HK Stock Market Move | Catering stocks collectively rebound, store optimization results are expected to be realized in the second half of the year. AI is becoming a new competitive barrier for chain catering.

The catering sector as a whole has rebounded, as of the time of writing, HELENS (09869) rose by 10.98% to 1.92 Hong Kong dollars; DPC DASH (01405) rose by 7.47% to 31.66 Hong Kong dollars; HAIDILAO (06862) rose by 4.14% to 11.05 Hong Kong dollars; JIUMAOJIU (09922) rose by 2.48% to 1.24 Hong Kong dollars. Wanlian Securities released a research report stating that the valuation of the social service sector has fallen to historical lows, and the market's pricing of the "weak reality" is relatively sufficient. In the chain catering sector, the trend of accelerated industry clearance and concentration of market share is clear. The top companies' store optimization and the results of exchanging volume for price are expected to gradually materialize in the second half of the year. It is recommended to focus on chain catering leaders that stabilize same-store data first and have outstanding supply chain capabilities. Orient pointed out that for chain brands with thousands or even tens of thousands of stores, the value of AI lies not only in improving consumer experience, but more importantly, in enhancing headquarters management radius, strengthening supply chain coordination, optimizing business decisions, promoting improvement in franchisee operating capabilities, optimizing single-store models, and increasing net store opening capabilities. In the future, industry competition will gradually extend from brand competition and product competition to operational efficiency competition driven by AI. Enterprises with accumulated AI capabilities and supply chain advantages are expected to continuously enhance their long-term competitiveness.