Shenzhen has achieved positive results in incubating new catering brands and offering new job opportunities in the catering industry as the Canton Chef program is forging ahead, according to Shenzhen Cuisine Association.
“DON味,” a catering platform developed by Shenzhen Yongzhong Smart Catering Technology Co. Ltd., has incubated a new fast-food brand called “快打卡Cotaka in烤肉饭,” which features grilled meat with rice.
The brand’s first store was opened at Link City underground mall in Futian District this July, providing job opportunities for fresh graduates and veterans.
Liu Yongzhong, president of Shenzhen Cuisine Association, said that the brand will open 500 stores in Shenzhen within three years, which can provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to start businesses and offer upwards of 5,000 job vacancies.
Through the Canton Chef program, the brand carries out research and development on food ingredients of Shenzhen Standard-accredited products and puts the food ingredients into use in the catering industry, according to the Daily report.
The “DON味” platform is also incubating another brand named “Mingsheng Baozi” through the Canton Chef program. The brand is expected to enter the market in September and open 1,000 stores in Shenzhen in the future, which will provide over 5,000 job opportunities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to the catering industry, and to boost the industry, Shenzhen Culinary Academy and Shenzhen Cuisine Association has jointly initiated a project mainly focusing on providing a platform for entrepreneurs to start takeaway businesses.
The project has been launched in cities including Shenzhen, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It allows catering practitioners to participate as partners in the form of entrepreneurship or employment.