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Fast-Food Restaurants in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: May 2024 6720

Revenue

$176.3bn

2024

$187.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

11m

Businesses

3m

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Fast-Food Restaurants in China industry analysis

In recent years, lifestyle changes and reduced leisure time have contributed to a consumer shift from traditional full-service restaurants toward fast-food establishments. In addition, increased Western influences in China have boosted demand for fast food. Due to the rapid development of fast-food service providers, improvements in chain store and franchising management, and new brands and food styles, industry growth has been strong over the past decade.ACMR-IBISWorld estimates that the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China will generate $176.3 billion in 2023. Revenue is expected to increase by 7.2% in 2023 as the industry recovers from the COVID-19 outbreak. Industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualized 1.0% over the five years through 2023.There are about 2.5 million fast food restaurant locations (i.e., establishments) operating in the industry in 2023, including franchise and chain operators of all sizes and independent Chinese-style fast-food facilities throughout the country. Most industry enterprises are small, independent facilities that offer traditional Chinese-style fast food. Fast-food restaurants employ about 11.4 million people who collectively receive an estimated $32.9 billion in wages.ACMR-IBISWorld forecasts that industry revenue will increase at an annualized 6.1% over the five years through 2028, to reach $237.5 billion. Competition is forecast to intensify, especially in regions with well-developed fast-food markets. Increased competition will encourage players to look for new opportunities in less-developed regions. Chain operations will continue spreading from east to west, and from tier one and two to tier three and four cities. Industry concentration is anticipated to increase only slightly over the next five years. In addition, more industry enterprises are likely to enter China's Top 100 catering enterprises list over the period.

Trends and Insights

  • Faster lifestyles have changed residents' taste for fast food. The development of fast food is fast.
  • Chinese fast food is the most popular among people. These snack shops are usually located in office buildings, universities, markets, shopping centers and snack streets.
  • The geographical distribution of China's fast-food industry is consistent with the level of China's economic development. First-tier cities have a wide range of franchises.
  • Product quality is a very important basis for competition in this industry. People pay attention to the quality, safety and distinctive taste of food.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $176.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The pandemic has changed the way people eat

  • Over the past five years, lifestyle changes and reduced leisure time have boosted demand for fast food.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Fast-Food Restaurants in China
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Fast-Food Restaurant in China will continue to grow

  • It is forecasts that over the next five years, the Fast-Food Restaurant in China will continue growing.

Biggest companies in the Fast-Food Restaurants in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($short_0)
2023

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Fast-Food Restaurants in China industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Fast-Food Restaurants in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Franchised and chain stores, Dumpling stores and Chinese-style rice, quick-service restaurants and take-out outlets. Franchised and chain stores is the largest segment of the Fast-Food Restaurants in China.

Trends and Insights

Chinese-style rice, quick-service restaurants and take-out outlets

  • It refers to Chinese fast food mainly produced in Chinese cooking style, serving the daily dining needs of Chinese families.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China operates fast-food restaurants in which customers order items and, in most cases, pay before eating. Food and drinks may be consumed on premises, taken out or delivered to the customer. Food provided by the industry includes both Chinese and Western fast food.

What's included in this industry?

Quick-service restaurantsFast-food servicesTake-out facilities

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FAST FOODWESTERN-STYLE FAST FOOD CHINESE-STYLE FAST FOOD

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Faster lifestyles have changed residents' taste for fast food. The development of fast food is fast.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Chinese fast food is the most popular among people. These snack shops are usually located in office buildings, universities, markets, shopping centers and snack streets.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The geographical distribution of China's fast-food industry is consistent with the level of China's economic development. First-tier cities have a wide range of franchises.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Product quality is a very important basis for competition in this industry. People pay attention to the quality, safety and distinctive taste of food.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The rapid growth of digital sales helps enterprises recover slowly, and also helps customers save a lot of time and money, which is an important factor in the rapid growth of ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    The decline in leisure time has fueled the demand for fast food. After a long lockdown, residents asked for more leisure time to eat, drink and play.

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    The cost of raw materials is increasing due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This affects industry profits.

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China in 2024?

    The market size of the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China is $176.3bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Fast-Food Restaurants in China industry in 2024?

    There are 3m businesses in the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China is expected to grow.

    What does the Fast-Food Restaurants in China include?

    Quick-service restaurants and Fast-food services are part of the Fast-Food Restaurants industry.

    How competitive is the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Competitors

    • Supermarkets in China
    • Full-Service Restaurants in China
    • Cafes, Bars & Other Drinking Establishments in China

    Complementors

    • Frozen Food Production in China

    International industries

    • Global Fast Food Restaurants
    • Fast Food Restaurants in the US
    • Mexican Restaurants in the US
    • Doughnut Stores in the US
    • Pizza Restaurants in the US

    View all industries in China

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in China include:

    • National Bureau of Statistics China
    • General Administration of Customs
    • People’s Bank of China

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.