topics such as “French fries”, “Revolving hot pot”, “Qiqihar barbecue”, “Jiangxi stir-fry” and “Stone pot bibimbap” have been played more than 1 billion times, and “Sour soup hot pot”, “Shaanxi stir-fried steamed buns” and “Healthy flower tea” have been viewed more than 1 billion times. Topics such as “Fresh-cut Beef Buffet Hot Pot” and “Casserole” are also highly popular.
In addition, popular catering tracks such as Chinese burgers, Hunan-style stir-fry, Shanye hot pot, and Sichuan-style stir-fry also have videos on related topics that have been viewed in the tens of millions.
Local stir-fries are developing rapidly.Hot pot, freshly made drinks, etc. all have hot niche segments.
As mentioned above, there are more than 23 popular catering tracks in 2024. This chapter will select some of the tracks with distinctive development characteristics for focused analysis. The following is a partial display of the content.
1. Local stir-fry: With its pyrotechnics and high cost-effectiveness, Jiangxi stir-fry, Hunan-style stir-fry, etc. are rapidly gaining popularity.
In recent years, local stir-fry such as Cantonese stir-fry, Sichuan stir-fry, Shaanxi stir-fry, Guizhou stir-fry, Yunnan stir-fry and other local stir-fries have become increasingly popular, with Changlai Xiaoju, Xiaoliyuan, Qiujin Sichuan style stir-fry, Running Bar Shaanxi cuisine, and Shu Brands such as Chu Guizhou Cuisine, Long Da Ge Spicy Chicken, Eggplant Cha Cha, Grandma’s Flavor, Wanfu Gui Kunming Stir-fried and other brands.
also,Jiangxi stir-fry and Hunan-style stir-fry are the “twin stars” of local stir-fryis gradually expanding its influence nationwide.
Jiangxi stir-fry is famous for its spicy, salty and spicy taste. It usually uses stir-frying and stewing cooking methods. It has a rich taste, full “pot flavor” and high cost performance. Representative dishes include Ningdu Three-cup Chicken, Lotus Blood Duck, Soybean Spicy Chicken Feet, Gannan Fried Fish, Fried Pork with Dried Chili Peppers, Jinggangshan Smoked Bamboo Shoots, etc.
In the past, Jiangxi stir-fries were mainly run by mom-and-pop shops. In recent years, some chain brands have become popular in Ganpo, the Yangtze River Delta and other places, such as Spicy Fresh·Nanchang Food Stalls, Daping Huo·Fresh and Spicy Stir-fried, Blue Bowl·Nanchang Braised Food Restaurant, etc.
According to Red Meal Big Data, there are currently nearly 120,000 Hunan cuisine stores, ranking fourth among Chinese cuisines, second only to Sichuan cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine. In the entire Hunan cuisine system, Hunan-style stir-fries are famous for their spicy, burnt, sour, and black bean aromas. They focus on the use of chili peppers, such as spicy millet, fresh chili, dried chili, chopped chili, etc. The seasoning is simple and the aroma is fragrant.
Currently, Hunan-style stir-fry brands such as Lan Xiangzi Hunan Stir-fried, Hunan Spicy Stir-fried Yellow Beef, Chef Fei’s Chili Stir-fried Pork, Xiangge Spicy, Spicy Coco Stir-fried Yellow Beef and other Hunan-style stir-fry brands are developing well. These brands are in business models, It carries out innovations in products and services, and is also a representative of the new quality Hunan cuisine brand. In terms of products, fried pork with chili and stir-fried yellow beef are the main dishes.
2. Casserole: Popular contestants “infiltrate” all major catering circuits
In the past two years,“Casserole”It can be said that it is in full swing. Among the tracks of Chinese dinner, hot pot, snacks and fast food, subdivided tracks focusing on casseroles are gradually emerging. Tracks such as Sichuan casseroles, clay pots, casserole porridge, beef offal clay pots, and claypot rice are all on the rise. It has attracted much attention, and representative brands such as Taode Casserole, Huishijia, Jie Huo Jie Jie Claypot, Ruxuan Seafood Casserole Porridge, Niu Xiaozao, Luo Ma Casserole, Claypot Zheng·Old Guangzhou Claypot Rice, etc. have emerged.
