What 盛世千秋集团 - 张亮麻辣烫 Zhang Liang Spicy Hotpot does

Zhang Liang Malatang (张亮麻辣烫) is a China-origin chain restaurant brand founded in 2008 in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, operating under the legal entity Zhangliang Enterprise Management (Group) Co., Ltd. (张亮企业管理集团有限公司), with a franchising arm housed in Shanghai Shengshi Qianqiu Brand Management Co., Ltd. (上海盛世千秋品牌管理有限公司). The company operates a franchise-led, asset-light distribution model with 6,000+ stores across 370+ cities and 20+ countries spanning Asia, North America, Europe, and Oceania as of 2025–2026, of which 160+ are overseas and 10+ are directly operated by the company. Its core product is malatang — a customizable, self-select hot-pot dish built around a freshly simmered beef bone broth using a "one pot, one boil" (单锅单烫) preparation method, with 300+ ingredient SKUs across 8 categories and an expanded menu spanning dry-mix malaban, mushroom broth, tomato soup, and regional variants such as Tianshui and Tom Yum. The technology stack includes a proprietary "Liang Store Manager" (亮店掌) franchisee full-life-cycle operations system supporting remote ordering, sales tracking and diagnostics, an AI-powered food-safety inspection system (computer vision applied to daily store photos with closed-loop remediation) deployed across 6,000+ stores, and a nationally distributed cold-chain logistics network using an "upstream factory – provincial warehouse – franchise partner" model with T+1/T+2 delivery to core cities.

The business model is multi-stream: (i) initial franchise fees and ongoing royalties from licensed store openings, (ii) sales from a small portfolio of company-owned flagship and overseas stores, (iii) centralized supply-chain and ingredient sales to franchisees via partnerships with major suppliers such as Anjoy, Teway, Jinwei, Unilever, CJ, Cuihong and Nestlé, and (iv) retail self-heating malatang and malaban products sold through e-commerce. Two primary customer segments drive revenue: SMB entrepreneurs and individual investors purchasing franchise rights, and end consumers (mainstream diners, students, office workers, overseas Chinese diaspora) purchasing dine-in, delivery, and at-home products through channels including Meituan, Ele.me, Taobao Flash Sale and Douyin. The Shanghai headquarters (Pudong Qiantan) leads global franchise operations and overseas expansion, while the original Harbin headquarters serves as a global training center. Headcount at the parent entity is reported at 17, consistent with a franchise-oriented business where the operating labor sits with store-level franchisees rather than the central company. No external institutional funding, parent holding company, or public listing has been disclosed.

Name

盛世千秋集团 - 张亮麻辣烫 Zhang Liang Spicy Hotpot

Legal name

张亮企业管理（集团）有限公司

Website

https://zlmlt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zhang Liang Malatang is a Harbin-founded, franchise-led Chinese malatang chain with 6,000+ stores in 20+ countries, monetizing via franchise fees/royalties, centralized ingredient supply, company-owned flagships, and a self-heating retail product line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quick-Service Chinese Malatang Restaurant Chain

NAICS

Mayonnaise, Dressing, and Other Prepared Sauce Manufacturing (311941)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Prepared soups, stews & chili manufacturing (AFAKAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Canned Soups, Broths & Stews Manufacturing (AFAKACAE), Ethnic Spices, Herbs & Seasonings Wholesale (AFAIAIAF)

Keywords

• Malatang restaurant chain
• Chinese spicy hot pot
• Quick-service Chinese food
• Restaurant franchise system
• Cold-chain food supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Initial franchise fee income from new store openings plus ongoing royalties from existing franchise stores. Franchisees pay for brand licensing, training, store design, and operational support.
2. Company-Owned Store Sales: Direct revenue from company-owned and operated stores including flagship locations in China and overseas markets such as Singapore, USA, Japan, Australia.
3. Supply Chain and Ingredient Sales: Centralized procurement and distribution of core ingredients, sauces, and proprietary seasoning packs to franchisees nationwide, ensuring standardized quality and flavor consistency across all stores.
4. Retail Self-Heating Products: Self-heating malatang and malaban products sold through retail channels, extending brand presence beyond dine-in and delivery into household consumption and e-commerce scenarios.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Zhangliang Malatang operates a globally scaled malatang (Chinese spicy hot soup) restaurant chain offering self-select DIY ingredients cooked in freshly simmered beef bone broth using the signature "single pot, single boil" method. The business sells standardized restaurant operations through franchise licensing and direct company-owned stores, complemented by centralized supply chain distribution of proprietary sauces and ingredients to franchisees, and retail self-heating malatang products for at-home consumption.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 张亮麻辣烫自煮系列: Self-heating malatang and malaban (dry spicy mix) retail products for at-home consumption, featuring self-heating packaging technology.

