🍲 From school dropout to hotpot king
Zhang Yong (55) created the global hotpot empire Haidilao (market value: $12 billion) from a four-table restaurant.
🧂 His secret ingredient: Since the food was mediocre at first, he focused on extremely good service. Haidilao became famous for free manicures, shoe-shining services, and hand massages for waiting guests, as well as noodle dances at the table.
🫵🏻 Employee focus: Zhang shares 3% of the branch profits with his managers. His philosophy: “Trust your employees, give them space—then they will take their jobs seriously.”
💡 Lesson learned: If the core product is not (yet) perfect, you win through an unbeatable customer experience and radical trust in your own team.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
