Summary of the Conference Call for Jiumaojiu Company Overview - **Company**: Jiumaojiu - **Industry**: Restaurant and Food Service Key Points and Arguments Business Model and Performance - Jiumaojiu has launched a new model focusing on fresh ingredients, transitioning from a single dish (sour fish) to three signature dishes with a variety of hot dishes. As of July, 64 new model stores have been established, with a target of over 150 by the end of the year and full implementation by the end of 2026 [2][3][5] - The new model has shown a 10% year-on-year increase in revenue and a 15% increase in dine-in revenue for July and August, significantly outperforming the old model [2][5] - In the first half of 2025, the company reported a net profit of 61 million RMB, maintaining a net profit margin of 2.2%, consistent with the previous year [3][5] Store Optimization and Closure - The company is actively optimizing its store structure, planning to close 68 self-operated stores and 3 franchise stores in the first half of 2025, with an additional 40 to 50 closures expected in the second half [2][3] - These closures are anticipated to impact short-term revenue but are viewed as beneficial for long-term health [2][3] Supply Chain and Cost Management - The introduction of live fish delivery to stores has been implemented, with the supply chain focusing on vegetable cleaning, rough processing, and sauce preparation. The self-supply ratio of bass fish remains below 30% [2][9] - The new model has slightly reduced gross margins by 1-2 percentage points, but future gross margins are expected to stabilize around 64% [7][8] Consumer Trends and Market Positioning - The company has observed a shift in consumer demographics, with a decrease in young customers and an increase in family diners, leading to higher expectations for food quality and dining experience [4][11] - To adapt, Jiumaojiu is enhancing its fresh ingredient offerings and overall dining experience to meet these evolving consumer demands [4][11] Future Plans and Financial Outlook - The company aims to achieve over 18% operating profit margin per store and plans to complete the renovation of all stores by 2026, with a capital expenditure budget exceeding 300 million RMB [7][19][20] - Retail business revenue is projected to grow, with sales contributions expected to reach 110-120 million RMB in the first half of 2025 [16] Challenges and Strategic Adjustments - The company has decided to discontinue pre-packaged sour fish due to negative brand perception, with plans to reintroduce it after establishing a fresh concept across all stores [17][18] - The sour fish category is still expanding, and the company plans to enhance customer retention by diversifying its menu offerings [18] Conclusion - Jiumaojiu is undergoing significant transformation with a focus on fresh ingredients and improved customer experience, while strategically closing underperforming stores to strengthen its market position and profitability in the long term [2][3][4][5][11]