半年烧掉1.78亿！侯毅创办的“宠物版盒马”要全部关停

Core Insights - The founder of Hema, Hou Yi, announced the closure of all physical stores of the pet fresh food chain "Pait Fresh" by mid-December due to unexpected operational pressures [1] - Pait Fresh, which launched its first store in February, was initially seen as a promising venture in the pet industry, aiming to expand rapidly with plans for 100 stores [2] - Despite initial interest, customer traffic declined significantly, leading to the closure of multiple locations [3] Company Overview - Pait Fresh was positioned as a "pet version of Hema," focusing on fresh pet food while also offering snacks, staple foods, and health products [2] - The company raised $25 million (approximately 178 million yuan) in angel funding, marking it as one of the largest angel funding rounds in the pet industry in recent years [2] - The brand's rapid expansion included opening multiple stores in key shopping areas in Shanghai, but the initial excitement did not translate into sustained customer engagement [2][3] Industry Context - The Chinese pet industry is growing but remains in its early stages, with most pet owners satisfied with packaged pet food, limiting the market for fresh food options [5] - Pait Fresh's pricing for self-service fresh food is around 24.9 yuan per pound, which is competitive, but many customers felt the quality did not justify the price [5] - Complaints about the freshness of ingredients and negative feedback regarding pet health issues have surfaced, indicating a disconnect between customer expectations and product offerings [5]