Spatial patterns and their influencing factors for China's catering industry

This study explores the spatial distribution patterns of China's catering industry using data from 4.49 million restaurants across 336 cities in 2020. The restaurants were categorized into four types: Chinese restaurants (CRs), Western restaurants (WRs), fast-food restaurants (FFRs), and dessert and drink restaurants (DDRs). Using kernel density estimation and geographically weighted regression (GWR), the study reveals a decrease in restaurant density from southeast to northwest China, with high density in the Pearl River Economic Delta, Yangtze River Economic Delta, Chongqing, and Chengdu regions. Influencing factors varied regionally; in west/southwest, GDP per unit area, tourism revenue, disposable income, and retail sales were significant, while in northeast, retail sales, GDP per unit area, urban population, and tertiary industry proportion were more influential. These findings provide a basis for strategic restaurant planning.

Li Tian, Xiaoyan Shen