Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record highs in revenue, operating profit, and operating profit margin for Q2 2025, with operating profit growing 14% to $304 million [10][31] - Same store sales growth turned positive at 1%, with system sales growth reaching 4%, showing a sequential improvement of two percentage points [9][28] - Restaurant margin improved by 60 basis points, and operating profit margin increased by 100 basis points year over year [10][31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - KFC achieved 5% system sales growth and a healthy restaurant margin, operating over 12,000 stores in more than 2,400 cities [10][11] - Pizza Hut sustained 2% same store sales growth, with a 17% increase in same store transactions, and improved margins through operational efficiency [11][24] - K Coffee Cafe contributed to incremental sales, with average cups sold increasing and a total of 1,300 locations nationwide [22][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Delivery sales accounted for around 45% of total sales mix, up from 38% in the previous year, driven by promotions and own channels [16][18] - The company opened 336 net new stores in Q2, with a total of 12,238 KFC stores and 3,864 Pizza Hut stores [21][26] - The franchise store mix for new openings was 41% for KFC and 26% for Pizza Hut, ahead of schedule [37] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational efficiency and innovation, with initiatives like K Coffee Cafe and the Pizza Hut Wow model aimed at expanding market reach [47][68] - The company plans to achieve 1,600 to 1,800 net new store openings in 2025, with a solid pipeline for growth [37][36] - The company is committed to returning $3 billion to shareholders from 2025 through 2026, maintaining a healthy cash position of $2.8 billion [35][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving full-year targets for 2025 despite complex market conditions, with a focus on maintaining margins and protecting price integrity [36][47] - The company anticipates steady same store sales levels year over year in the second half, while facing challenges from delivery platform competition [38][56] - Management highlighted the importance of balancing sales growth with margin protection, learning from past experiences in competitive environments [120][121] Other Important Information - The company is raising its 2025 target for K Coffee Cafe locations from 1,500 to 1,700 due to strong performance [22] - The company is committed to digitization initiatives, including AI, to drive growth and efficiency [44][45] - The average annual capital return is around 8% to 9% of market cap, with flexibility regarding the split of capital returns between years [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on delivery business growth and margin impact - Management acknowledged intense competition in the delivery space but emphasized a balanced approach to drive top-line growth while protecting margins [53][55] Question: New format store opening targets and profitability - Management confirmed over 20 Wow stores opened, with encouraging sales and margin levels, but did not provide specific opening targets for the new model [66][71] Question: Potential ultimate goals for Pizza Hut's margins - Management indicated that mid to long-term improvements in Pizza Hut's margins are expected, with potential to reach levels closer to KFC [80][82] Question: Impact of delivery platform subsidies on margins - Management noted that larger brands like Yum China enjoy favorable subsidy arrangements, minimizing the impact on margins [87][89] Question: Changes in average check trends at KFC - Management explained that the average check at KFC was positively impacted by a higher delivery mix, but a downward trend is expected in the second half due to smaller orders [95][96] Question: CapEx guidance and future trends - Management lowered CapEx guidance due to reduced CapEx per store, indicating a stable trend for future years [100][105] Question: Franchise store opening decisions - Management clarified that franchise stores are incremental and strategically opened in lower-tier cities and high-traffic locations [110][111] Question: Competitive environment and margin preservation - Management reiterated the importance of maintaining price integrity and not sacrificing margins for sales growth amid competitive pressures [120][121]