Pre-made meals drive rural jobs growth

Pre-made meals, a convenient dining option widely accepted in many Western countries, have sparked heated debate on China's social media in recent years over concerns about safety, hygiene, and nutrition. Experts attribute the disparity in acceptance to differing levels of industry development and public understanding.

China's pre-made meal industry, which experienced a boom during the COVID-19 pandemic, is still in its infancy compared to its Western counterparts, according to Zou Jian, an executive expert with China's Pre-Made Meal Professional Committee. Zou noted that similar concerns were voiced in Europe and the United States decades ago when the industry was developing in those regions.

"Western consumers have a higher level of understanding of premade meals thanks to decades of industry development and robust information disclosure," Zou said. "In China, however, the industry is new, and public awareness is still growing."

Zou emphasized that pre-made meals in China are "very safe and clean," citing three key factors: reliance on physical processing methods by food prep companies like Huayu Holding Co, the use of fresh ingredients directly sourced from plants, and strict government regulations overseeing the sector.

Efforts to address consumer concerns are underway. In March 2024, China introduced nationwide standards to bolster supervision of the fast-growing market. On Dec 20, Henan province established a premade dish industrial alliance aimed at enhancing transparency through expert-led research and public outreach.

Zou acknowledged the challenges ahead for the industry, particularly given the diversity of Chinese cuisine. "With over 18,000 types of cuisine featuring different cooking methods like frying, steaming, and stewing, the techniques for transforming them into pre-made dishes are inevitably complex," he said.

Despite the hurdles, the sector's growth is expected to have broader economic benefits. Zou noted that developing pre-made meals drives integration across primary, secondary, and tertiary industries and supports rural vitalization.

Huayu Holding Co, which operates facilities in Henan, Jilin, and Tianjin, has significantly boosted rural employment, employing around 300,000 workers, 85 percent of whom are from rural areas. The company sources an average of five million pigs annually from nearby plants, addressing sales challenges for scattered farms while providing fresh food to consumers, said Liu Chaoyang, the company's general manager.

"If the Huayu model-from farm to table-can be replicated nationwide, it will harness idle resources in the countryside and further rural vitalization," Zou said.

China's pre-made meal industry generated 550 billion yuan ($69.4 billion) in revenue last year, according to Xinhua News Agency. Zou sees opportunities for international growth, particularly as pre-made meals could serve as a gateway for foreigners to experience Chinese cuisine.

Zou shared an anecdote from his time abroad when friends from New Zealand's Silver Fern Farms were surprised by the quality of the premade hotpot he served. "Pre-made meals can make Chinese cuisine more accessible to international consumers, fostering a deeper appreciation for Chinese culture," he said.

However, the industry faces challenges expanding overseas due to varying inspection and quarantine standards for meat products. "We are working to smooth out these processes," said He Shaojun, general manager of Henan Dongfang Yichu Food Co, a subsidiary of Huayu Holding.