1. Impact of the Epidemic on the Catering Industry
According to data from iiMedia Research, 95.0% of the catering businesses surveyed indicated that store revenue declined significantly during the epidemic. More than half also suffered a drop in turnover. With reduced foot traffic and pressure from rent, many businesses turned to online platforms and third-party food delivery as a survival strategy. By the outbreak’s peak, 78.0% of catering businesses were relying on online sales—a 63.1 percentage point increase compared to before the pandemic.
2. Embracing Online Takeout Platforms
约70%的企业表示，疫情过后会继续使用外卖平台。分析人士认为，此次危机加速了餐饮行业的数字化转型。随着外卖服务的需求和供应都在增长，市场有望超过预期。650 billion yuan in 2020.
3. Government Policy Support
In response, government departments provided financial, tax, and employment policy support. Local governments issued consumer vouchers and encouraged consumption through official participation. These moves are expected to speed up industry recovery.
4. Trends in Business Numbers and Market Size
Between 2015 and 2019, the number of catering businesses grew at an average annual rate of 35.8%, reaching11.075 million. 然而，2020年由于疫情的临时下降，而活跃的外卖业务增加。
The在线食品配送市场grew 36.0% year-on-year in 2019, hitting577.93 billion yuan预计到2020年，这一数字将进一步扩大。
5. Key Challenges During the Pandemic
Over 60% of catering businesses cited two major issues:
- 下降的离线客户流量
- Store rental pressure
近50%的企业还面临人员短缺，高固定成本和低现金流的双重压力让许多企业陷入困境。
6. Shift to Online Operations
Nearly 80% of the surveyed catering businesses went “all in” on online takeout. Among them,12.7%从未进行过在线操作，中大型企业，成本较高，特别有动力数字化。
📸[Insert image: Restaurant kitchen preparing orders for delivery]
7. Key Takeaway Strategies
外卖成为主要收入渠道，企业注重“开源”（新收入）而非“节流”（成本削减），平台选择主要由：
- 用户平台数量
- Quality of delivery services
📸[Insert image: Delivery app comparison or restaurant manager analyzing online dashboard]
8. 品牌适应案例研究
Nanchengxiang
Orders grew69%in late February 2020. With Meituan’s support, daily orders rebounded to 70% of pre-epidemic levels.
Grandma's House (Laoyaji)
在全堂食关闭期间维护外卖，通过平台曝光实现成功。
Xiaolongkan
Launched hotpot takeout and increased live-streaming to expand customer engagement.
查艳月色
Quickly rolled out takeaway services, expanding offerings from 4 to 14 products.
9. 疫情后展望与产业转型
The epidemic served as a "touchstone" that forced digitalization. Takeaway and digital platforms are now vital for survival and growth. Brands with strong online integration are expected to thrive, while platforms will shift to精练操作and高服务品质.
