Original Title: Opinions of the General Office of the People’s Government of Shandong Province on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Prefabricated Meal Industry Across the Province

To the People’s Governments of all cities, the People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts), all departments of the Provincial Government, all directly affiliated agencies, major enterprises, and institutions of higher education:

Pre-cooked meals are finished or semi-finished products made from agricultural crops, livestock, poultry, and aquatic products, combined with various ingredients, and produced through centralized, modern standardized processes. They include ready-to-eat, ready-to-heat, ready-to-cook, and ready-to-assemble foods.In recent years, the prefabricated food industry in our province has developed rapidly, emerging as a new sector that extends the agricultural industrial chain, enhances the value-added level of agricultural product processing, and promotes farmers’ income growth and prosperity. To thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, foster a comprehensive perspective on food security, implement the decisions and arrangements of the 12th Provincial Party Congress, and promote the healthy, orderly, and high-quality development of the prefabricated food industry, the following opinions are hereby put forward with the approval of the Provincial Government.

I. General Requirements

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on “agriculture, rural areas, and farmers” and his key directives regarding Shandong’s work, and fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy.in accordance with the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government’s overall deployment to “take the lead and open up new prospects,” we will orient our efforts toward meeting the consumption needs of urban and rural residents, aim to secure a leading position in the development of the prepared meal industry, fully leverage the province’s abundant agricultural resources, build a number of hubs and industrial clusters for the prepared meal industry, and promote high-quality development across the entire industrial chain.By 2025, the province’s processed meal processing capacity will be further enhanced, standardization levels will be significantly improved, core competitiveness will be markedly strengthened, and brand influence will be more prominent. The number of market entities in the processed meal sector will exceed 10,000, and the output value of the entire industrial chain will surpass 1 trillion yuan.

II. Strengthening the Entire Industrial Chain

(1) Establish Standardized Raw Material Production Bases. In accordance with the “Three Products and One Standard” requirements, we will advance the optimization of agricultural product varieties, quality improvement, brand development, and standardized production. Relying on the Specialized Industry Platform Project, we will implement the “13+N” plan for cultivating advantageous and distinctive industries to build raw material supply bases for fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and tea; livestock, poultry, and slaughter; and healthy aquaculture, thereby enhancing standardization, regulation, and scale.Support pre-cooked meal enterprises in stabilizing raw material supply, ensuring quality and safety, and improving product quality through the “enterprise + cooperative + base” model, utilizing methods such as establishing their own bases or contract farming. (Led by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, with support from the Provincial Bureau of Animal Husbandry)

(2) Cultivate and Strengthen Pre-cooked Meal Processing Enterprises. Support large enterprise groups in leading the construction of pre-cooked meal industrial demonstration parks (bases), establishing and improving intelligent systems for design and R&D, production and processing, cold storage, and sorting and distribution, to foster a group of “pioneering” leading enterprises in the pre-cooked meal sector. Strengthen the cultivation of high-quality small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their market competitiveness, gradually transforming them into “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” enterprises, “Little Giants,” and “Single-Champions.”Innovate and promote models such as “production base + central kitchen + restaurant outlets,” “production base + processing enterprise + e-commerce sales,” and “health data + nutritional meal planning + personalized customization,” and develop new business formats such as group catering and e-commerce. Support eligible prepared meal enterprises in going public, listing on stock exchanges, and raising capital through bond issuance; provide a one-time subsidy of up to 2 million yuan to enterprises listed on domestic or international capital markets.By 2025, cultivate more than 10 leading pre-cooked meal enterprises with annual revenues exceeding 10 billion yuan, forming a tiered cultivation structure for high-quality enterprises. (Led by the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, with cooperation from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Provincial Department of Commerce, Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Provincial Bureau of Animal Husbandry, and Shandong Securities Regulatory Bureau)

(3) Support the development of cold-chain logistics. Advance pilot programs for county- (city/district-) level cold storage and preservation of agricultural products at the source, prioritizing key cities, counties (cities, districts) for the prepared meal industry. Establish cold-chain distribution centers at the source and strengthen warehousing services.Utilize central government funds allocated for strengthening the agricultural product supply chain system to build infrastructure for cold-chain storage, processing, and logistics for prepared meals, thereby enhancing cold-chain distribution capacity. This will foster an integrated cold-chain system comprising “refrigeration facilities—cold-chain enterprises—regional cold-chain hubs” and establish a closed-loop cold-chain logistics system spanning the entire “raw materials–production facility–dining table” process. Support prepared meal enterprises in leveraging existing cold-chain logistics networks to expand service channels for prepared meal cold-chain logistics.(Led by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, with support from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Department of Transportation, and the Provincial Department of Commerce)

