Hotpot-restaurant chain Haidilao opened 130 new restaurants in the first half of this year, boosting sales by 59.3 per cent to RMB 11.7 billion (US$1.66 billion). 

The staggering expansion program saw the company’s global network grow from 466 restaurants as of December 31 to 593 at the end of June. Of those, 550 are located in 116 cities across Mainland China, the balance in Taiwan, Hong Kong and overseas locations including Singapore, South Korea, Japan, the US, Canada, the UK, Vietnam, Malaysia and Australia.

Besides expanding its network, the company has been testing new technology including robotics and new generation machinery in its kitchens and robot waiters in 179 restaurants.  

Chairman Zhang Yong said the company was working to optimise the operational management of the business as well as enhance the dining experience of customers. 

In the first half of this year Haidilao served more than 109 million customers with an average table turnover rate of 4.8 times per day. 

In the first half of the year, the company introduced 187 dishes across regional markets and started selling its own-brand milk tea and soft drinks. 

On the back of store openings, group revenue soared 59.3 per cent. Same-store sales rose by 4.7 per cent. 

Profit attributable to shareholders rose from RMB646 million to RMB911 million. (US$91,000 to $129,000).