门店数量狂奔，单店盈利能力却下滑！“遇见小面”冲刺港股上市｜港美股看台·IPO观察

Core Viewpoint - The company "Yujian Xiaomian" is preparing for an IPO, aiming to become the first publicly listed Chinese noodle restaurant, with significant growth in store expansion and revenue, despite facing challenges in same-store sales and profitability [1][2][12]. Group 1: IPO Progress - The company has received approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission for overseas issuance and updated its prospectus, planning to issue up to 235 million shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange [2]. - If successful, "Yujian Xiaomian" will be the first in the Chinese noodle restaurant sector to go public, a market that has seen multiple brands announce IPO intentions without concrete actions [2]. Group 2: Fundraising Utilization - The IPO proceeds will be allocated to four main areas: 1. Store expansion, with plans to open 520-610 new locations from 2026 to 2028, focusing on first-tier and new first-tier cities [3]. 2. Digital upgrades, including AI technology, IoT systems, and big data analytics to support operational growth [3]. 3. Brand building initiatives [3]. 4. Strategic investments in 3-5 food suppliers with annual revenues of approximately 500,000 to 1 million yuan, targeting investments of 10-20 million HKD each [3]. Group 3: Financial Performance - The company has shown remarkable financial recovery, with net profit projected to rise from a loss of 35.973 million yuan in 2022 to a profit of 60.7 million yuan in 2024, and a significant increase in revenue from 418 million yuan in 2022 to 1.154 billion yuan in 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 66.2% [4][5]. - The number of stores has increased from 170 to 451 over three years, with a notable expansion in the Hong Kong market, where the number of stores grew to 10 within a year [6]. Group 4: Market Position and Challenges - As of 2024, "Yujian Xiaomian" ranks fourth in the Chinese noodle restaurant sector with a market share of 0.5%, amidst a highly fragmented market where the top five companies hold only 2.9% of the total market [9][12]. - Despite rapid expansion, the average daily sales per store have declined from 13,880 yuan in 2023 to 12,402 yuan in 2024, indicating challenges in maintaining profitability as the company lowers prices to attract customers [10]. Group 5: Capital Support - The company's rapid expansion has been supported by significant capital investments from various stakeholders, including major players like Country Garden and Jiamaojiu, with a notable increase in valuation to 3 billion yuan following a series of funding rounds [7]. Group 6: Future Outlook - The IPO is seen as a critical test for the capitalized model of the Chinese noodle restaurant industry, which is expected to grow to a market size of 510 billion yuan by 2029 [12]. - The company must address challenges related to profitability, food safety, and franchise risks post-IPO, as it navigates a competitive landscape with other brands also preparing for public offerings [12].