Yang Li Juan Returns, Haidilao to “Tackle the Hard Nut”.

It was announced that Yang Li Juan has resigned as an executive director and CEO of Super Hi International Holding Ltd. and will join Haidilao International Holding Ltd. to oversee and promote the implementation of the company’s “Pomegranate Plan”.

Yang Li Juan is a “veteran of the first generation” at Haidilao. An industry insider revealed that in the eyes of Haidilao employees, Yang is a “decisive and capable businesswoman,” whose presence has been seen at almost every critical stage of the company’s development.

Information shows that Yang Li Juan joined Haidilao in 1995 and was one of the core members in its early entrepreneurial days, accompanying the company as it expanded beyond Sichuan. In January 2018, Yang Li Juan became the Chief Operating Officer of Haidilao, primarily responsible for overseeing its operations. On September 26 of the same year, when Haidilao listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, standing next to founder Zhang Yong was Yang Li Juan, then hailed as the “most remarkable employee”.

(Left: Zhang Yong, Right: Yang Li Juan)

Starting in August 2021, she served as an executive director and deputy CEO of Haidilao. On March 1, 2022, she was officially appointed as the CEO of Haidilao.

During Yang Li Juan’s tenure as CEO, the company returned to profitability in 2022 and achieved a net profit of 44.95 billion yuan in 2023, a year-on-year increase of approximately 174.6%, with revenue reaching 414.53 billion yuan, up 33.6% year-on-year. During this period, she led the group in completing the “Woodpecker” plan, proactively closing underperforming stores, rebuilding and strengthening certain functional departments, and reinstating the regional management system.

In 2024, Yang Li Juan transitioned to become the CEO of Super Hi International, a subsidiary of Haidilao, responsible for its overseas business, until her recent return to the parent company.

Earlier this year, Haidilao founder Zhang Yong also returned to the company as CEO. Their renewed partnership signifies the company is entering a “deep-water zone of reform,” and Haidilao is preparing to tackle a “hard nut”.

According to Haidilao’s 2025 financial report, the company’s overall revenue increased slightly by 1.1% to 432.25 billion yuan, but net profit attributable to the parent company fell by 14% year-on-year to 40.42 billion yuan, marking the first decline in four years.

In particular, revenue from the core main brand restaurants saw a significant decline. Full-year revenue from the main brand restaurants decreased by 7.1% year-on-year, and the table turnover rate dropped to 3.9 times per day, directly reflecting a weakening growth momentum in the traditional hotpot main business. The company’s most core and mature business segment is facing growth bottlenecks.

With growth of the main brand peaking, Haidilao is eager to find a second growth curve, which is the “Pomegranate Plan”.

The so-called “Pomegranate Plan” is a core initiative of Haidilao’s diversification strategy. Launched in August 2024, it had introduced 20 restaurant brands (such as Yan Qing, Ru Yi, etc.) with a total of 207 restaurants by the end of 2025. In 2025, revenue from these multiple brands reached 15.21 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 214.6%, becoming a core growth driver.

Compared to the Haidilao main brand, the series of sub-brands launched under the “Pomegranate Plan” have shifted from low-frequency formal dining to high-frequency fast food, snacks, bakery, and other segmented markets, featuring lower average customer spending, more impressive growth rates, and greater potential for expansion.

Haidilao’s 2025 performance announcement stated that in 2025, the group formally entered a new phase of group operations characterized by “parallel operation of multiple brands

Haidilao International Holding Ltd.

Haidilao International Holding Ltd. is a renowned Chinese hot pot restaurant chain founded in 1994 in Sichuan Province by Zhang Yong. It gained global fame not only for its food but for its exceptional customer service, which includes complimentary amenities like manicures and entertainment while waiting. The company expanded internationally in the early 2010s, becoming a symbol of premium dining experience and Chinese culinary culture worldwide.

Hong Kong Stock Exchange

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) is one of the world’s largest and most important financial marketplaces. Its origins date back to 1891 with the formation of the Association of Stockbrokers in Hong Kong, but the modern exchange was officially established in its current form through a merger in 2000. It serves as a critical gateway for capital flows between international investors and the Chinese mainland economy.

Super Hi International Holding Ltd.

“Super Hi International Holding Ltd.” is not a specific cultural site or historical landmark, but a corporate entity. It is a Chinese multinational company primarily known for operating the hot pot restaurant chain **Haidilao** internationally. Founded in 1994 by Zhang Yong in Sichuan, China, Haidilao gained global recognition for its exceptional customer service before Super Hi was spun off in 2022 to manage and expand its international operations.

Pomegranate Plan

The “Pomegranate Plan” is not a widely recognized historical place or cultural site. It appears to be a modern concept, most commonly associated with a **Chinese government-led poverty alleviation and rural revitalization program** launched in the early 21st century. The initiative focuses on relocating residents from impoverished areas and providing them with new housing, infrastructure, and employment opportunities, often symbolized by the pomegranate as a sign of unity and prosperity.

Woodpecker plan

The “Woodpecker Plan” was a 1970s Soviet military project to build an over-the-horizon radar system, nicknamed “Woodpecker” by amateur radio operators for its disruptive, repetitive signal. Its purpose was to detect potential ballistic missile launches from the United States, and its massive transmitter site was located near Chernobyl, Ukraine. The system caused significant international radio interference and was eventually decommissioned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

Yan Qing

“Yan Qing” is a fictional character from the classic Chinese novel *Water Margin* (also known as *Outlaws of the Marsh*), renowned for his loyalty, martial arts skill, and cunning. He is not a physical place or cultural site, but a significant literary figure who embodies themes of brotherhood and resistance against corruption in 12th-century Song Dynasty China.

Ru Yi

“Ru Yi” (如意) refers to a traditional Chinese ceremonial scepter or talisman, often made of precious materials like jade, gold, or wood. Historically, it symbolized power, good fortune, and the fulfillment of wishes, and was commonly used in imperial courts and given as a prestigious gift. Today, it remains a popular motif in art and jewelry, representing blessings and auspiciousness in Chinese culture.

Zhang Yong

“Zhang Yong” does not refer to a specific, widely recognized place or cultural site. It is most commonly a Chinese personal name, notably belonging to a powerful eunuch official during the reign of the Ming Dynasty’s Zhengde Emperor (early 16th century). Therefore, there is no physical location or cultural monument by this name to summarize.