The camera storm in the private room is not smooth, and the topic of the performance of Haidilao (16862) (16862.HK) has exploded again.
On the evening of March 1, Sichuan Haidilao Catering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Haidilao") announced that it expected the net profit in 2121 to drop by about 91% compared with that in 2119. This achievement caused an uproar in the market, and it was once listed on the hot search list of Weibo.
in the face of precipitous decline in performance, Haidilao explained that the restrictions on consumption places imposed by COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control measures had a significant impact on the Group's operation, and in addition, the exchange loss was RMB235 million due to the fluctuation of the exchange rate between the US dollar and RMB.
Although the epidemic has had a certain impact on the operation of Haidilao, it does not seem to affect its opening rhythm. In the first half of 2121, there were 173 new stores in Haidilao, and the total number of global stores increased from 768 at the beginning of the year to 935 at the end of June. The management of Haidilao said that thousands of stores will be added in the next 2-3 years.
In addition to the early warning of the annual report, recently, many stores in Haidilao were exposed to install cameras in private rooms, which also triggered a heated discussion among netizens.
So, can Haidilao install a camera in the private room? The insiders believe that as far as restaurants are concerned, it is necessary to fulfill the obligation of informing, protect consumers' right to know, and give consumers the right to choose whether to eat in private rooms. If it is in the "informed-consent" mode, the initiative is still in the hands of consumers.
net profit still plummeted after the price increase
On March 1, Haidilao issued the latest profit warning, and it is estimated that the net profit in 2121 will be 2.347 billion yuan, down about 91% year-on-year. As for the reasons for the decline in performance, Haidilao said that it was mainly caused by the epidemic situation and the restrictions imposed on consumption places in various places.
as a consumer enterprise focusing on offline stores, Haidilao was "greatly affected" from the beginning of the outbreak, and once closed hundreds of stores nationwide for 45 days, which seriously damaged its performance. In order to reverse the decline, Haidilao not only promotes the intelligentization of stores to improve operational efficiency, but also develops a number of online sales channels such as take-out.
But at present, Haidilao, which once had to queue up every day, is no longer hot. In the most important data of the catering industry, the turnover rate (table reuse rate) has dropped from the highest of 5.4 times/day in 2118 to 3.3 times/day in the first half of 2121.
However, according to the financial report in the first half of 2121, the unit price of Haidilao customers did improve, and the per capita consumption rose from 114.4 yuan in the first half of 2119 to 112.8 yuan, up over 8% year-on-year.
Although the epidemic has affected the operation of Haidilao to some extent, it does not seem to affect its opening rhythm. In the first half of 2121, there were 173 new stores in Haidilao, and the total number of global stores increased from 768 at the beginning of the year to 935 at the end of June, of which 868 stores were located in 164 cities in China. The management of Haidilao said that thousands of stores will be added in the next 2-3 years.
mired in the whirlpool of public opinion
In addition to the sharp decline in performance, Haidilao has recently been hotly debated by netizens for installing cameras in boxes. Some consumers think this is a serious violation of personal privacy.
In this regard, Haidilao explained that this is to ensure the safety of consumers' dining. At the same time, Haidilao pays attention to protecting customers' privacy. The company has relevant systems and processes for monitoring and management, and at the same time, it strengthens control through technical means to protect consumers' rights and interests.
It is worth noting that Haidilao is not the only one who installed cameras in private rooms. Previously, some media conducted field surveys. Among the 31 hot pot restaurants, 19 were equipped with cameras in private rooms. Among the 14 non-hot pot restaurants, there are also 2 private rooms equipped with cameras.
in fact, the controversial focus of installing cameras in private rooms is whether it infringes on consumers' privacy. Therefore, it is extremely critical to draw a clear line between public and private rooms.
Although Haidilao's customer service said earlier that the private room belongs to the restaurant and is also a part of the public place, a camera head is installed to record the situation. However, in reality, many restaurants have installed cameras, but they have not fulfilled the obligation to inform. In this case, consumers have lost the right to know and the right to choose, and are in a completely passive position.
This article is from Changjiang Business Daily.