In China, Ready-To-Eat Meals A Niche For Restaurant Chains

Frozen semi-cooked foods from well-known restaurant brands have become increasingly popular, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Such dishes, which only require simple reheating, have become hot commodities as consumers embrace the shorter meal-preparation times and enhanced convenience.

Fuelled by the rapid development and reduced costs of cold-chain transport, ready-to-eat meals are enjoying a golden growth period as they can be delivered further with extended quality guarantee time frames.

A number of restaurant chains have launched ready-to-eat meals such as meats, seafood, vegetables and hot pots online and at supermarkets to expand sales channels and increase business revenue.

In addition to eat-in and takeout meals, Peking roast duck restaurant chain Dadong offers ready-to-eat pre-packaged roast duck, sauces and other foods such as pastries and traditional Chinese rice pudding via its flagship store on JD and Tmall, Alibaba’s online shopping platform.

For a roast duck gift box, which normally sells for 298 yuan (US$45), first time buyers can purchase them for 208 yuan. The dishes are cooked, pre-sliced and vacuum-packed.