Core Viewpoint - The company Laiyifen (603777.SH), known as the "first snack stock on the domestic main board," is facing significant profit pressure despite a revenue recovery in the first half of the year, attributed to ongoing store adjustments and intense competition in the snack industry [2][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - In the first half of the year, Laiyifen's revenue increased by 8.21% to 1.94 billion yuan, but the net profit attributable to shareholders and the net profit excluding non-recurring items both recorded losses of 50.58 million yuan and 56.61 million yuan, respectively, marking declines of 439.6% and 536.91% year-on-year [2]. - The company's cost of revenue surged by 24.2% to 1.307 billion yuan, significantly outpacing the revenue growth, leading to a decline in gross margin by 8.67 percentage points to 32.61% [6]. Group 2: Store Strategy and Adjustments - Laiyifen's "Ten Thousand Families" strategy aimed for a nationwide store layout of 10,000 stores by 2023, but as of 2023, only 3,685 stores were established, falling short of expectations due to various factors, including a focus on self-developed apps rather than mainstream e-commerce platforms [3][4]. - The number of stores decreased by 14.2% year-on-year to 2,979, with 1,395 direct-operated stores (47%) and 1,584 franchised stores (53%) [6]. Group 3: Transition to Franchise Model - The company is transitioning to a lighter asset model, with plans to adjust the ratio of franchised to direct-operated stores from 3:7 in 2017 to 3:1 by 2025, indicating a shift towards a franchise-dominated structure [7]. - To support franchisees, Laiyifen announced a financial assistance plan of up to 50 million yuan, with individual support capped at 1 million yuan per store, aimed at alleviating liquidity pressures for franchisees [7]. Group 4: Business Expansion and Challenges - Laiyifen is exploring new business avenues, including innovative product categories and new store formats like community stores and warehouse stores, although these initiatives face challenges such as market validation and competition from established players [8][9]. - Despite the potential for growth from these new initiatives, they are still in the testing phase and have not yet established a stable profit model, making it difficult to alleviate the current performance pressure [9].

Core Viewpoint - Shanghai Laiyifen Co., Ltd. is actively adapting to market changes and focusing on strategic optimization to enhance its operational efficiency and market presence in the competitive snack food industry. Group 1: Business Performance and Strategy - The company reported a total of 30,85 stores by the end of 2024, a decrease of 16.28% year-on-year, with 1,485 direct-operated stores and 1,600 franchised stores, indicating a shift towards a franchise model [7][8]. - The company aims to deepen its "Wanjia Denghuo" strategy by optimizing store profitability and expanding brand recognition through franchise promotions [7][8]. - The core area of Shanghai saw a 21.6% increase in performance compared to the previous year, highlighting the success of the company's distribution business [8]. Group 2: Product and Quality Management - The company has launched over 800 products with traceability codes for more than 700 items, achieving a warehouse inspection pass rate of 99.10% and a third-party inspection pass rate of 99.67% [10]. - Laiyifen emphasizes food safety and quality, aiming to provide high-quality, cost-effective snacks through a well-managed supply chain [10][11]. Group 3: Marketing and Brand Development - The company has adopted a health-oriented marketing strategy, promoting low-sugar, low-fat, and low-calorie snacks, and has been recognized as a leader in the healthy snack market [12]. - Laiyifen has engaged in cross-industry collaborations, such as partnerships with popular mobile games and artists, to enhance brand visibility and appeal to younger consumers [12][19]. Group 4: Digital Transformation and Management - The company is implementing a CRM management system in collaboration with Tencent to enhance digital marketing capabilities and improve store performance [15]. - Laiyifen is focusing on lean management practices to optimize organizational efficiency and align employee incentives with business performance [15][20]. Group 5: Future Plans and Goals - The company plans to continue expanding its store network while enhancing its product offerings to meet diverse consumer needs, particularly in the health snack segment [18][19]. - Laiyifen aims to strengthen its capital operation platform to support sustainable growth and enhance shareholder value [20].