China eatery owner criticised for telling people earning US$680 a month not to dine out
Banu Hotpot founder Du Zhongbing sparked public outrage in China after suggesting people earning less than 5,000 yuan (US$680) per month shouldn't dine at his high-end restaurants. His comments, made at an industry symposium, were widely shared on social media, drawing criticism for being elitist and out of touch with the average consumer.
Du's initial statement that "hotpot is not intended to cater to grass roots customers" and his suggestion that those with lower incomes should opt for cheaper alternatives like malatang, fueled the backlash. Banu Hotpot, with an average per-person cost of 200 yuan (US$28) across its 140 mainland China locations, is positioned as a premium dining experience. Following the controversy, Du attempted to clarify his remarks, claiming they were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Banu Hotpot founder Du Zhongbing sparked public outrage in China after suggesting people earning less than 5,000 yuan (US$680) per month shouldn't dine at his high-end restaurants. His comments, made at an industry symposium, were widely shared on social media, drawing criticism for being elitist and out of touch with the average consumer.
Du's initial statement that "hotpot is not intended to cater to grass roots customers" and his suggestion that those with lower incomes should opt for cheaper alternatives like malatang, fueled the backlash. Banu Hotpot, with an average per-person cost of 200 yuan (US$28) across its 140 mainland China locations, is positioned as a premium dining experience. Following the controversy, Du attempted to clarify his remarks, claiming they were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
