Juewei Food (SH:603517) 36氪·2025-04-22 14:11Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the declining performance of Juewei Foods and the broader challenges facing the marinated food industry, indicating a significant downturn in both revenue and profit for major players in the sector [1][4][8]. Group 1: Company Performance - Juewei Foods' market value peaked at 600 billion RMB in 2021, with rapid expansion from 9,053 stores in 2017 to 12,399 stores in 2020, and revenue growth from 3.85 billion RMB to 5.276 billion RMB during the same period [3]. - In 2024, Juewei Foods reported a revenue of 6.257 billion RMB, a year-on-year decline of 13.84%, and a net profit of 227 million RMB, down 34.04% [4][5]. - The first quarter of 2025 continued the downward trend, with revenue of 1.501 billion RMB, a decrease of 11.47%, and a net profit of 120 million RMB, down 27.29% [4]. Group 2: Industry Challenges - The marinated food industry is experiencing a collective downturn, with Juewei Foods, Zhou Hei Ya, and Huang Shang Huang all reporting declines in revenue and profit [9][10]. - Zhou Hei Ya's revenue in 2024 was 2.451 billion RMB, down 10.66%, while Huang Shang Huang reported 1.739 billion RMB, a decline of 9.44% [9]. - The industry faces challenges such as the expiration of growth dividends, with a net closure of approximately 23,000 stores nationwide in the past year, indicating a contraction in the market [10]. Group 3: Price and Cost Dynamics - The marinated food sector is grappling with significant fluctuations in raw material prices, particularly for duck products, which constitute over 50% of Juewei Foods' procurement costs [10][11]. - Prices for duck necks surged from 12 RMB/kg to 27 RMB/kg between 2021 and 2023, a rise of over 125%, before falling to 10 RMB/kg in late 2023, a decrease of 63% [11]. - Despite the drop in raw material costs, Juewei Foods has been slow to adjust its prices, leading to reduced consumer demand and continued profit decline [11]. Group 4: Business Model and Strategy - Juewei Foods relies heavily on franchisees, with over 90% of its stores being franchises, which has previously driven rapid growth [12]. - However, due to declining demand, the company has shifted its strategy from aggressive expansion to focusing on enhancing single-store revenue and supporting franchisee survival [12][13]. - The average single-store revenue in the first half of 2024 was 169,000 RMB, reflecting an 11% year-on-year decline [13]. Group 5: Investment and Future Outlook - Juewei Foods has historically invested in various food-related companies, but recent investments have resulted in losses, with a reported investment loss of 160 million RMB in 2024 [14]. - Cumulative investment losses over the past three years exceed 370 million RMB, indicating challenges in both operational and investment growth avenues [14]. - The company is currently facing a "dead end," with both core business and investment strategies proving ineffective in driving performance improvement [14].