A sustainable exploration centered on the "elderly care meal tray" is currently underway. Mr. Zhang, in his 80s, visits a nearby senior canteen daily to purchase a few small dishes. In his view, the canteen's food is clean and convenient, and with the additional senior dining subsidy, it offers great value. Currently, senior canteens or community canteens have become a popular dining option for many elderly individuals. However, maintaining sustainable and effective operation poses a significant challenge for these community canteens; without government subsidies, some might face financial losses. So, how can we ensure that the elderly eat affordably and safely while also enabling the canteens to survive sustainably? From meticulous cost control down to the last penny, to introducing social catering forces, a sustainable exploration of the "elderly care meal tray" is actively progressing.
How does the "elderly care meal tray" cater to diverse tastes? At noon, it was observed that the first group of seniors had finished their meals at the Xiaozhen Sushi Community Canteen located at 616 Yonghe Road in Shanghai and were leaving with staff assistance, while a new group of elderly patrons were arriving to get their food. The Xiaozhen Sushi Community Canteen, which began operations in 2013, is the first senior canteen in Pengpu Town. Operated by the Shanghai Jing'an Pushan Public Welfare Service Center, it aims to meet the basic dining needs of residents aged 60 and above within the Pengpu Town jurisdiction. Zhang Wei, Deputy Director and Store Manager of the canteen, revealed, "Senior patrons account for about 80% of our customers. Those aged 60 and above receive a 15% discount. We have been providing door-to-door meal delivery service for seniors, especially those who are advanced in age or have mobility issues, for 12 years. We deliver approximately 450 meals daily, and by 2023, the total delivery distance had equivalent to circling the Earth seven times. Among the seniors who预约 delivery service, some are healthy individuals looking to save cooking time, while others are fully or partially incapacitated; volunteers deliver meals right to their bedsides."
A representative from the Shanghai Jing'an Pushan Public Welfare Service Center stated that the dishes prepared in senior canteens are generally lighter, softer, and low in oil, salt, fat, and sugar. Despite this, operational challenges sometimes arise due to varying taste preferences. "Our service targets range from individuals in their 60s to those over 90 years old—a span of more than 30 years—so their requirements inevitably differ. Some nonagenarians have反馈 that the food is still too hard. In such cases, we might provide guidance, suggesting that family members could assist by further adjusting the food texture at home." For special dietary needs, such as those of cancer patients, the canteen makes adjustments. Other challenges include patrons who cannot consume sugar, avoid chicken, or are sensitive to certain spices. The canteen addresses these issues individually, offering customized meals for some seniors. "Sometimes, it's not just about the food; it's also about meeting old friends and fulfilling social needs. We also choose restaurants that combine dining with activities for the elderly," shared Ms. Wang, a septuagenarian.
A relevant person in charge from Mantianxin (Shanghai) Network Technology Co., Ltd. explained that their model targets the elderly demographic with an "all-inclusive" package covering meals, karaoke, and board games. A table of 12 enjoys 18 dishes for both lunch and dinner, with per-person costs under 100 yuan. The restaurant serves as a platform, primarily offering emotional value to seniors. Furthermore, nearby tourism promotion points allow these groups of familiar friends to participate in specially curated "silver hair" travel tours after their meals. This model effectively integrates cultural tourism, dining, and entertainment for combined development.
Operational challenges make breaking even difficult. "We are barely breaking even, operating with minimal profits," Zhang Wei disclosed. "We pass on preferential policies to the residents; it's a public welfare project aimed at benefiting the community. We hope that in the future, every canteen can operate successfully, bringing more benefits to our citizens." How does the canteen sustain operations with such slim margins? Zhang Wei added, "We are continuously exploring ways to enhance our services and improve profit margins, including optimizing supply channels, and equipment usage and maintenance. We hope to see improvements in the near future."
The head of the Shanghai Jing'an Pushan Public Welfare Service Center mentioned controlling labor costs, noting, "Fortunately, our staff are very dedicated, from the head chef to the assistants, and are not overly concerned about overtime. We hire hourly workers for dishwashing to save on costs." Regarding food cost control, they adopt a flexible cooking approach, typically preparing a second batch only after the first is sold out to avoid waste from overproduction. To secure cost-effective ingredients, they are willing to travel farther to wholesale markets, using their own vehicles for transport.
