After several years of twists and turns, the catering industry has finally ushered in a recovery in 2023. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics not only paints a vibrant market picture for us, but also reveals the consumer trends and industrial changes behind it. The growth of catering revenue far exceeded the year-on-year growth rate of total retail sales of consumer goods and commodity retail, which not only boosted the confidence of practitioners, but also indicated that the industry is about to enter a new peak.
Chinese dinner, as an important part of the catering industry, has made great contributions. In the small peak of consumption during the holidays, local cuisines are frequently out of the circle, chain brands are trying to go overseas, and immersive experiences provide emotional value, all of which reflect the vitality and innovation of the market. In particular, the extensive use of national style elements not only satisfies consumers' pursuit of aesthetics, but also provides a sense of cultural belonging at the spiritual level. Waiters in ancient costumes, guzheng players, and "palace maids" serving food not only bring a novel experience to consumers, but also create a unique cultural atmosphere for the brand.
The steady development of the stall model provides a new idea for the "sinking" strategy of the catering industry. The successful practice of brands such as Ziguangyuan shows that small and beautiful stalls can also create good market performance. The success of this model lies not only in its ability to meet the daily needs of consumers, but also in its efficiency, flexibility and ease of replication. Of course, this also requires the brand to have a deep regional market awareness and product development capabilities.
The rise of local cuisines and the trend of going overseas are even more highlights worthy of attention. Hunan cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Cantonese cuisine and other local cuisines with their own characteristics have further increased their penetration in the national market. This not only reflects consumers' pursuit of diversification, but also reflects the breadth and profundity of China's catering culture. The acceleration of the trend of going overseas is an important symbol of the internationalization of Chinese catering brands. The vast potential of overseas markets and the consumption base of the Chinese community provide these brands with rare development opportunities.
However, in the face of this series of positive changes, we also need to keep a clear head. The F&B industry is becoming increasingly competitive, and consumer needs are constantly changing. How to maintain continuous innovation and competitiveness in such a market environment is a question that every catering brand needs to think about. Although the national style elements and immersive experience have brought short-term traffic and attention to the brand, in order to achieve long-term development, it is also necessary to make great efforts in product quality, service experience, and chain management.
To sum up, the catering industry in 2023 has finally ushered in a recovery after several years of twists and turns. The rise of Chinese dinner, the development of stall models, the expansion of local cuisines and the extensive use of national style elements have injected new vitality and opportunities into the industry. But at the same time, it also brings new challenges and reflections. How to maintain continuous innovation and competitiveness in the new market environment will be an important topic for the development of the catering industry in the future.