胖东来要退圈？于东来与网红柴怼怼的玉石恩怨

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing conflict between the company "胖东来" and the influencer "柴怼怼" has raised significant public attention, particularly regarding allegations of inflated pricing in the jade sales sector, which has led to legal actions and public statements from the company's founder, 于东来 [2][3][6]. Group 1: Conflict Background - The conflict originated from a video posted by influencer "柴怼怼," claiming that "胖东来" profits primarily from jade sales rather than its supermarket business, alleging that the company sells low-cost jade at exorbitant prices [2]. - In response, "胖东来" released a statement clarifying that its jewelry department's gross profit margin is only 15%-16%, significantly lower than the industry average of 30%-50% [2]. - The company has initiated legal proceedings against "柴怼怼" for defamation, seeking damages of no less than 5 million [2]. Group 2: Company Performance - Despite the ongoing controversy, "胖东来" reported impressive sales figures, with April sales reaching 17.49 billion, and a cumulative annual sales total of 80.27 billion [6]. - The supermarket segment led sales with 44.10 billion, accounting for over 50% of total sales, while other categories like department stores and jewelry also exceeded 5 billion [6]. - The founder, 于东来, has previously stated that the company aims for a total sales figure of nearly 170 billion in 2024, with a profit of over 8 billion [6]. Group 3: Social Media and Public Response - Following the allegations, 于东来 expressed his frustration on social media, threatening to shut down the business if the influencer's actions were not addressed [3]. - The platform "抖音" has taken action against "柴怼怼," restricting their account due to the infringement complaints filed by "胖东来" [3][4]. - The controversy has led to a significant increase in "柴怼怼's" sales during the dispute, raising questions about the motivations behind the allegations [4][10]. Group 4: Industry Implications - The incident highlights the challenges faced by retail companies in maintaining their reputation amidst social media scrutiny and the potential for "打假" (anti-fraud) actions to become profit-driven [10]. - Analysts suggest that "胖东来" may need to enhance transparency in product information and improve dispute resolution processes to mitigate future risks [10][11]. - The company is encouraged to reassess its product strategy, weighing the benefits of high-risk categories against potential reputational costs [11].