The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Finance have jointly released a guide for the catering industry to apply for the municipal dedicated fund for commerce.

I. Scope of fund support

1. Supporting new restaurant openings

(1) Support the opening of catering brands' first Chinese restaurants or higher-level restaurants in Shanghai by catering enterprises.

(2) Support the opening of new restaurants in public places, such as graded scenic spots, public sports venues, performance venues, and transportation hubs, by catering enterprises.

2. Supporting restaurant upgrades

(1) Support upgrading restaurants to be greener, more digital, and more intelligent.

(2) Support increased investment by catering enterprises in gas safety and oil smoke pollution control.

3. Reducing financing costs for catering enterprises

Support catering enterprises in strengthening their operational and risk management capabilities through short-term operational loans, insurance purchases, and other measures.

II. Standards for funding support

1. Supporting new restaurant openings

(1) A one-time reward of up to 100,000 yuan per restaurant will be given for each new opening of a first Chinese restaurant or higher-level restaurant in Shanghai in the first half of 2024, with a maximum total reward of 500,000 yuan per enterprise.

(2) A one-time reward of up to 50,000 yuan per restaurant will be given for each new restaurant opened in the first half of 2024 in public places, such as graded scenic spots, public sports venues, performance venues, and transportation hubs, with a maximum total reward of 500,000 yuan per enterprise.

2. Supporting restaurant upgrades

(1) A one-time reward of up to 100,000 yuan per restaurant will be given for each restaurant upgraded in the first half of 2024 to become greener, more digital, and more intelligent. For chain catering enterprises, renovations of the headquarters and other places will be considered as a single restaurant.

(2) Catering enterprises that make actual investments in gas safety or oil smoke pollution control in the first half of 2024 will receive a one-time reward of up to 20,000 yuan.

(3) The total reward for renovations and upgrades at catering outlets for a single enterprise will be capped at 1 million yuan.

3. Reducing financing costs for catering enterprises

(1) Catering enterprises that improve their operational and risk management capabilities through short-term operational loans in the first half of 2024 will receive a reward equal to 50 percent of the interest paid, capped at 200,000 yuan.

(2) Catering enterprises that purchase food safety liability insurance and other related insurance products in the first half of 2024 will receive a reward equal to 50 percent of the premium paid, up to a maximum of 50,000 yuan.

III. Applicants and conditions

1. Legally registered within the city and possessing all required certificates and licenses.

2. Classified as Catering Industry (H62) according to the Industrial Classification for National Economic Activities (GB/T 4754-2017) on the Network Platform for Direct Reporting of Statistics.

3. No violations in the past three years and no adverse credit records on Credit China.

4. Operating revenue in the first half of 2024 (including only meal income and commodity sales) must have exceeded the city’s industry average growth rate, or the enterprise must have been newly listed on the Network Platform for Direct Reporting of Statistics under the National Bureau of Statistics in the first half of 2024. All data should be based on official sources.

5. For catering enterprises applying for Supporting New Restaurant Openings, the newly opened restaurants must have obtained business licenses and food operation permits after January 1, 2024. The first Chinese restaurants or higher-level restaurants must meet the standards outlined in the General Principles for the Evaluation of Debut Economy in Shanghai, demonstrating stable operating performance without significant or continuous decline.

6. For catering enterprises applying for Supporting Restaurant Upgrades, the renovation and upgrade activities must commence after January 1, 2024, and be completed before June 30, 2024.

7. For catering enterprises applying for Reducing Financing Costs, the short-term operational loans and insurance purchases must be undertaken between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024.

IV. Requirements for application materials

1. A copy of the Unified Social Credit Code, stamped with the company seal.

2. The 2024 funding application form for the promotion of the high-quality development of the catering industry in Shanghai (see attachment in Chinese), signed by the company’s legal representative and stamped with the company seal.

3. For catering enterprises applying for Supporting New Restaurant Openings: Submit a copy of the business license and food operation permit of the restaurant. For enterprises debuting a new restaurant brand in Shanghai, include a third-party evaluation report.

4. For catering enterprises applying for Supporting Restaurant Upgrades: Submit copies of contracts, invoices or other documents related to the purchase of facilities and equipment.

5. For catering enterprises applying for Reducing Financing Costs: Submit copies of contracts, invoices or other relevant documents for short-term operational loans and insurance purchases.

6. The audit report and audited financial statements for the first half of 2024, issued by a third-party auditing firm and stamped with the company seal.

7. The Operating Condition Form for the Accommodation and Catering Industry (Form No S204-1), reported on the Network Platform for Direct Reporting of Statistics (https://tjy.tjj.sh.gov.cn/), stamped with the company seal.

Print the materials on A4 paper, bind them in order and provide two copies, each stamped with the company seal. Each applicant is responsible for ensuring the authenticity, legality, and completeness of the materials provided. Applicants must truthfully disclose their credit status, make a commitment, and bear legal responsibility for any breaches. Do not apply for the city-level special fund multiple times for the same matter, and do not falsify or fraudulently obtain special funds.

Submit the printed materials to the respective district commerce authorities based on actual operating location by August 20, 2024. The district commerce authorities will conduct an initial review before forwarding the materials to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

V. Review process and requirements

1. Material review: The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce will gather the materials that have passed the initial review by district. These materials will then be audited by an accounting firm, which will issue audit reports.

2. Public announcement: A list of enterprises confirmed as eligible for the funds will be publicly announced for public review. If no objections are raised, the final list will be officially published.

3. Application for disbursement: The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce will request fund disbursement from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Finance based on the final list of eligible enterprises, following the relevant regulations and procedures of centralized treasury payments.

Attachment: Application Form for the 2024 Shanghai Special Fund for the High-Quality Development of Commerce (for the High-Quality Development of the Catering Industry) (in Chinese)

Contact persons:

- The Service Industry Department under the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Zhuang, Tel: 23110650

- Pudong New Area Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Wu, Tel: 28282701

- Huangpu District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Wang, Tel: 33134800-21051

- Jing'an District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Huang, Tel:  64178237

- Xuhui District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Zhang, Tel: 64872222-1268

- Changning District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Ding, Tel: 22050826

- Putuo District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Ding, Tel: 52564588-7016

- Hongkou District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Li, Tel: 25658345

- Yangpu District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Xu, Tel: 25032847

- Baoshan District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Cai, Tel: 56173826

- Minhang District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Zhao, Tel: 64131790

- Jiading District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Xu, Tel: 69989880

- Jinshan District Commission of Economy and Informatization: Mr/Ms Yu, Tel: 57921185

- Songjiang District Commission of Economy and Informatization: Mr/Ms Qin, Tel:  37737132

- Qingpu District Commission of Commerce: Mr/Ms Huang, Tel: 59732890-19224

- Fengxian District Commission of Economy and Informatization: Mr/Ms Jiang, Tel: 67181156

- Chongming District Commission of Economy and Informatization: Mr/Ms Shi, Tel: 59623330

Source: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce

The English version is for reference only; the official Chinese document shall prevail.

See attachment for the Application Form for the 2024 Shanghai Special Fund for the High-Quality Development of Commerce (for the High-Quality Development of the Catering Industry) (in Chinese)