(IV) Promote Industrial Agglomeration. Optimize industrial layout and guide localities to establish prepared meal industrial parks, encouraging prepared meal enterprises and their upstream and downstream supporting enterprises to concentrate within these parks. Focus on building national-level industrial clusters such as Shouguang vegetables, Yellow River beef cattle, Yellow River wheat, Yellow River soybeans, and Shandong peanuts, as well as distinctive and competitive food industry clusters. Conduct joint technological research, product collaboration, and shared brand development to amplify the agglomeration effects of the prepared meal industry.Accelerate the construction of national-level food industrial parks, including the China (Qingdao) and China (Weifang) International Agricultural Product Processing Industrial Parks, as well as the China (Dezhou) Agricultural Food Innovation Industrial Park. By 2025, the province will have established 30 prefabricated meal industrial parks with Shandong characteristics. (Led by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in coordination with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and the Provincial Bureau of Animal Husbandry)

III. Expanding Multi-dimensional Markets

(5) Develop Diverse Products. To meet consumer market demands, promote the integration of traditional dishes and local specialty foods with modern, standardized production technologies. Leverage the resource advantages of “Shandong cuisine” to enrich the variety of prepared meal products. Support collaboration between prepared meal enterprises and research institutions, relying on professional technical talent such as “Shandong Cuisine Masters,” to develop distinctive technologies and products with high reproducibility. Create prepared meal products that are recognized by consumers, enjoy high market share, and serve as exemplary models.(Led by the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, with support from the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Provincial Bureau of Animal Husbandry)

(6) Cultivate Pre-cooked Meal Brands. Encourage pre-cooked meal manufacturers to strengthen brand development, create a group of distinctive pre-cooked meal brands with excellent quality and high social recognition, and enhance added value and soft power. Promote the inheritance and upgrading of “time-honored brands,” explore the cultural connotations of these brands, and encourage leading pre-cooked meal enterprises and their products to participate in the “Good Products of Shandong” regional public brand evaluation. Cultivate the “Top Ten Brands, Top 100 Enterprises, and Top 1,000 Products” in the pre-cooked meal sector.(Led by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, with support from the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, and the Provincial Bureau of Animal Husbandry)

(7) Strengthen Production-Sales Linkages. Encourage eligible cities to establish public service platforms for the prepared meal supply chain, providing services such as supply chain management and big data marketing, and promote the application of industrial internet platforms. Vigorously develop group meal catering services for schools, hospitals, and enterprises. Promote innovation in prepared meal sales models and explore the establishment of self-service vending terminals for prepared meals in densely populated areas such as residential communities and office buildings.Encourage eligible cities to establish e-commerce bases for prepared meals, develop and produce products suitable for online sales, and enhance online sales capabilities. Support prepared meal enterprises in developing e-commerce operations and expanding both online and offline sales channels. Establish platforms for connecting production and sales of prepared meals, organize various matchmaking events and new product launches, and support Weifang City in hosting the Annual Agricultural Product Processing Technology Achievement and Prepared Meal Industry Trade Fair.Vigorously cultivate industrial clusters for prepared meal exports, export demonstration enterprises, and high-quality agricultural international trade bases; facilitate external circulation channels to promote the “going global” of prepared meals. (Led by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, with support from the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Department of Commerce, and the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism)

IV. Establishing a Standardization System

(8) Advance the development of a standardized system for prepared meals. Accelerate the development of standards for prepared meals covering product categories, raw material production, product supply, processing and production, as well as food nutrition and functionality. Support relevant social organizations in coordinating with market entities to formulate group standards, and establish a full-industry-chain standardized system for prepared meals with Shandong characteristics. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Provincial Health Commission, and the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau according to their respective duties)

(9) Establish a Food Safety Supervision System for Prepared Meals. Improve the food safety traceability system, refine the regulatory mechanisms for the prepared meal industry, and strengthen end-to-end supervision of prepared meals “from farm to table.” Strictly enforce production standards for prepared meals, extend the “open kitchen” initiative to processing stages such as prepared meal production workshops and central kitchens, and ensure the food safety of prepared meals. Support social organizations such as the Prepared Meal Industry Association in playing their role to enhance industry self-regulation and self-development.Encourage prepared meal manufacturers to fulfill their primary responsibility for food safety, leverage the role of credit-based regulation, conduct integrity assessments of prepared meal enterprises, and increase constraints and penalties on businesses that violate laws or engage in dishonest practices. (Led by the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, with cooperation from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Public Security Department, Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Provincial Department of Commerce, and Provincial Bureau of Animal Husbandry)

V. Enhancing Innovation Capabilities

(10) Establish industrial technology innovation platforms. Encourage universities and research institutes to collaborate with leading prepared meal enterprises and industry associations to jointly build joint R&D platforms for prepared meals. Support eligible prepared meal enterprises and research institutions in establishing provincial-level key laboratories, technology innovation centers, engineering research centers, and manufacturing innovation centers. The provincial government will provide support through competitive project funding, and municipalities and counties (cities, districts) are encouraged to offer awards and subsidies in conjunction with relevant policies.Leverage the role of the Provincial Modern Agricultural Industrial Technology System to guide the flow of experts, technologies, and research outcomes toward enterprises, and provide full-chain scientific and technological services such as technology transfer and scientific and technological consulting. (Led by the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, in cooperation with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

