China’s per capita seafood consumption slumped last year due to the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns, a new study published by the country’s restaurant trade group has revealed.
Per capita consumption dropped from an average 32.8 kilograms per year in 2019 – up from 28.3 kilograms in 2018 – to 26.42 kilograms per year in 2020, according to the “2021 China Seafood Restaurant Brand Power Survey,” compiled by the Restaurant Association of China and the Zhong Yan Pu Hua Data (also known as ChinaIRN), a research consultancy.
While overall consumption fell, the report found seafood is increasing its market share at restaurants in China. Seafood as a proportion of overall protein sold rose from 23 percent to 30 percent between 2018 and 2020. Meat dropped from 60 percent to 50 percent of sales at restaurants in China, the survey found.
Meanwhile a ranking of the most influential seafood catering brands puts Xu Ji Seafood in first place based on sales and brand influence, according to a statement from the Restaurant Association of China.
Owned by Hunan Xu Ji Catering Management Co, a firm established in 1999, Xu Ji is a major importer of salmon, tuna and oysters. It opened an outlet in the Hankou district of Wuhan earlier this year. Xu Ji founder Xu Guo Hua has focused the company’s expansion in fast-growing regional cities like Xi’an and Wuhan, where costs are lower and competition less intense than in Beijing or Shanghai.
Photo courtesy of Mark Godfrey/SeafoodSource