Some catering brands that did not originally make casseroles are also laying out casserole products. For example, Hefu Lo Mian launched “Hexiaoer·Casserole Rice·Copper Basin Hot Pot” in October 2024. Yao Yao Pickled Fish and Fish You Are At the same time, brands such as Yuan Ji Yun Dumplings have also launched casserole-related products.
3. Hot pot: Sour soup hot pot has ushered in a “golden period” of development, and fresh-cut beef hot pot has strong development momentum.
The market popularity of the hot pot track is also relatively high.Sour soup hot pot, mountain hot pot, small hot pot, fresh cut beef hot potetc. are among the popular catering tracks in 2024.
As the Yunnan-Guizhou flavor becomes popular across the country, the specialty flavor of sour soup is also favored by the market, and the sour soup hotpot track has ushered in a “golden period” of development.
Judging from the subdivision of the track, the Guizhou Sour Soup Hot Pot track includes Qian Tan Tan Anshun Duo Duo Fen Hot Pot, Qian Sanyi Duo Duo Fen Sour Soup Hot Pot, Wang Fendou Guizhou Sour Soup Beef Hot Pot, and Red Lantern Guizhou Sour Soup Beef hotpot and other brands, Yunnan Sour The soup hot pot track has brands such as Yunnan Niu Yunnan Pickled Beef Hot Pot and Erhuo Yunnan Pickled Cabbage Hot Pot. The Hainan Dregs and Vinegar Hot Pot track has Qiongzhou Dregs and Vinegar·Hainan Sour Soup Hot Pot, Taiqiong Dregs and Vinegar·Hainan Sour Soup Hot Pot, etc. brand. In addition, there are also some sour soup hot pot brands that are developing well in areas such as tomato hot pot, tom yum hot pot, sauerkraut copper pot shabu-shabu, and sour radish fish hot pot.
At the same time, as the price of beef, the “star ingredient”, drops,The catering business centered around beef is in full swingfresh-cut beef hot pot, blanched beef noodles, fresh roast beef and other tracks have strong development momentum.
in,Fresh cut beef hot potCombining the “fresh and freshly cut” characteristics of Chaoshan beef hotpot with the self-service mode, it has become a popular track in the past two years. Fresh-cut beef hotpot restaurants have appeared in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Changsha, Wuhan and other places, such as Guo Shufen Fresh-cut Beef Buffet Old Hotpot, Tan Sanniang Fresh-cut Beef Buffet Hotpot, etc.
Cooking wild vegetables and drinking camellia tea creates a relaxing atmosphereShan Ye Hot PotIt has also been sought after by the market. Relevant brands have triggered “queuing waves” in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing and other places by virtue of their advantages such as high-quality dishes, ecological ingredients, and dining scenes with wild mountain scenery. Among them, brands such as Sanchuoshan and Shanruwan have good development momentum.
In addition, cutting into the “eating for one person” sceneSmall hot potIt is still developing vigorously. Its representative brands include Xiabu Xiabu, Wei La Small Hot Pot, Qianwei Yi Ding Self-service Small Hot Pot, Tao Niang Rice Small Hot Pot, etc. The per capita consumption of many brands is less than 40 yuan, which is very cost-effective. At the same time, the self-service model is still the mainstream model adopted by small hot pot brands.
4. Freshly made drinks: Healthy tea drinks are developing rapidly, and handmade pearl milk tea has once again ushered in its “highlight moment”
In the field of freshly made drinks, the popularity of freshly made health tea drinks and the popularity of handmade pearl milk tea are also highlights.
At present, “crispy young people” have entered the “health bureau” one after another, and health drinks with nourishing and nourishing functions have attracted much attention.Freshly made health teaThe track gradually grew.
