Taizhou builds talent pipeline for growing breakfast industry

Taizhou is putting talent development at the heart of its efforts to turn its famous morning tea culture into a major industry.

A newly released three-year action plan, covering the period from 2026 to 2028, sets an ambitious goal of generating more than 10 billion yuan ($1.49 billion) in revenue across the entire industry chain. It aims to train and supply at least 500 skilled professionals each year.

For decades, many of Taizhou's signature breakfast-making techniques were passed down through the traditional master-apprentice model. While that preserved craftsmanship, it also made large-scale talent development difficult.

Taizhou Technician College began addressing the challenge in 2020 by launching a culinary program with specializations in Chinese cooking and Chinese and Western pastry making, marking a shift toward more systematic and professional training for the city's breakfast industry.

Another major step forward was taken in October 2023 with the establishment of the Taizhou Breakfast Industry College, jointly founded by the Taizhou Technician College, Taizhou Cultural Tourism Group and the Taizhou Breakfast Industry Development Association.

Its curriculum has standardized the preparation of seven classic Taizhou breakfast specialties, including crab roe buns, fish soup noodles and blanched shredded tofu.

The college has also incorporated production standards from local food companies into its courses. After a semester of intensive training, more than 80 percent of graduates are able to move directly into industry jobs.

To keep courses aligned with the market, teachers regularly take part in on-the-job training at leading local businesses. They participate in product development, store operations and process improvements, bringing the latest industry standards and consumer demands back into the classroom.

Since launching its culinary program in 2020, Taizhou Technician College has trained a total of 482 professionals for the breakfast industry. The program currently has 354 students in eight classes and three grade levels.