2026 Central Kitchen Industry Panorama: Market Volume Surpasses ¥600 Billion, Equipment Upgrades Take Center Stage

In the first quarter of 2026, China's central kitchen industry posted an impressive performance. According to the latest report from iiMedia Research, the market size of China's central kitchen sector had already exceeded ¥580 billion in 2025, and is projected to surpass the ¥600 billion mark for the first time in 2026, maintaining a compound annual growth rate of over 15%.

## Three Key Variables to Watch in 2026

### Policy Catalyst: The National Standard for Prepared Dishes Takes Effect

The national standard for prepared dishes, officially implemented at the end of 2025, has clearly defined the "identity boundary" of prepared dishes — explicitly prohibiting the addition of preservatives and mandating full-chain requirements for cold chain logistics, packaging, and labeling. This new policy has directly accelerated the demand for central kitchen equipment upgrades. In Q1 2026 alone, procurement of quick-freezing equipment and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) machines surged by over 40% year-over-year.

### Cost Pressure: Rising Labor and Energy Costs Drive Automation

With minimum wage adjustments taking effect across multiple regions in 2026 (averaging a 5–8% increase) alongside rising electricity costs, profit margins for food processing enterprises continue to narrow. In January, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a notice on "Promoting Equipment Renewal and Transformation in Manufacturing," explicitly offering subsidies of up to 30% of equipment investment for the intelligent retrofitting of food processing equipment.

### Export Opportunities: Growing Demand Along the Belt and Road

In Q1 2026, China's exports of food machinery grew by 18.6% year-over-year. ASEAN nations, the Middle East, and Africa emerged as the fastest-growing markets. Shunxiang Kitchen's products have now been exported to more than 60 countries, with Q1 2026 export revenue climbing 35% year-over-year.

## Shunxiang Kitchen's Industry Outlook

"2026 marks a pivotal year for the central kitchen industry's transformation from 'quantitative growth' to 'qualitative leap.' Equipment is no longer merely a production tool — it has become the cornerstone of a company's competitive edge." — Shunxiang Kitchen Technical Director

> For more industry insights, explore the Shunxiang Kitchen Knowledge Base.