2026年中国餐饮行业报告：连锁化进程加速，加盟模式主导行业发展

Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive investment outlook for the Chinese catering industry, highlighting the acceleration of chain operations and the dominance of the franchise model in industry development [6][22][60]. Core Insights - The Chinese catering industry is transitioning from "incremental competition" to "stock competition," with lower entrepreneurial barriers and a significant increase in the number of legal entities and employees in the sector [15][17]. - The market is characterized by a strong recovery post-pandemic, with a notable increase in revenue and a shift towards high-quality development driven by brandization and digitalization [20][33]. - The franchise model is becoming the primary growth driver, with a significant rise in chain penetration rates, particularly in the fast-food segment [60][62]. Summary by Sections Current State of the Chinese Catering Industry - The industry is experiencing a shift towards stock competition, with a notable increase in the number of legal entities from 26,359 in 2016 to 74,664 by 2024, and employees rising from 221.1 million to 360.5 million [17][20]. - The catering revenue reached approximately 57,982 billion yuan in 2025, accounting for 11.6% of the total retail sales, reflecting a 3.2% year-on-year growth [10][20]. Industry Chain Overview - The catering industry value chain includes upstream suppliers, food processing, and downstream service delivery, with a focus on ensuring food freshness and timely delivery [39][40]. - The supply chain is evolving towards quality enhancement and precision delivery, driven by increased competition in retail channels [44]. Fast Food Industry Status - The fast-food segment is witnessing accelerated chain development, with the chain penetration rate increasing from 19% in 2021 to 23% in 2024 [26][60]. - The market for Chinese fast food is projected to grow from 5,296 billion yuan in 2020 to 8,097 billion yuan in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2% [57][58]. Consumer Spending Trends - The average consumer spending in the catering sector is dominated by low-price segments, with the 11-20 yuan range accounting for 32.7% of total outlets [30][32]. - The overall catering market is expected to grow from 39,527 billion yuan in 2020 to 83,348 billion yuan by 2030, with a CAGR of approximately 7.7% [33][35]. Challenges in Cost Management - The cost structure of catering businesses is heavily reliant on raw material procurement (42.1%), labor costs (22.2%), and rent (9.7%), which together account for nearly 75% of total revenue [49]. - The industry is facing new challenges in cost management, shifting focus from traditional hard costs to managing rising labor and digital channel expenses [47][49].