The opening ceremony of Twelve International in Qingtian county in Lishui, Zhejiang province, on Aug 12. [Photo/Tide News]

Twelve International, a catering design firm with 17 years of experience in the European market, officially opened in Lishui's Qingtian county, Zhejiang province, on Aug 12, after its overseas Chinese founder brought the business back to his hometown.

At the opening ceremony, over a dozen overseas Chinese business representatives and industry guests attended the ribbon-cutting before going on tours of the showroom, model rooms, custom tableware R&D center, and a Western dining experience area.

According to Zhou Yong, an overseas Chinese businessman, overseas Chinese restaurateurs previously had to travel to Guangzhou or Yiwu for equipment and supplies, incurring high costs and inconsistent quality. Twelve International fills this gap by offering one-stop procurement, professional matching, and customized design services, which has been well received by the community.

The company already operates branches in Barcelona, Malaga, and Valencia, serving over 10,000 overseas Chinese foodservice clients across Europe.

It plans to channel overseas orders and resources back to Qingtian, creating a "Qingtian-stocked, Europe-bound" cross-border trade model, and aims to host the Spanish catering congress locally to further attract global partners.

Qingtian county has set up a service center within the facility to provide policy consultation, trade liaison, and cross-border support. The company's return is expected to strengthen the local catering export chain, boosting related industries such as design, logistics, and training.