Core Viewpoint - The 16th CRE Guangzhou Catering Expo highlighted the sustainable development of the catering industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, supported by government policies and market trends [1][2]. Group 1: Market Trends and Consumer Behavior - The catering market in the Greater Bay Area is expanding, driven by strong consumer purchasing power and policy support, leading to a diversified development pattern centered around Cantonese cuisine [2][3]. - Consumers in the Greater Bay Area are categorized into four groups: "Z Generation," middle-to-high-income individuals, Hong Kong and Macao consumers, and urban seniors, each exhibiting unique consumption preferences that drive innovation in the catering industry [3][5]. - The "Z Generation" shows a shift towards health-conscious dining, preferring balanced meals with lower calories, indicating a need for catering businesses to adapt their offerings [5]. Group 2: Economic Performance and Growth Projections - Guangdong's catering revenue is projected to reach 5.9 trillion yuan in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 2.5%, outpacing the province's overall retail growth by 1.7 percentage points [5]. - The catering industry in Guangdong has consistently accounted for over 10% of the national total, maintaining a leading position in the market [5]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics and Capitalization - The trend of chain operations and capitalization is prominent in the catering industry, with the chain rate in Guangdong reaching 31.7%, significantly higher than the national average of 22% [8]. - A total of 17 catering enterprises headquartered in the Greater Bay Area have successfully gone public, with the Hong Kong stock market being a preferred choice due to its favorable conditions for the industry [9][10]. - The financial health of listed catering companies shows challenges, with nearly half experiencing low cash flow, necessitating improvements in financial management and operational strategies [9]. Group 4: Investment Opportunities - The sectors attracting investment in the Greater Bay Area include group meals, fast food, snacks, and tea drinks, with group meals expected to increase their market share from 14% in 2023 to 22% in 2024 [10].

Core Insights - The report indicates that the chain restaurant rate in China has shown a stepwise increase over the past seven years, reaching 22% in 2024 and expected to exceed 24% in 2025 [2] - In the Greater Bay Area, the chain restaurant rate is significantly higher at 31.7%, indicating a trend towards chain and capitalized operations in the industry [2] - The report highlights the diverse development of the restaurant market in the Greater Bay Area, driven by strong consumer capacity, policy support, and regional integration [2][3] Industry Trends - A total of 17 restaurant companies headquartered in the Greater Bay Area have successfully gone public, with over 32 nationwide listed on the Shenzhen and Hong Kong stock exchanges [3] - The Hong Kong stock market is particularly attractive for restaurant companies due to its higher tolerance for the industry, efficient listing processes, and abundant overseas capital resources [3] - The report anticipates that more restaurant companies will choose Hong Kong as their preferred listing destination due to the increasing regulatory strictness in the A-share market [3] Investment Focus - The sectors of group meals, fast food, snacks, and tea drinks are attracting significant attention from investment institutions [3] - From 2019 to 2024, group meals, fast food, snacks, tea drinks, prepared dishes, healthy food/light meals, restaurant supply chains, and coffee have been identified as the seven hot investment areas in the Greater Bay Area [3] - The proportion of group meals, fast food, and snacks is expected to rise from 14% in 2023 to 22% in 2024, while tea drinks will increase from 10% to 20%, maintaining their positions as the top two sectors in financing events [3] Digital Transformation - Digital transformation is becoming a key strategy for enhancing competitiveness in the Greater Bay Area restaurant industry [4] - The integration of digital tools helps restaurants manage the entire supply chain process, from raw material procurement to inventory management and order processing [4] - Data analytics and smart customer service are utilized to understand market trends and consumer preferences, enabling personalized marketing strategies and enhancing customer loyalty [4]