Products and services

• Zhangliang Malatang Restaurant Franchise Franchise license for individual entrepreneurs and SMB investors to open and operate Zhangliang Malatang restaurants, including brand licensing, training, store design, supply chain access, and full-cycle operational support. Currently the primary growth engine with 6,000+ stores globally.
• Zhangliang Malatang Company-Owned Restaurants Directly operated flagship and standard stores providing dine-in malatang experiences with self-select ingredients, freshly simmered beef bone broth, and single-pot-single-boil preparation. Locations in Harbin (Haxi), Shanghai, Singapore, USA, Japan, Australia, and other key markets serving as brand showcases and operational benchmarks.
• Self-Heating Malaban (自煮麻辣拌) Retail Product Self-heating retail malatang and malaban products for at-home, office, student, and outdoor consumption. Features nine independent ingredient packets including luncheon meat, vegetables, dried vegetables, noodles, and multiple seasoning sachets with self-heating packaging technology.
• Tianshui Flavor Malatang (天水风味麻辣烫) Regional flavor variant malatang featuring Gansu Gangu chilies, Hanyuan red Sichuan peppercorns, and Yunnan green Sichuan peppercorns; ingredients finely ground and activated with 180°C hot oil for an authentic regional taste experience available in stores.
• Sour & Spicy Golden Broth (酸辣金汤) New sour and spicy broth variant featuring yellow lantern peppers and Xiaomi chilies; naturally fermented over 60+ days with lactic acid notes, available as a soup base option across Zhangliang Malatang stores.
• Centralized Supply Chain Ingredient Distribution Centralized procurement and distribution of core ingredients, proprietary sauces, and seasoning packs to franchisees nationwide through the cold-chain warehousing and delivery network. Ensures standardized quality and flavor consistency across all 6,000+ stores.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 260 million bowls of malatang sold globally in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 千早文化 (Qianzao Culture)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 June 2026Zhangliang partnered with Qianzao Culture to create the '6.10 Super Brand Day' live streaming event on Douyin. The inaugural broadcast achieved RMB 1 million+ GMV, 298万 exposures, 10万+ viewers, 1.9万+ buyers, and 2.6万+ orders. Content designed as interactive food variety show.
• 美团 (Meituan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Zhangliang Malatang partnered with Meituan and One Foundation to promote the 'Rural Children's Playground' public welfare project. Through per-transaction donations, Zhangliang's 6,000+ stores contributed to building safe, eco-friendly playgrounds for rural children in remote areas. As of 2025, 13 playgrounds have been built across 8 provinces, benefiting 1,300+ teachers and students. Zhangliang also collaborated with Meituan on the 55 Shopping Festival in Shanghai with platform-level promotional integration.
• 壹基金 (One Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Three-party collaboration with Meituan and One Foundation for the Rural Children's Playground initiative. One Foundation handles project site selection, construction standards, and on-ground implementation supervision. Zhangliang contributes construction funds and mobilizes franchisee participation. As of May 2026, 14 playgrounds built across 9 provinces, covering 6,000+ sqm of area.
• 饿了么 (Ele.me)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Zhangliang Malatang partnered with Ele.me's public welfare team for the 'Love Meal' (爱加餐) program, visiting rural schools in Yunnan province and providing nutritious meals to children.
• 淘宝闪购 (Taobao Flash Sale)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDuring Shanghai 55 Shopping Festival 2026, Zhangliang partnered with Taobao Flash Sale for integrated online-offline promotions. Offline activities at landmark locations (Huangpu River LED, metro stations) combined with platform-exclusive discounts. Achieved 5% weekly order growth and 300 additional daily orders. Integrated with Douyin Flash Sale as well.
• 黑龙江省青少年发展基金会 (Heilongjiang Youth Development Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership for 'Golden Autumn Education Assistance' (金秋助学) program. Since 2014, Zhangliang has been providing scholarships to high school graduates from impoverished families. Partnership also includes Hope Bookshelf (希望书屋) donations with computers and projectors for rural schools. Ongoing 10+ year collaboration.
• 哈尔滨文旅 (Harbin Culture & Tourism)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZhangliang partnered with Harbin Culture & Tourism Bureau for the 'Northeast Super Cool' marketing campaign. Self-heating malatang products were included in official Harbin tourism gift boxes. Brand featured on official tourism social media accounts with branded hashtags to attract domestic tourists.
• 安井 (Anjoy), 天味 (Teway), 今味 (Jinwei), 联合利华 (Unilever), 希杰 (CJ), 翠宏 (Cuihong), 雀巢 (Nestlé)coreOthersZhangliang has established long-term stable partnerships with major global and domestic food ingredient suppliers to ensure ingredient quality, safety, and traceability. Core seasonings and specialty ingredients are supplied centrally by headquarters, while fresh vegetables and meats use local procurement in overseas markets. Deep strategic relationships enable cost-efficiency and quality control.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Soup Restaurant (Soup Stock): Singapore-listed Chinese soup-based QSR chain. Comparable in soup-based heritage cuisine, franchise QSR model, and Asia-focused expansion, though with different menu (soup-focused) and concentrated in Singapore.

