In March, the arrival of spring’s warmth heralds the commencement of the 110th China Food and Drinks Fair (CFDF), a pivotal event in the annual industry calendar, taking place in Chengdu. At this significantly large fair, "Yuanben Shanliang," ORG’s distinguished pre-prepared food brand, captures the spotlight, showcasing its excellence and setting a new standard for premium culinary offerings.
Pre-prepared dishes have emerged as a significant trend in the food industry over the last two years, transitioning from the B2B market to the homes of end consumers. Their convenience and diverse range have played a key role in this shift. Notably, these dishes have even gained prominence during the family reunions of Chinese New Year's Eve dinners in recent times. Highlighted in the Central No.1 Document of 2023 and a hot topic at this year's Two Sessions, pre-prepared dishes have attracted considerable attention, sparking discussions about their safety. ORG, with its focus on high-quality pre-prepared dishes, made a remarkable entrance at CFDF with "Yuanben Shanliang," potentially presenting a viable solution to prevailing challenges in the industry.
The Misconception of Consumer Understanding: Pre-prepared Dishes Are Not Meal Kits
The shift towards time-efficient and convenient dining options has led the post-90s generation to become the leading consumers of pre-prepared dishes, elevating these meals to become the centerpiece of Chinese New Year dinners. Despite this growing popularity, some maintain outdated perceptions, inaccurately labeling pre-prepared dishes as equivalent to meal kits and therefore "unhealthy". To counter these misconceptions, Wang Qiangzhong, a National People's Congress representative and the chairman of Jiangsu Besta, underscored the importance of addressing these misunderstandingsin his proposal titled " On Strengthening Public Opinion Guidance on Pre-prepared Dishes". He pointed out the erroneous tendency to equate pre-prepared dishes with takeout meal kits, along with an unfounded skepticism about their quality, safety, and nutritional benefits.
So, do pre-prepared dishes and meal kits amount to the same thing? And are pre-prepared dishes truly unhealthy?
Addressing the hotly debated topic of preservatives sheds light on this matter. Food for pre-prepared dishes undergo processes like washing and cutting before being packaged through high-cost methods such as rapid freezing or vacuum sealing. These techniques help preserve the dishes' ideal taste without the need for preservatives. In contrast, meal kits, designed for an extended shelf life, often use low-cost preservation methods including adding preservatives. This distinction underlines the essential difference between pre-prepared dishes and meal kits.
Moreover, premium pre-prepared dishes, such as "Yuanben Shanliang," utilize an advanced two-stage steaming process. Initially, the dishes are steamed at 100°C for 18 minutes, achieving commercial sterility before being sealed and reheated. This method extends their shelf life without the need for preservatives or sterilizing agents. The intricacy of this process ensures that the nutrients, color, aroma, and taste of the food undergo minimal alterations, effectively dispelling the myth that "all pre-prepared dishes contain preservatives". Clearly, such pre-prepared dishes offer superior quality over meal kits, rendering any claims about their healthiness unfounded.
The Industry's Mixed Understanding: Pre-prepared Dishes Need Standards
In fact, misconceptions about pre-prepared dishes aren't confined to consumers; the industry itself is hindered by the lack of national standards and low entry barriers. The situation leads to a significant quality disparity among providers. Zhu Danpeng, a noted Chinese food industry analyst, has argued for a more regulated approach. He suggests Pre-prepared dishes need to undergo a transformation towards standardization, professionalization, and branding, alongside embracing capitalization and scaling efforts. Implementing higher entry barriers is crucial for fostering a market environment where high-quality offerings thrive".
In this regard, ORG and its premium pre-prepared dish brand "Yuanben Shanliang" are at the forefront of industry advancements. In 2022, ORG initiated the development of a research and production facility for pre-prepared dishes in Kaiyuan, Liaoning—famous for its nationally acclaimed Kaiyuan rice. This project achieved its initial production targets (reaching production capacity) in January 2023. The facility stands out for its state-of-the-art production lines, recognized both nationally and internationally, and is further enhanced by a 500㎡ food inspection laboratory.
Leveraging sophisticated facilities, a fully-equipped laboratory, a skilled R&D team, and exhaustive production methodologies, "Yuanben Shanliang" by ORG is pioneering the path towards higher industry standards, including standardization, professionalization, and scalable growth. The brand aims to catalyze the formation of national guidelines for pre-prepared dishes, thereby advancing the modernization and development of China's food industry.
According to the "2023 Top 100 Research in Pre-prepared Dish Industry" by CCID Consulting's Consumer Economy Research Center, employing laminated steel for packaging markedly prolongs the shelf life of food products up to a year without the need for preservatives. The environmental benefits, thermal conductivity, ability to block light, seal integrity, and suitability for various conditions offered by metal materials enhance food safety. "Yuanben Shanliang" utilizes gold-colored, bowl-shaped cans made from laminated steel, elevating packaging standards in the pre-prepared dish sector and making a significant contribution to the industry's safety standards.
"Yuanben Shanliang" stands out in the diverse pre-prepared dish market with its extensive variety of dishes, authentic flavors, sophisticated processing methods, and secure packaging. Its appearance at the CFDF marks merely the start. The evolution of pre-prepared dishes signifies a move towards standardized development of the food industry and reflects the transformation and adaptation of consumer habits. Committed to upholding integrity and encouraging innovation, ORG is dedicated to progressing with unwavering determination and focus.
