西贝遇到了公关“杀猪盘”

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing conflict between Xi Bei and marketing consultancy Hua Yu Hua has reignited public discourse, with implications for Xi Bei's brand reputation and operational strategies [2][5][12]. Group 1: Brand Reputation and Public Relations - Hua Yu Hua's chairman, Hua Shan, publicly defended Xi Bei, suggesting it is a pinnacle of the Chinese restaurant industry, but his comments have been interpreted as targeting Luo Yonghao, who previously had a conflict with Xi Bei [2][4]. - Luo Yonghao responded to Hua Shan's remarks, indicating a willingness to escalate the situation if clarity is not provided, which could further complicate Xi Bei's public relations efforts [4][5]. - The marketing consultancy's involvement has been criticized for exacerbating the situation rather than aiding in reputation recovery, highlighting a potential misalignment in communication strategies [12][15]. Group 2: Operational Adjustments and Customer Engagement - In response to previous negative publicity, Xi Bei has implemented strategies such as price reductions, issuing vouchers, and increasing employee salaries to restore brand image and customer trust [6][7]. - Xi Bei reduced prices on over 40 dishes by nearly 20%, with specific examples showing significant price drops on popular menu items [6]. - The company has also introduced a "compensation award" for affected frontline employees and has engaged psychological counseling services to support staff [6][8]. Group 3: Customer Traffic and Financial Performance - Following the implementation of customer engagement strategies, Xi Bei has seen a gradual recovery in customer traffic, with a reported increase of approximately 5% compared to the same period last year [8]. - Despite the increase in customer traffic, the average spending per customer has declined due to the price reductions, with the average per capita spending reported at around 75 yuan [8][9]. - The ongoing public relations challenges have led to a temporary halt in Xi Bei's expansion, with reports indicating the closure of nearly 10 stores since October, although the company plans to open 8 new locations by the end of the year [9][10].