A rendering of the Zhongsheng intelligent supply chain project in Jining [Photo/Dazhong Daily]

Construction of the Zhongsheng intelligent supply chain project is progressing smoothly in Jining's Rencheng district, Dazhong Daily reported.

"It is a pre-made meal project that focuses on people's well-being," said Chen Hui, deputy general manager of the project.

After completion, the project is expected to produce 700,000 tons of pre-made meals and edible agricultural products each year, feeding 300,000 people in a variety of areas such as elderly communities, businesses and organizations, airlines, railways, and expressway service zones, according to Chen.

With a total investment of 1.07 billion yuan ($157.5 million), the project consists of two phases and is expected to take two years to build.

The first phase spans 3.5 hectares and consists of a pre-made meal research and development and processing center, a cold-chain central kitchen processing center, a smart warehouse, a cold-chain logistics center and an e-commerce center, with 300 sets of equipment and 14 production lines.

The second phase is about 10 hectares and consists of a pre-made meal industry exhibition and livestreaming base, an edible agricultural product processing center, a fruit and vegetable deep processing center, an integrated non-staple food processing center, an internet and big data control center, and a food testing center.

"Jining and the surrounding regions have ample market demands for centralized meal supplies," Chen said.

The project has already cooperated with domestic agricultural research institutes to develop five categories of pre-made meals which have been well-received by consumers.