(11) Cultivate talent for the prepared meal industry. Intensify efforts to attract talent and expertise, and support professionals in the prepared meal sector to participate in provincial talent selection programs such as the Taishan Scholars Specially Appointed Experts, Taishan Industrial Leading Talents, Taishan Youth, and Provincial Middle-Aged and Young Experts with Outstanding Contributions, thereby building a high-level technical talent pool for the prepared meal industry.Strengthen the development of the entrepreneur pool to cultivate a group of prepared meal entrepreneurs with sound business philosophy, market insight, pioneering spirit, and innovative capabilities. Intensify vocational skills training for the prepared meal industry, and encourage cities to develop a catalog of vocational training occupations tailored to industry needs, incorporating them into the scope of vocational training subsidies. (Led by the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, with support from the Provincial Department of Education, the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

(12) Conduct R&D on key generic technologies and equipment. Focusing on key areas of the prepared food industry such as marine fisheries and livestock and poultry, strengthen industry-academia-research collaboration to achieve breakthroughs in new practical technologies across the entire supply chain—including raw material quality control, new product development, green processing, logistics and freshness preservation, and end-to-end quality control—and promote the integrated application of key technologies as well as the transfer and commercialization of scientific and technological achievements.Support research and development institutions and innovative manufacturing enterprises specializing in pre-cooked meal processing equipment, and accelerate the R&D and promotion of a range of information-based, intelligent, and engineered pre-cooked meal processing equipment. For eligible technical renovation projects in the pre-cooked meal industry, provide interest subsidy support of up to 35% of the latest Loan Prime Rate (LPR) set by banks, with a maximum of 20 million yuan per enterprise.(Led by the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, with cooperation from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Department of Commerce, and Provincial Health Commission)

VI. Strengthening Support and Guarantees

(13) Strengthen Organizational Leadership. Establish a coordination mechanism for the high-quality development of the prepared meal industry, enhance overall coordination, hold regular consultations on major matters, and promptly resolve issues hindering industry development. All cities shall establish corresponding coordination mechanisms, formulate detailed implementation plans tailored to local conditions, and promote the healthy and orderly development of the prepared meal industry. (Led by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, with cooperation from relevant provincial government departments)

(14) Strengthen Fiscal Support. Pool agricultural funds and direct financial resources for industrial integration projects—such as clusters of advantageous and distinctive industries, modern agricultural industrial parks, and industry-strong towns—as well as incentive policies for “Modern Agricultural Strong Counties” and “Pilot Counties for High-Quality Development of Agricultural Product Processing (Livestock Industry)” toward key counties in the prepared meal industry. Leverage the Provincial Fund for the Transformation of New and Old Growth Drivers to attract financial and social capital investment in the prepared meal industry.Fiscal authorities at all levels shall, based on local conditions, include the prepared meal industry within the scope of their respective fiscal support. Without creating local government hidden debt, they shall utilize local government special bond policies to support enterprises in constructing prepared meal industry projects. For prepared meal projects with actual annual new investment from industrial and commercial capital of 100 million yuan or more, provincial, municipal, and county-level fiscal authorities shall jointly provide a subsidy equivalent to 1% of the actual new investment amount.(Led by the Provincial Department of Finance, with cooperation from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Provincial Bureau of Local Financial Supervision, and Provincial Bureau of Animal Husbandry)

(15) Ensure Support for Innovation. New ready-to-cook meal projects with a total investment exceeding 50 million yuan and an investment intensity exceeding 3 million yuan per mu shall be included in provincial and municipal key project lists to ensure reasonable land use needs for enterprises in the sector. Implement preferential tax and fee policies for agricultural product processing, cold-chain storage and transportation, and sales to support the development of ready-to-cook meal enterprises. Establish a project database for the ready-to-cook meal industry, optimize financial service mechanisms, and develop tailored financial support plans for the sector.Support banking institutions in developing financial products and increasing credit resources allocated to enterprises in the prepared meal industry. Encourage insurance institutions to develop specialized insurance products for the prepared meal industry to enhance enterprises’ risk-resilience. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Department of Natural Resources, Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Provincial Bureau of Local Financial Supervision, People’s Bank of China Jinan Branch, Shandong Banking and Insurance Regulatory Bureau, and Provincial Tax Bureau according to their respective duties)

(16) Strengthen Publicity and Guidance. Vigorously promote brand awareness by highlighting regional culture, local characteristics, and classic products, and effectively telling corporate brand stories. Leveraging platforms such as “Qilu’s Scenic Lands, Branded Agricultural Products” and “Quality Shandong,” promote the dissemination of pre-cooked meal brands and shape their public image. Intensify public education on pre-cooked meals, advocating for a new trend in pre-cooked meal dining through initiatives such as bringing the public into enterprises, introducing products into communities, and incorporating knowledge into classrooms.Timely summarize best practices in the development of the prepared meal industry, publicize and promote exemplary models, and foster a favorable social environment for the industry’s growth. (Led by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, with support from the Provincial Publicity Department, the Provincial Department of Education, the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Provincial Market Regulation Bureau)

Attachment: Coordination Mechanism for the High-Quality Development of Shandong’s Prepared Meal Industry