Shandong culinary competition spices up local economy

A single dish, "super lamb ribs", has doubled revenue for a Linyi restaurant after it was created for the Shandong culinary competition. This event, which covers 16 cities, got underway last July. It is far more than a cooking competition – it's an economic catalyst.

Participants arrange their food on plates at the Shandong culinary competition. [Photo/Dazhong News]

The competition has driven significant growth, boosting online searches for local food by 24 percent compared to 2024 and attracting over 15,800 new merchants to platforms. The event set off a craze for food, whetting people’s taste buds and attracting over 150 million attendees both online and offline. This gave local tourism and consumption a shot in the arm to the tune of 1.71 billion yuan ($244.9 million).

Beyond the city venues, half of the events were held elsewhere in counties, unlocking regional potential. A specialty beef contest in Yangxin county, Binzhou, generated bulk trade deals worth 110 million yuan, transforming the event into a major industry networking platform.

By spotlighting local ingredients like Dezhou's donkey meat, Binzhou beef, and Weifang vegetables, the competition has bridged culinary creativity with market demand, fostering new dishes and business models.

（chinadaily.com.cn）