太突然！“重庆火锅排队王”多门店闭店

Core Viewpoint - The well-known hotpot brand "Zhu Guangyu Hotpot" has suspended operations at all its stores in Changsha, leading to speculation about the company's future and the status of customer prepaid cards [2][4]. Company Summary - "Zhu Guangyu Hotpot" is recognized as a phenomenon-level internet celebrity brand, with over 200 stores nationwide and a significant presence in the hotpot industry [2][6]. - The brand's parent company, Chongqing Zhu Guangyu Catering Management Co., Ltd., was established in June 2020, with a registered capital of 500,000 RMB [4]. - The company has successfully registered multiple trademarks, including "Zhu Guangyu" and "Guangyu Tea House" [4]. Operational Status - All stores in the Hunan region, except for those in Chenzhou, are currently closed, but operations in other regions remain unaffected [4]. - The company is managing the situation by taking over affected stores and will process refunds for prepaid card members [4]. Market Position and Strategy - Zhu Guangyu Hotpot has rapidly expanded, opening over 200 stores across 31 provinces, with nearly 50% of its locations in second and third-tier cities [6]. - The brand has innovated by combining traditional Chongqing hotpot elements with trendy beverages and snacks, achieving significant sales with products like "Violent Lemon Tea" [4][5]. - The founder emphasizes that the brand's success relies on internet-based operations rather than traditional restaurant logic, focusing on market trends and consumer preferences [5]. Industry Context - The hotpot industry has seen a surge in new openings, with over 170,000 new hotpot restaurants in the past year, but a net decrease of 19,000, indicating a challenging competitive landscape [6][10]. - High-end hotpot, low-quality budget options, and inexperienced entrants are identified as the most affected segments in the industry [10][11]. - The industry faces pressures from emerging hotpot varieties, further squeezing the market for traditional Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot [11].