Pre-made food on display during an expo in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. ZHONG FAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Advanced equipment and technologies will not only help the booming pre-made food sector develop further, but will also offer a fresh and healthy alternative to customers, industry insiders said.

"We need to invest more in the research and development of high-end equipment with advanced technologies to promote the pre-made food sector," said Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, a leading home appliances manufacturer based in Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

"With accelerated pace of work, people have been increasingly pursuing a relaxed and comfortable lifestyle. For example, they are especially unwilling to spend too much time on cooking, creating market potential for the development of pre-made food and its related equipment," she said.

Dong made the remarks at a forum on the development of the pre-made food sector and related equipment in Zhuhai on Tuesday, during which an association of equipment makers related to pre-made food was also established.

She added that there is huge market potential for making equipment related to precooked food, and cited the company's recent innovation — of a mobile appliance that keeps lychees (a type of fruit) fresh, which effectively extends the preservation period of the traditional agricultural product.

"The appliance will effectively reduce the water loss rate of lychees, inhibit the respiration of the fruit and prevent the invasion of microbials, helping keep the freshness of lychees for about 25 days to a month," said Dong.

The appliance, with an effective internal volume of 20 cubic meters for storage that can hold 5 metric tons of lychees, has been applied for pre-cooling and storage in orchards, distribution centers and rural cooperatives in the lychee industry.

"Through intelligent equipment, which will greatly enhance the value of agricultural products, consumers can taste more fresh and healthy food," she said.

Coordination and linkages between equipment and the pre-made food sector is currently a key area that deserves attention, said Huang Zhihao, mayor of Zhuhai.

"From design, processing and production and fresh storage to cold-chain logistics, there is a strong link between pre-made food and new equipment and technologies," Huang said.

According to Xiong Xiang, deputy director of Zhuhai Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, the city is currently charting a unique path for high-quality development of the pre-made food sector by creating a high-end equipment industry cluster worth 100 billion yuan ($13.8 billion) and developing an industrial zone for pre-made foods.

"We have issued preferential policies in providing spaces for building the industrial zone and financial support measures to boost the development of the pre-made food sector and high-end equipment," said Xiong.

Typical food, equipment manufacturing and cooperation between Zhuhai and Macao will be highlighted in the development of the pre-made food sector, according to Xiong.

Lei Iam Leong, president of the Macao Catering Industry Association, said the development of the pre-made food sector will help Zhuhai's high-quality agricultural and fishery products and Macao's catering brands complement each other.

"The pre-made food sector will also help promote the establishment of Macao's catering brands in the Chinese mainland, and facilitate exports of Macao's food to Portuguese-speaking countries and regions," he said.