烧光1亿、资金断裂、老板被悬赏！周杰伦代言的品牌也撑不住了？

Core Viewpoint - The salad giant "Salad Time" is facing a comprehensive trust crisis, transitioning from a capital darling to a company in debt and operational turmoil [2][10]. Group 1: Company Background and Growth - Founded in 2020 by Qiu Yuansheng, "Salad Time" aimed to revolutionize the dining experience in office buildings with AI vending machines, offering affordable and convenient meals [12][15]. - The company achieved significant milestones, including over 100 million yuan in financing and selling over 10 million fresh meals within three years [18][20]. - The ambitious plan included deploying 100,000 AI vending machines to serve 10 million people daily [20]. Group 2: Current Challenges - Since March 2023, "Salad Time" has been embroiled in a salary arrears crisis, with employees reporting unpaid wages for up to nine months [20][21]. - The company is reportedly in a state of operational halt, facing debt claims from employees, franchisees, and suppliers, with the founder publicly issued a bounty by the court due to debt disputes [21][24]. - Despite these issues, the company signed a contract for a 1 billion yuan super factory in Kunshan, aiming for a daily production capacity of 1 million meals, raising questions about financial management [27][28]. Group 3: Market and Operational Issues - The business model, which relies on a "central kitchen + unmanned sales" approach, has faced criticism for not aligning with Chinese dietary preferences, leading to low customer retention rates [30][31]. - The operational challenges include high food waste due to the "daily supply and daily clearance" model, which significantly impacts profitability [35][36]. - The founder's strategic misjudgment in expanding the business rapidly without addressing fundamental operational issues has led to a cycle of financial distress [36][38].