EYESHENZHEN  /   Business  /   Industry News

Local eateries to open more branches as business thrives

Writer: Lin Songtao  |  Editor: Zhang Chanwen  |  From: Shenzhen Daily  |  Updated: 2023-02-03

Some restaurant brands plan to open more branches in Shenzhen as the city’s catering industry continues to thrive after the Spring Festival holiday, Shenzhen Evening News reported.

Zhang Ruihao, a manager of Chua Lam’s Pho, said that the customer flow rate during this festival increased by 20% compared to usual periods. They got even busier after the holiday as the restaurant is in Huaqiangbei, Futian District, and many office workers nearby will come to enjoy lunch and dinner.

A restaurant owner told the reporter that Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner reservations returned to the same level as the same period in 2019.

Shen Shitao, who is in charge of business in Shenzhen’s Xiabu Xiabu, a hotpot chain eatery, is confident about the catering industry’s prospects in the city. “We’re supposed to open over 20 new branches here and recruit about 600 staffers,” he said.

“Shenzhen is an inclusive city. People here are willing to accept new flavors, which encourages us to be creative on dishes,” said Xu Guangqiang with a Shunde-flavor restaurant.

During this Spring Festival holiday, Shenzhen’s food and beverage industry’s revenue reached 735 million yuan (US$109 million), up 25.93% year on year, data from UnionPay showed.

Liu Yongzhong, chairman of the Shenzhen Cuisine Association, revealed that from New Year’s Day to the end of the Spring Festival holiday, eateries and restaurants in Shenzhen’s food streets, business circles and communities witnessed increase in foot traffic to varying degrees. Long lines of waiting patrons were even seen at some restaurants, a scene that was rarely seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 300 members of the association have witnessed the peak of foot traffic in recent days, according to Liu.