Broad incumbents

• Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡): China's largest coffee chain with aggressive tech-enabled store network and digital-first GTM. Comparable in rapid scale, China-wide distribution, supply chain logistics, and digital/Mobile-first consumer engagement.
• Xiabuxiabu (呷哺呷哺): Hong Kong-listed Chinese hot pot chain operator. Comparable in quick-service hot pot positioning and franchise/company-owned hybrid store model, though typically positioned at higher price points than Zhang Liang.
• Haidilao International (海底捞): Hong Kong-listed Chinese hot pot chain with global presence. Both operate in the hot/spicy food category with strong service culture but at very different price points. Comparable for brand reputation, supply chain scale, and international expansion playbook.
• Heytea (喜茶): Premium Chinese tea brand with significant store count and rapid expansion. Comparable in modern Chinese F&B brand building, digital marketing, and consumer engagement with younger demographics.
• Mixue (蜜雪冰城): China's largest F&B chain by store count (>36,000 globally), operating a franchise model targeting value-conscious consumers across beverages and ice cream. Closely comparable on franchise-driven scale economics, low price point, tier 3-5 city penetration, and global expansion ambitions.
• Juewei (绝味食品): Major Chinese F&B chain specializing in marinated/specialty meat snacks (duck neck) with 10,000+ franchise stores. Comparable in franchise-dominated scale model, supply chain centrality, and tier 3-5 city dominance in China.

Direct peers

• Zhengxin Chicken Steak (正新鸡排): Major Chinese street-food QSR franchise chain with thousands of stores. Comparable in price point, franchise model, tier 3-5 city penetration, and focus on standardized, easily-replicable QSR formats.
• Yang Guo Fu Malatang (杨国福麻辣烫): The largest direct competitor to Zhang Liang Malatang in the Chinese malatang restaurant chain category. Both operate franchise-based QSR models serving similar customer segments with broadly overlapping menus of customizable malatang bowls. Closest comparable in scale, geography, and category.

Emerging players

• Mala Xiang Guo operators (e.g., 麻六记): Emerging Chinese mala/spicy hot pot chain brand. Comparable in targeting the spicy hot food segment but with smaller scale and more limited geographic presence than Zhang Liang.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E7%9B%9B%E4%B8%96%E5%8D%83%E7%A7%8B%E9%9B%86%E5%9B%A2-%E5%BC%A0%E4%BA%AE%E9%BA%BB%E8%BE%A3%E7%83%AB-zhang-liang-spicy-hotpot

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 盛世千秋集团 - 张亮麻辣烫 Zhang Liang Spicy Hotpot