# China consumer
Latest news and articles about China consumer
Total: 7 articles found
China’s ‘Baozi Champion’ Sees Profits Hit by Stock Bets as Sales Keep Rising
Babi Foods grew revenue 11.2% in 2025 to RMB 1.859 billion but saw net profit dip 1.3% to RMB 273 million after a RMB 93.82 million hit from fair‑value losses on its holding in Dongpeng Beverage. The result highlights a wider issue in China: industrial firms using stock investments to boost returns can import volatility into corporate earnings.
China’s 55‑Yuan iPhone 4S Boom: Nostalgia Fad or a Canary for Consumer Downshift?
A sudden surge in sales of the decade‑old iPhone 4S in China — often traded for about 55 yuan — reflects a mix of nostalgia, affordability pressures and the growing strength of the secondhand market. The trend coexists with strong demand for Apple’s latest flagships, suggesting a split in consumer behaviour rather than a straightforward downgrade.
Xibei’s Founder Abandons Personal Branding as Chain Braces for Heavy Losses and Store Closures
Xibei founder Jia Guolong said he will stop cultivating a personal brand and return to frontline operations as the group forecasts more than RMB 600 million in losses and prepares to close about 30% of its stores. New investors have increased the company's registered capital modestly, signalling both concern and continued faith in the chain’s underlying assets.
Haidilao’s Founder Returns as Cash‑Strapped Youth Sap Growth
Haidilao’s founder Zhang Yong has returned as CEO after four years amid a sharp deterioration in traffic and profitability: first‑half 2025 revenue fell 3.7% and net profit 13.7%, with customer visits down 10 million. The chain’s high labour costs, failed expansion, and mixed results from incubated sub‑brands have left it vulnerable to increasingly price‑sensitive young consumers, forcing a management rethink on efficiency and product strategy.
Crisis Lifeline: Xibei Secures A‑Round Backing from Restaurant Veteran Zhang Yong and Ex‑Alibaba Partner Hu Xiaoming as It Seeks a Comeback
Xibei has completed an A‑round capital increase led by investors including Xinrongji founder Zhang Yong and former Alibaba partner Hu Xiaoming, after a reputation crisis and the closure of roughly 100 stores. The funding is intended to stabilise cash flow, bolster supply‑chain capability and potentially preserve a path to a future IPO, but substantial governance and brand repair work remains.
Second‑Generation Strain: Red Bean Posts Deeper Losses as China’s Menswear Market Contracts
Red Bean forecasts a second consecutive annual loss for 2025, reflecting a broader decline in demand for traditional menswear in China. Efforts to reposition the brand and convert franchise stores to direct control have so far been overwhelmed by falling sales and squeezed margins, leaving the company at a crossroads between deeper restructuring or strategic partnership.
How a Public Feud and Hardline Founder Pushed Xibei From IPO Hope to Cash Burn
Xibei’s founder‑led confrontation with online critics and a string of emotionally driven operational moves have coincided with steep closures, large losses and damaged investor confidence. The company’s heavy couponing, labour cost increases and disrupted supply chain have burned cash without restoring customer trust, leaving its IPO ambitions in jeopardy.