In the cutthroat world of Chinese dining, few partnerships are as legendary as that of Zhang Yong, the visionary founder of Haidilao, and Yang Lijuan, the woman who transformed his hot pot dream into a global empire. After a brief tenure leading the group’s international arm, Super Hi International, Yang has returned to the main fold. Her mission is to spearhead the "Pomegranate Plan," an ambitious diversification strategy designed to rescue the company from stagnating growth in its core business.
The market’s reaction was immediate and telling, with Haidilao’s stock price jumping 7% following the announcement. Investors view Yang not just as a manager, but as the company’s primary "executor-in-chief." While Zhang is known for his "star-gazing" strategic vision and a softer, more emotional management style, Yang is the pragmatic "Tiger Mom" of the organization, renowned for her uncompromising adherence to systems and her ability to scale operations with clinical precision.
This leadership reshuffle comes at a critical juncture as Haidilao’s flagship brand shows signs of exhaustion. For the fiscal year 2025, while total revenue saw a marginal increase, core restaurant operating income fell by over 7%, and profits dropped by 13.3%. The company’s famous high turnover rates have faced pressure from a saturated domestic market and the introduction of a new franchising model, forcing the group to look beyond its signature spicy broth for future growth.
The "Pomegranate Plan" represents a radical shift from a single-brand powerhouse to a diversified restaurant conglomerate. The group currently operates 20 distinct sub-brands across categories ranging from sushi and seafood to Chinese fast food and western light meals. Although these innovation businesses saw a revenue surge of over 200% last year, most remain in the precarious "zero-to-one" incubation phase, contributing to top-line growth while currently weighing down the bottom line with heavy investment costs.
Yang’s return also addresses a looming governance issue on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Listing rules generally discourage the roles of Chairman and CEO being held by the same person, a temporary measure Zhang Yong had adopted. By bringing Yang back to manage the "big picture," Haidilao restores a balance between visionary leadership and disciplined oversight. Her reputation for "iron-fisted" management—including the famous incident of firing 30 striking workers in a single afternoon to push through wage reforms—is exactly the medicine the company believes it needs to navigate its current transition.