At the 2026 China Chain Catering Summit, Peng Jianzhen, President of the China Chain Store and Franchise Association, delivered a keynote speech. Peng Jianzhen proposed that platforms should stop large subsidies. Peng Jianzhen pointed out that although last year’s “takeaway war” and successive price wars benefited consumers in the short term, they eroded the industry’s innovation capabilities and survival foundation in the long term.
"Nearly two-thirds of the cleared merchants have been operating for less than two years, and a large number of new players have been squeezed out of the market by fierce competition during the experience accumulation period. At the same time, under the influence of factors such as the platform subsidy war, the overall price of the industry has entered a downward range, which has largely restricted the healthy growth of the industry." Peng Jianzhen believes that large subsidies from platforms have impacted the catering industry, and the industry is undergoing a cruel reshuffle.
Peng Jianzhen said that opposing "involution" subsidies is one of the key work directions of the China Chain Store and Franchise Association in the next stage. The association will continue to work in the same direction as national policies, actively participate in industry governance, and help the healthy development of the catering ecosystem.