BUSINESS

Haidilao’s Overseas Boss Returns Home to Lead Multi-Brand Push

Published: Apr. 16, 2026 6:06 p.m. GMT+8

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Yang Lijuan. Photo: VCG

Yang Lijuan, CEO of Haidilao’s international unit Super Hi, has stepped down to return onshore and lead the Chinese hot pot chain’s multi-brand push as it tries to expand its revenue base.

Yang will oversee the development of Haidilao’s “Red Pomegranate Plan,” an initiative designed to incubate new restaurant brands and to streamline decision-making process, according to a stock exchange filing on Wednesday.

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Yang Lijuan steps down as Super Hi CEO to lead Haidilao’s Red Pomegranate Plan for new brands.
Plan launched Aug 2024; 20 brands by end 2025; non-hot pot revenue 3.5% in 2025 (up 2.4 pp).
Targets 500 seafood stores in 3 years, 100 sushi in 2; initial stores show >5.5-6x daily table turnover.

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Who’s Who

Haidilao: Yang Lijuan, ex-CEO of Haidilao's Super Hi, returned to lead the "Red Pomegranate Plan," incubating new brands like seafood and sushi. By end-2025, 20 brands launched, contributing 3.5% revenue (up 2.4%). Targets: 500 seafood stores in 3 years, 100 sushi in 2. Founder Zhang Yong resumed as CEO. New stores show high table turnover (>5.5x daily). (68 words)

Super Hi: Super Hi is Haidilao’s international unit. Yang Lijuan served as its CEO since June 2024, after being Haidilao’s CEO. She has stepped down to lead the onshore “Red Pomegranate Plan” for multi-brand expansion.

Haitong International: Haitong International's research report highlights Haidilao's seafood and sushi categories as core indicators for a second growth curve under the Red Pomegranate Plan. It notes eight seafood stores with table turnover >6x/day in Nanning and >5.5x in Guangzhou, plus >6x for the first sushi store, and deems 2026 crucial for profitability testing.

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