Policy support is a crucial pillar for the survival of community canteens. Fortunately, operating senior canteens qualifies for certain subsidies. For instance, following Shanghai's implementation opinions on promoting elderly care service facility construction during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, one-time construction subsidies are provided from the municipal welfare lottery public fund, tiered based on daily meal capacity: 500,000 yuan for capacity of 800 meals or more; 300,000 yuan for 500-799 meals; and 100,000 yuan for 150-499 meals. Investigations reveal that senior canteens offer low-priced meals while ensuring cleanliness and convenience, ideally located near residential areas for easy access. They receive policy support like rent reductions for cost control. Operationally, they minimize labor and procurement costs by maintaining a fixed, cost-effective menu and sourcing from suitable suppliers.
Despite substantial support, the pressure for sustained operation remains significant. Public reports indicate that community or senior canteens have ceased operations in cities like Beijing, Xi'an, Shenyang, and Hangzhou. A survey by the Beijing Survey Office of the National Bureau of Statistics involving 40 elderly meal service institutions found that 55% reported difficulty aligning meal prices with costs, with a trend towards increasing losses.
Multiple approaches are being explored to address these challenges. Research and public information indicate several operational models for age-friendly community canteens in China. The primary model involves community (sub-district) self-operation, where the community or local government is the supplier. In this model, the community runs the canteen directly, or the government purchases cafeteria services from nearby enterprises or institutions, primarily managed by civil affairs departments and disabled persons' federations. Another model is government-commissioned enterprise operation, where meal assistance services are outsourced to social enterprises, with the government providing policy support. Additionally, social forces are actively participating in elderly meal assistance. Civil affairs authorities note a balanced development between senior canteens and some social restaurants, particularly encouraging social restaurants to join elderly dining projects. Leveraging the strength of social restaurants can expand elderly dining points and enhance profitability in the senior meal market. Currently, some social catering brands have launched senior-friendly meals. Starting October 11, 2024, the Lao Xiang Ji chain launched a "Senior Service Restaurant" project across all its Shanghai outlets, offering a 15% discount to patrons aged 65 and above. On a weekday noon, the Lao Xiang Ji branch in Shanghai's Nanzxiang Wucaicheng mall saw many elderly diners, some alone and others with grandchildren. Wang Mengqiang, the store manager, noted a significant increase in elderly customers since the discount initiative. He mentioned that seniors find the dishes light and affordable, and the menu has been updated with softer, healthier options like meat patties, steamed eggs, and bean product bundles to suit their needs. Designated "Senior Dining Table" signs are posted, and staff assist elderly patrons during peak hours, even providing companionship or home delivery for those with mobility issues.
However, across the industry, few social餐饮 establishments offer senior-specific meals. Chen Xiaolong, a food and catering operator, analyzed that Chinese seniors generally prefer eating at home or traditional cooking over relying on takeout or fast food, often due to income considerations or specific health conditions like diabetes or hypertension, for which home-cooked meals are more suitable. From a market perspective,餐饮 businesses focus on mainstream consumer groups, who are currently not the elderly. Furthermore, creating memorable dishes that encourage repeat business often involves flavors contrary to the typical elderly preference for mild food, which seniors cannot regularly consume. Additionally, catering to the elderly involves challenges like cost control and selecting healthy ingredients, increasing operational complexity for businesses.
Zhu Danpeng, Vice President of the Guangdong Food Safety Assurance Promotion Association, stated that community canteens and affordable chain restaurants complement each other, filling gaps and effectively integrating across different scenarios. Affordable social餐饮 chains lack state funding, making their prices generally 8%-12% higher than community canteens, suggesting a complementary rather than purely competitive relationship. Since 2022, community canteens have gained traction in China, supported by政策 funds and the growing silver-haired population. "It's evident that many community senior canteens operate on minimal profits. Without government subsidies, many would face losses. As the elderly population基数 grows, this业态 will likely expand, with more standardized, professional, and branded operators emerging," Zhu said.
Hong Shibin, an industry observer, suggested that besides government support, senior canteens could collaborate with communities to offer additional services like daytime elderly care or activity centers to boost revenue. Developing specialty dishes tailored to elderly needs could also improve profit margins. To address recruitment difficulties, offering stable salaries and benefits could attract younger workers, and partnerships with schools for internships could alleviate staffing issues. While盈利 and recruitment challenges exist for these semi-public welfare canteens, they can be mitigated through sound operational strategies and management. Businesses also need to better understand the senior market, providing meals and services that meet their specific needs.
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