Core Viewpoint - The "three giants" of the marinated food industry are facing revenue declines in the first half of 2025, prompting them to explore new business avenues to break through their current challenges [3]. Cost Reduction to Maintain Profit - The marinated food market showed signs of weakness in the first half of the year, with companies like Juewei Food experiencing a 15.57% decline in revenue to 2.82 billion yuan and a 40.71% drop in net profit to 175 million yuan due to decreased internal sales [6]. - Huangshanghuang reported a 7.19% revenue decline to 984 million yuan but achieved a 26.9% increase in net profit to approximately 76.92 million yuan, attributed to cost-cutting measures and a reduction in store numbers [5][6]. - Zhou Hei Ya's revenue fell by 2.9% to 1.22 billion yuan, while net profit surged by 228% to 108 million yuan, thanks to improved store efficiency and the closure of underperforming outlets [6][7]. Seeking a Second Growth Curve - The three giants are actively seeking new growth avenues as reliance on core business becomes unsustainable. Zhou Hei Ya launched a coconut water brand and partnered with Sichuan Shentang Food to develop compound seasonings and convenience food products [9][10]. - Huangshanghuang is entering the freeze-dried food sector, planning to invest 495 million yuan to acquire a 51% stake in Fujian Lixing Food Co., which complements its existing product offerings [9][10]. - Juewei Food opened a new "Juewei Plus" store in Changsha, venturing into the casual dining space with products like fried marinated food, desserts, and fruit wine [10]. Market Insights - Analysts suggest that the growth of the marinated food sector relies on demographic advantages and increased store numbers, but the overall pricing is perceived as high, leading to challenges in consumer willingness and confidence [7][8]. - Experts caution that while exploring new business areas is a common strategy during performance pressures, companies must ensure alignment with brand positioning and conduct thorough market assessments to avoid diluting their core business [11].

Core Viewpoint - The "three giants" of the marinated food industry are facing revenue declines in the first half of 2025, prompting them to explore new business avenues to establish a "second growth curve" amidst a challenging market environment [1]. Group 1: Industry Performance - The marinated food market has shown signs of weakness in the first half of the year, with major players like Juewei Food experiencing a 15.57% decline in revenue to 2.82 billion yuan and a 40.71% drop in net profit to 175 million yuan [2]. - Huangshanghuang reported a 7.19% decrease in revenue to 984 million yuan, while net profit increased by 26.9% to approximately 76.92 million yuan, attributed to cost-cutting measures despite a decline in main business segments [2]. - Zhou Hei Ya's revenue fell by 2.9% to 1.22 billion yuan, but net profit surged by 228% to 108 million yuan, driven by improved single-store efficiency and the closure of underperforming outlets [3]. Group 2: Cost Management - The decline in raw material prices has helped some marinated food companies maintain or even increase net profits, with Huangshanghuang noting a 2.23 percentage point increase in gross margin for its marinated meat products due to lower production costs [4]. - The overall market dynamics indicate that the marinated food sector is facing significant challenges due to decreased consumer willingness and confidence, leading to a need for companies to balance cost reduction and innovation [4]. Group 3: New Business Initiatives - Zhou Hei Ya has launched a coconut water brand and is collaborating with Sichuan Shentang Food to develop compound seasonings and convenience food products, transitioning to a dual business model [5]. - Huangshanghuang is entering the freeze-dried food market by acquiring a 51% stake in Fujian Lixing Food Co., investing 495 million yuan to leverage complementary products and sales channels [6]. - Juewei Food has opened a new concept store, "Juewei Plus," in Changsha, expanding into the casual dining sector with offerings like fried marinated dishes and desserts [7].