Core Insights - The small hot pot segment is experiencing a resurgence, driven by the "one person, one pot" model, with major restaurant chains entering the market [1][4] - The market size for small hot pots is projected to reach 40 billion yuan by 2025, with a year-on-year growth rate of 14% [4][2] Market Trends - The search index for "small hot pot" has increased from less than 500,000 in early 2024 to approximately 1.5 million by November 2025 [2] - On social media platforms, the "small hot pot" topic has garnered significant attention, with Douyin videos reaching over 2.47 billion views and Xiaohongshu accumulating over 360 million views [2] Competitive Landscape - As of November 2025, there are approximately 48,000 small hot pot outlets in China, accounting for about 10% of the total hot pot restaurants [4] - The number of small hot pot-related enterprises has exceeded 24,000, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 2.6% [4] Growth Drivers - Consumer demand for cost-effective dining options is a key factor driving the growth of small hot pots, as average spending in the restaurant sector has decreased from 34.4 yuan in January 2025 to 33.2 yuan in October 2025 [7] - Intense competition in the hot pot market has led brands to adopt low-price strategies, further accelerating the development of the small hot pot segment [9] - Improvements in the hot pot supply chain have provided essential support for the rapid growth of the small hot pot market [11] Brand Development - Notable brands in the small hot pot sector include Weilai, which has over 1,000 outlets, and Xiaobubub, with more than 700 locations [14] - Established hot pot brands like Haidilao and Yang Guofu are also launching small hot pot sub-brands and products to capture market share [17] Consumer Preferences - The small hot pot market is diversifying into various price segments, with 31.2% of outlets priced between 20 and 40 yuan, and 34.5% priced above 60 yuan [19] - Brands are increasingly focusing on quality and health, introducing high-quality ingredients and unique dining experiences to attract consumers [24][26] Future Directions - The small hot pot segment is evolving towards specialization, quality enhancement, and fast-casual dining [20] - Brands are exploring new growth paths, including one-person meal packages and enhancing dining experiences to meet social interaction needs [36][40]