China’s number one exporter of shrimp says it has found a new source of revenue in an enormous new “central kitchen” supplying seafood to China’s booming fast food sector.
The second phase of a centralized cooking operation is currently under construction in Wu Chuan, according to Guolian boss Chen Han, who was speaking to local media. The factory will incorporate imported U.S. shrimp-peeling equipment and “wrapping and frying” machines flown in from Japan.
Formerly reliant on exports to the U.S. (where it twice fought anti-dumping tariffs placed by American authorities), Guolian has in recent years made efforts to introduce convenience-themed seafood snacks to China’s grocery market, with the Fu Rong range of breaded, packaged shrimp snacks proving popular among younger consumers, according to Chen Han.
Chains like KFC, McDonald’s and local player Dico’s all serve Western-style fast food in China, with seafood featured on each of their regular menus – KFC has long included breaded shrimp and McDonald’s serves pollock burgers in China.
Meanwhile a wave of chains serving Asian fast food have proliferated across China in recent years, among them the Kung Fu and the Yonghe Wang chains, and convenience store chains like 7-11 and Quik offer take-away Chinese meals featuring shrimp, cod and tilapia.
