Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/08/15
By: Liao Yu-yang and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Aug. 15 (CNA) Taiwan’s food and beverage industry reported record revenues of NT$235.5 billion (US$7.63 billion) in the first six months of 2018, up 4.7 percent year-on-year and marking the largest growth in seven years, thanks to an increase in social media and smartphone usage, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

MOEA statistics released Wednesday show that in 2017, 54.1 percent of the food and beverage operators in Taiwan used social media such as Line to boost their sales, with 23.3 percent offering online reservation or ordering services. In addition, 17.2 percent provided mobile payment options, compared with 10.5 percent in 2016.

Between 2012 and 2017, chain store brands in the food and beverage sector increased from 624 to 970 in number, with restaurant chains accounting for the biggest increase of 201, according to data provided by the Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan.
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