关店数量陷争议，塔斯汀重拾“平价披萨”求增长

Core Insights - The rapid expansion of "Tasting" brand, known for its Chinese-style hamburgers, is facing growth challenges as it recently closed 907 stores while opening 968 in the past 90 days [2] - Despite fluctuations in store numbers, Tasting has successfully entered the "10,000 store club" with 10,296 stores, ranking third among Western fast-food brands in China [2][5] - The brand's growth has been particularly notable in the last four years, with 3,420 new stores opened in 2023 alone, marking it as the fastest expansion year [2][3] Store Performance - As of November 2024, Tasting's net growth rate is projected to be 20.17%, outpacing 86% of its competitors in the same category [3] - The majority of Tasting's stores (69.55%) have been operating for 1 to 3 years, with only 0.34% of stores operating for over five years, indicating a need for stability [5][6] - The average operating time for Tasting's stores is 1.7 years, which is below the industry average of 2.8 years [5] Market Expansion - Tasting has shifted its focus to first-tier and new first-tier cities for expansion, with significant growth in cities like Guangzhou, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Shenzhen [4][5] - Store counts in various city tiers have shown steady growth, with notable increases in new first-tier and third-tier cities [5] Business Diversification - Tasting is exploring diversification by re-entering the pizza market, opening two "Tasting China Pizza" stores in Fujian [8][9] - The new pizza offerings maintain a low-price strategy, with average consumer spending at 18.63 yuan, lower than the industry average [10][11] Future Challenges - The rapid expansion raises concerns about food safety, with over 7,000 complaints reported on third-party platforms [5] - As Tasting approaches the 10,000 store milestone, it faces challenges in product development, pricing, supply chain management, and brand capability [11]