The year 2024 marks a period of redefinition and renewed recognition for the pre-made dishes industry. This year, the industry faced food safety crises, policy re-regulations, and shifts in market dynamics, sounding alarms for its development while also bringing forth new opportunities.
Food Safety Warnings Resurface
During the 2024 “315” Consumer Rights Day broadcast, certain enterprises were exposed for using substandard meat products in pre-made dishes, notably affecting consumer trust and prompting the industry to reassess its food safety standards.
Policy Guidance and Industry Standard Upgrades
In March, six departments jointly issued the “Notice on Strengthening Food Safety Supervision of Pre-made Dishes and Promoting High-quality Industry Development,” comprehensively redefining the concept, standard systems, and food safety supervision of pre-made dishes. Notably, it clearly stipulated that pre-made dishes should not contain preservatives and that the use of food additives should be strictly regulated. These policies have set higher thresholds for industry entry, pushing the sector towards more standardized and healthier development.
Transparency Wins Trust
Facing a crisis of confidence, some dining enterprises chose to be transparent, openly sharing their dish sourcing reports with the public. These reports detailed the proportions of freshly made dishes, semi-prepared, and reheated pre-made dishes. This honest and transparent approach not only regained consumer trust but also set a benchmark for integrity within the industry.
Market Demand Drives Industry Transformation
At the 2024 China Pre-made Food Industry Healthy Development Conference, the latest data revealed new industry trends. To cope with intense market competition, dining enterprises are seeking ways to reduce costs and increase efficiency, leading to a continuous rise in the penetration rate of pre-made dishes in the B-end (business end) catering sector. With the backdrop of chain development, dining enterprises have growing demands for food safety, consistent taste, and stable supply chains, all of which pre-made dishes can satisfy.
Low Industry Concentration, Vast Development Space
Despite the rich variety of pre-made dishes, the industry’s overall concentration remains low, characterized by numerous small-scale, regionally strong enterprises. This indicates that the pre-made dishes industry still has immense room for growth and urgently needs leading companies to set industry standards and enhance overall competitiveness.
Focusing on Signature Products as a Breakthrough
In a fiercely competitive market environment, adopting a “signature product” strategy has become an effective means for pre-made dish enterprises to break through. Focusing on creating blockbuster products not only helps form differentiated barriers but also leverages economies of scale to achieve cost advantages and increase market share. The growth trends of certain popular dishes in the dining market often signal new opportunities in the retail end of pre-made dishes.
Meat and Poultry Pre-made Dishes: Significant Potential
Data indicates that the market size of meat and poultry pre-made dishes is growing markedly, expected to surpass 200 billion yuan in 2024, with a year-on-year growth rate exceeding 30%. Consumers’ demand for high-quality meat dishes continues to rise, especially for beef pre-made dishes, which attract diverse consumer groups due to their high value and nutritional content.
Aquatic Pre-made Dishes: Rapid Growth with Need for More Variety
Aquatic pre-made dishes are maintaining rapid growth in the consumer market, but the diversity of offerings needs enhancement. Currently, products like pickled fish, crayfish, and grilled fish dominate the market. Enterprises need to innovate through raw material upgrades and flavor diversification to meet the evolving demands of consumers.
Future Outlook
Where is the pre-made dishes industry headed? Which pre-made dish products are likely to become “billion-level signature products”? The future development of the pre-made dishes industry hinges on strict food safety supervision, enterprise integrity, and market-driven innovation.
Conclusion
The year 2024 is both a time of reshaping for the pre-made dishes industry and a starting point for new opportunities. By adhering to food safety standards and innovating development models, enterprises can win consumer trust and achieve sustainable industry growth. The future of pre-made dishes concerns not only the survival of enterprises but also the safety and enjoyment of meals for millions of households.