Student opens shared kitchen at campus cafeteria

Students prepare dishes at a shared kitchen in Hubei University. (Photo/thePaper.cn)

Yang Haibei, a senior student at Hubei University, has started a kitchen-sharing service at the campus cafeteria. With an online reservation and ten yuan, students can take their food materials and cook dishes in the kitchen, ThePaper.cn reported on Aug. 11.

Xu Xu, a staff member at the students' affairs office, said that food materials brought into the kitchen should be examined by the cafeteria.

Students prepare dishes at a shared kitchen in Hubei University. (Photo/thePaper.cn)

Yang is from nothern China. His friend gave him the idea because he misses his hometown food after moving to the city of Wuhan in central China for study.

Yang submitted a proposal to the head of the university catering center, and the latter agreed to provide him a kitchen area in the cafeteria for free. China has positive policies in place for college student startups; therefore, the university supports his plan, as long as there is no violation of laws and it does not negatively impact his study.

Approved by the university, Yang's shared kitchen officially opened in mid-May. He has two partners who help with promotion and coordination. Cooking ingredients and equipment cost about 20,000 yuan ($3,000), Yang revealed. At present, the kitchen is only open to college students in Wuhan.

Students prepare dishes at a shared kitchen in Hubei University. (Photo/thePaper.cn)

The number of students coming to the kitchen has grown sharply. Yang is considering implementing monthly and annual cards for users to guarantee customer flow and increase the utilization rate.

"Most students go to the shared kitchen when having a date, a gathering, or a birthday party. Right now the reservation system can meet the demand," said Yang.

Crayfish dish cooked by students at a shared kitchen in Hubei University. (Photo/thePaper.cn)

Crayfish is students' favorite dish. A serving of crayfish can cost more than 200 yuan at a restaurant. But students can buy enough fresh crayfish for the whole dorm in a supermarket for only 50-60 yuan. In addition, students can experience the joy of cooking and of being together. Dumplings, dishes from different students' hometowns, and desserts are also welcomed.

The university's logistics department strictly controls food materials. Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are also available at the cafeteria. Yang's kitchen sharing idea has already attracted investors. Later on, Yang will promote the idea at other universities in Wuhan and continue doing the business after graduation.