Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the transformation of the Chinese snack food industry, particularly the trend of traditional snack brands, such as Huo Shang Huo and others, shifting towards a fast-food model to adapt to changing consumer preferences and market conditions [4][11]. Group 1: Industry Trends - Huo Shang Huo has opened a new hot marinated food store in Nanchang, which deviates from the traditional takeout model by offering a dine-in experience with tables and chairs [6][7]. - Major brands like Zhou Hei Ya and Jue Wei are expanding their product lines to include staple foods like rice and noodles, aiming to enter the highly competitive fast-food market [4][11]. - The overall growth of the marinated food sector is slowing, with a projected market size of 157.3 billion yuan in 2024, reflecting a decrease in growth rate from 4.8% in 2023 to 3.7% [13]. Group 2: Company Strategies - Huo Shang Huo's new hot marinated food store features a simplified product line with over 30 SKUs, compared to more than 50 in traditional stores, and offers value-driven meal combinations [7][8]. - The company has seen a decline in store numbers from 4,627 in 2020 to 2,898 in the first half of this year, with total revenue for the first three quarters of this year at 1.379 billion yuan, down 5.08% year-on-year [12]. - Other brands are also innovating; for instance, Jue Wei has launched a new store concept that includes a variety of food options and lower-priced items, while Zhou Hei Ya has introduced a sub-brand focusing on fast-casual dining [14][15].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the phenomenon of street food entrepreneurship, particularly focusing on the trend of selling large pot braised dishes, highlighting the potential for profit as well as the underlying marketing strategies that may mislead aspiring entrepreneurs [2][5][12]. Group 1: Street Food Trend - The trend of selling large pot braised dishes has gained immense popularity, with social media discussions and videos reaching a total view count of 4.5 billion [2]. - A notable figure in this trend is "Master Hu," who claims to have achieved significant success in a short time, attracting a large following on social media [2][3]. - The visual appeal of large pots filled with various ingredients creates a strong impact, drawing customers in [9]. Group 2: Entrepreneurial Challenges - Many aspiring entrepreneurs are drawn to this trend, paying high fees for training and equipment, only to find that their businesses do not succeed as expected [6][7]. - Reports indicate that some individuals have struggled to make sales, often selling only a fraction of what they anticipated, leading to financial losses [6][7]. - The market has become saturated with similar offerings, resulting in fierce competition and diminishing returns for new entrants [7]. Group 3: Marketing and Deception - The success of these street food ventures is often built on creating a false perception of high demand through staged videos and hired actors posing as customers [11][12]. - The article suggests that the real profit for many of these ventures comes from selling training courses and equipment rather than from food sales [10][12]. - There is a growing concern that this model is a marketing scam, misleading many into believing in easy profits from street food entrepreneurship [7][12]. Group 4: Industry Insights - Data shows that over 60% of new food businesses rely heavily on short video marketing, yet their average lifespan is only 8 months, indicating a high failure rate [14]. - The focus on creating viral content often overshadows the importance of product quality and genuine customer demand [14]. - The article emphasizes the need for aspiring entrepreneurs to prioritize product development, customer experience, and market research over chasing fleeting trends [14].