Core Viewpoint - After 125 days of efforts, Xibei's chairman confirmed the closure of 102 stores, representing 30% of its total outlets, amid challenges in the prepared food sector [1][4]. Summary by Sections Store Closures and Employee Commitment - Xibei will close 102 stores gradually in the first quarter, ensuring that employee salaries remain intact and customer prepaid cards can be used at other locations [1][2][10]. - The company will honor commitments to customers who have booked New Year's Eve dinners by completing their last service before closing [2][10]. Internal Measures and Employee Welfare - Xibei has implemented internal measures to support employees, including a "complaint award" and psychological counseling for staff [5]. - Since September, the company has raised salaries for frontline employees by an average of 500 yuan per month, with reports of service staff earning nearly 9,100 yuan after deductions [5][10]. External Adjustments and Promotions - Xibei has made significant adjustments to its menu and pricing, including the introduction of new dishes and a large-scale price reduction on 40 items [6][8]. - Promotional activities have been launched, such as offering 100 yuan vouchers for in-store purchases and discounts on popular dishes [8][10]. Financial Performance and Market Position - Despite these efforts, Xibei's revenue in November was only 265 million yuan, less than half of the same period last year, indicating ongoing financial struggles [10][12]. - The company has faced a decline in store numbers since October, with nearly 10 closures in just one month [10][12]. Brand Image and Public Relations Challenges - The crisis was exacerbated by public relations missteps, including a failure to address consumer concerns effectively and a lack of empathy in communications [20][21]. - The founder's personal brand, once a source of strength, has become a liability as public scrutiny intensifies [23][24]. Industry Implications and Lessons Learned - The situation serves as a cautionary tale for the restaurant industry, highlighting the importance of balancing operational excellence with effective communication in the public sphere [24]. - Xibei's experience underscores the need for brands to adapt to changing consumer expectations and the impact of social media on public perception [24].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the company. Core Insights - In 2025, the company "Xi Bei" faced a significant public relations crisis due to the "pre-made dish wave," which severely tested its brand reputation and consumer trust. The crisis peaked in September, with online mentions exceeding 400,000 and interactions nearing 70 million, significantly increasing the proportion of negative sentiment [3][4]. - To address the crisis, Xi Bei implemented a series of strategic adjustments in the second half of 2025, including a shift in focus from personal branding to product and service quality, a commitment to "in-store freshly made" dishes for over 30 menu items, and the introduction of a "sunshine kitchen" initiative to enhance transparency [3][4][5]. - The company also adjusted its pricing strategy, reducing the average customer spending from 92 yuan to a range of 75-85 yuan by lowering prices on over 40 dishes and launching large-scale promotional activities such as "Xi Bei invites you to dinner" [3][4][12]. Summary by Sections 1. Marketing Actions in 2025 - Xi Bei undertook a series of marketing adjustments focused on crisis response and brand rebuilding, particularly after the September crisis [5]. - The company quickly implemented transparency and quality enhancement measures in response to consumer concerns about food safety and information rights [7]. 2. Social Media Heat Analysis - In 2025, Xi Bei's social media performance was closely linked to its marketing and public relations events, showing a pattern of "silent periods followed by explosive reactions" [22]. - The brand's online mentions peaked in September, with a surge from approximately 53,000 mentions in August to over 405,000 in September, reflecting a nearly sevenfold increase [26]. 3. Consumer Feedback and Sentiment Analysis - Throughout 2025, consumer feedback evolved from a trust crisis to cautious observation, with neutral sentiment dominating but negative interactions significantly outpacing positive ones [35]. - During the pre-made dish wave, negative sentiment surged, with negative mentions rising from 3.3% to 29.6% [40]. 4. Marketing Strategy Effectiveness and Social Media Performance Correlation - The marketing actions taken by Xi Bei had a clear impact on social media heat, with crisis management actions and subsequent promotional activities leading to significant peaks in online mentions [44]. - The adjustments in marketing strategy influenced consumer sentiment, with proactive measures in the fourth quarter helping to alleviate some negative perceptions [48]. 5. Conclusion - In 2025, Xi Bei navigated a major public relations crisis and implemented a series of marketing and strategic adjustments that led to a temporary recovery in social media heat and customer traffic. However, the long-term rebuilding of brand trust remains a challenge [53][54].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the proactive measures taken by the company, Xibei, in response to negative publicity and operational challenges since September, including employee support initiatives and product adjustments [1][2][3] Group 2 - Xibei has established a "compensation award" for frontline employees affected by online harassment, along with psychological counseling support [1] - Since September, Xibei has increased the average monthly salary of frontline employees by 500 yuan and is discussing further salary enhancements [1] - The company held a nationwide meeting for 18,000 employees to assure them of job security, prohibiting layoffs and reduced shifts [1] Group 3 - To rebuild its brand image, Xibei has committed to food safety and has adjusted its food preparation processes, moving from centralized kitchens to in-store cooking [1] - As of the end of September, Xibei has completed the first phase of menu adjustments, including the use of non-GMO soybean oil and freshly cooked dishes [1] Group 4 - Xibei launched promotional activities such as "Xibei Treats You to Dinner," offering 100 yuan vouchers to attract customers, followed by a new round of promotions with additional discounts [2] - The company has reduced prices on over 40 dishes since October 1, with significant price drops on popular items, such as a 16.81% reduction on lamb chops [2] - As a result of these promotions, overall customer traffic increased by approximately 5% compared to the same period last year, with 70% of participants being repeat customers [2] Group 5 - Despite the promotional efforts, Xibei has closed nearly 10 stores since October, which the company describes as a normal operational adjustment [3] - New store openings are also occurring, with plans to open 8 additional locations by December 31 [3] - The company has outlined three principles for store closures, including notifying customers in advance and ensuring employee job security through transfers to other locations [3]