China food chains eat humble pie after anger at price rises

Haidilao and Xibei faced higher costs after coronavirus, but sparked backlash

20200413 Haidilao

A waiter serves diners at a Haidilao's artificial intelligence hotpot restaurant in Beijing, China. (Photo taken Nov. 2018) © Reuters

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

SHANGHAI - Two Chinese restaurant operators have apologized after a customer backlash over recent price increases, highlighting the difficulty that the country's businesses face in recovering from the coronavirus outbreak.

Both Haidilao International Holding and Xibei Youmiancun admitted they were wrong to hike some prices to try to mitigate rising operating costs after a widespread quarantine to contain the epidemic.

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