Household composition, income, and food-away-from-home expenditure in urban China

China has experienced dramatic economic growth and socio-demographic changes in the last three decades including rapid urbanization and an aging society in the coming decades. This paper analyses food-away-from-home (FAFH) consumption in urban China with respect to household composition, income, and other socio-economic variables. The data are from household surveys in six Chinese cities (i.e. Beijing; Nanjing; Chengdu; Xi'an; Shenyang; and Xiamen) collected by the authors. Findings indicate that both household composition and income have significant effects on FAFH participation and expenditures. Projections based upon our results suggest that FAFH expenditures in urban China will continue to increase through 2050. The leading contributor to increased FAFH expenditure is China's strong income growth, followed by the expected rapid urbanization. The aging society, however, will have a negative influence on FAFH consumption.