For example, representative brands such as Nuanyan, Auntie Hot Drink, Freshly Stewed Bird’s Nest, Lu Li, Kaiji Fangzi, Hetian Shuipu, Chunfeng, and Fulingji have launched Poria Lily and Barley Water, Luoshen Chenpifu, and Astragalus Shunqi Drink. , Ajiao Wuhong Tang and other products. The freshly made health-preserving tea drinks are added with health-preserving ingredients such as wolfberry, ginseng, bird’s nest, kudzu root, and ginseng root, emphasizing the functions of nourishing the stomach, warming the body, improving eyesight, and relieving fatigue from staying up late.
As a former “top brand”, pearl milk tea has ushered in new development opportunities in recent years with its selling points such as “handmade brown sugar/brown sugar”.
Currently, handmade pearl milk tea brands such as Jinzhu·Old Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea, Yao Zhugong·Old Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea, and Chen Wending are leading the development of the track. Lujiaoxiang has returned to the mainland market. Heytea, Naixue’s tea, and tea New tea brands such as Momochi are also increasing their investmentBrown sugar pearl milk teaThe product, “Tears of the Age” is getting a new look.
The reason is that today’s “pearl milk tea” emphasizes healthy ingredients such as hand-made brown sugar/brown sugar, fresh milk tea base, etc., which is in line with the development trend of real ingredients and upgraded milk base quality in the tea drinking industry.
5. New Chinese catering: Chinese fried chicken and Chinese burgers continue to mature, and the “Chinese genes” are getting stronger
In recent years, the “New Chinese Style” trend has spread to every corner of the catering industry. Among them,Chinese burger, Chinese fried chickenThe development of other tracks is more popular.
In the Chinese-style burger track, Tustin has become the “leader” with more than 9,000 stores. The Chinese-style burger brand embodies the charm of Chinese ingredients in terms of patties and fillings.
On the Chinese fried chicken track, brands such as Linyu Fried Chicken Legs, Yanqingguan Fried Chicken, and Laohan Stir-fried Chicken currently have more than 200 stores, and local specialty fried chicken such as Yanji Fried Chicken is gradually emerging from the market.
6. Other popular tracks: French fries specialty stores are rapidly expanding their stores, and scalded beef noodles and Korean bibimbap are all representative brands.
In addition to what is mentioned above,French fries, blanched beef noodles, fresh roast beef, Korean bibimbap, Qiqihar barbecueWaiting for it is also a very popular track in 2024.
For example, as an important ingredient in the catering field, French fries are currently being amplified as a “big item”, with a number of French fries specialty stores popping up in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and other places.
Among them, the Philippine French fries brand Potato Corner continues to expand in the Chinese market. Its brand officials announced in November 2024 that the number of stores nationwide has exceeded 100. SH4KE, which originated in Shanghai, will also open more stores in 2024, covering Jiangsu, Guangdong, Henan and other places.
For another example, in the past two years,Blanched Beef NoodlesIt has become a major “trend” and a number of scalded beef noodle brands have emerged in cities such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Kunming.
These brands use high-value and low-priced hanging dragons as their selling points. They have high similarities in main products, menu structures, store styles, business models, etc., and they can expand stores quickly. Among them, brands such as Qiao Shanshan’s scalded beef rice noodles, Yun’aman’s scalded beef rice noodles, Zhaixiangkou’s scalded beef rice noodles, and Ba Tongue’s scalded beef rice noodles are developing well.
In addition, the restaurant specializes in stone pot bibimbap.Korean bibimbapContaining the connotation of “five elements, five internal organs and five colors”, brands such as Micun Bibimbap, Park Uncle Bibimbap, and Miyue Korean Bibimbap are developing well in this track.
Conclusion
At present, the popular catering market has high popularity, distinctive local characteristics, and diverse business models. However, there are still some problems in its development process.Pain points and shortcomingsfor example, traditional tracks face the problems of insufficient innovation and serious homogeneity, niche tracks may encounter problems of low awareness and narrow audience during the promotion process, and cutting-edge tracks often lack sufficient market verification and consumer support. Basics etc.
At the same time, popular catering tracks includeThree major future opportunitiesIt is worthy of attention. The first is that beef and mutton ingredients have great potential. The second is that the healthy and smoky catering track has great potential. The third is that local specialties are worth exploring and promoting.
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