Core Viewpoint - The overall decline in the restaurant industry has impacted Haidilao, with a notable decrease in sales and revenue in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year [1][2]. Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, Haidilao's restaurant system sales decreased by 6.5% year-on-year, with total revenue recorded at 20.703 billion RMB, down 3.7% [1]. - The core restaurant operations generated 18.58 billion RMB, a 9% decrease, marking the first year-on-year decline in revenue since 2022 [1]. - The average table turnover rate fell from 4.2 times per day to 3.8 times, leading to a 10% decrease in same-store sales [4][7]. - Core operating profit declined by 14% to 2.4 billion RMB, a reduction of nearly 400 million RMB compared to the previous year [6]. Market Environment - The external market environment has changed, with national restaurant revenue growth slowing down, and in June 2025, revenue from large-scale catering enterprises fell by 0.4% year-on-year [3]. - Despite the market downturn, Haidilao maintained a slight increase in average consumer spending, rising from 97.4 RMB to 97.9 RMB [3]. Strategic Adjustments - Haidilao is shifting from a standardized model to a more personalized growth path, expanding its product offerings and store types [2]. - The company is diversifying its menu and store themes, including high-end "selected stores" and budget lunch buffets, as well as themed stores for night snacks and family interactions [2]. - The "Red Pomegranate Plan" has been launched to extend into various food categories, including barbecue and fried chicken, covering nearly all mainstream restaurant formats [2]. Cost Management - Fixed costs remain high, with labor costs increasing by 0.5 percentage points to 33.8% of total costs [5]. - Although prices were not directly lowered, increased portion sizes and material investments led to a rise in raw material costs by 0.8 percentage points to 39.8% [5]. New Business Initiatives - Haidilao has accelerated its franchise system and the "Red Pomegranate Plan," which now includes 14 restaurant brands and 126 locations, up from 11 brands and 74 locations last year [13]. - The new franchise stores generated 91 million RMB in revenue, significantly lower than the average revenue of direct-operated stores [15]. - The "other restaurant operations" segment, which includes various brands under the "Red Pomegranate Plan," achieved a revenue of 597 million RMB, a substantial increase of 227% year-on-year [15]. Shareholder Returns - Haidilao has significantly increased its shareholder return, with the payout ratio rising from 40% in 2022 to 90% in 2023, and reaching 95% in 2024 [19][20].