Core Insights - The Chinese catering industry is experiencing a positive trend in food safety, supported by government policies and increased awareness among enterprises regarding their responsibilities [1][2] - The catering sector is projected to achieve a revenue of 55,718 billion yuan in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 5.3%, driven by expanding market size and evolving consumer demands for personalized, diverse, and high-quality dining experiences [1] - The shift towards nutritional transformation in the catering industry is gaining attention, with a focus on healthy cooking methods and balanced nutrition, which is changing consumer eating habits and presenting challenges for the industry [1] Industry Developments - The widespread application of digital and intelligent technologies is enhancing collaboration across the supply chain, leading to increased standardization and reduced food safety risks in the catering industry [2] - The recognition of the importance of standardization in food safety has grown, with a more robust regulatory framework being established, although the complexity of the industry presents ongoing challenges for comprehensive management [2] - Emerging food categories that align with health trends, such as low-calorie and high-fiber options, are gaining popularity, particularly among younger consumers, indicating a shift in consumer preferences towards healthier dining choices [2]

Core Viewpoint - Food safety is the cornerstone and baseline for the development of the catering industry, serving as the foundation for high-quality development [4] Group 1: Event Overview - The "2025 Catering Industry Food Safety Innovation Practice Industry Chain High-Quality Development Promotion Conference" was held in Beijing, guided by the State Administration for Market Regulation and organized by the China Cuisine Association [1] - Attendees shared excellent practices in food safety risk prevention, system improvement, quality optimization, and technological innovation [1] Group 2: Industry Practices and Initiatives - Unilever Food Solutions has provided professional support to over 11,000 restaurants through training on food safety management, kitchen management, and supply chain management over the past 10 years, reaching over 11.7 million people through online public education [4] - The China Cuisine Association and Unilever Food Solutions awarded "2024 Annual Food Safety Best Practice" certificates to outstanding enterprises, encouraging more catering businesses to engage in food safety construction [4] Group 3: Market Trends and Consumer Preferences - The catering industry has maintained a leading growth rate, with market scale steadily expanding and consumer demand becoming more personalized, diversified, and quality-oriented [5] - Health-conscious dining trends have led to the emergence of new popular categories such as low-calorie, low-fat, high-fiber, and nutritionally balanced options, appealing particularly to younger consumers [5] Group 4: Health Initiatives - Unilever Food Solutions, in collaboration with Sodexo and Shanghai Junshi Life Science Research Institute, launched the "Healthy Canteen Program," optimizing 105 healthy recipes with over a 20% reduction in salt, oil, and sugar usage, and improving employee satisfaction with meals by over 10% [5] - The company is also addressing the nutritional imbalance in student meals by analyzing dietary structures and improving meal solutions through scientific ingredient and cooking technique combinations [5] Group 5: Future Directions - Unilever Food Solutions aims to continuously update nutritional health standards for products and solutions, collaborating with chefs, consumers, and industry partners to create a healthy ecosystem that supports high-quality development in the catering industry [6]