Following a scandal involving two intoxicated teens urinating in a hotpot at a Shanghai location, the renowned chain Haidilao has decided to refund and compensate over 4,000 affected diners.
Fast-Food Chain's Disturbing Incident Prompts Massive Compensation for Diners
Fast-Food Chain's Disturbing Incident Prompts Massive Compensation for Diners
Haidilao pledges refunds and cash compensation after shocking video surfaces of teenagers urinating in hotpot broth.
The world-renowned Chinese hotpot chain Haidilao is facing significant backlash after an incident involving two teenage patrons who urinated in hotpot broth at a Shanghai restaurant. The shocking event, which took place in a private dining room and was later circulated on social media, prompted the company to act swiftly in addressing the matter. The teenagers, aged 17, were reported to be under the influence of alcohol at the time and have since been detained by local authorities.
Ensuring customer safety and satisfaction, Haidilao has pledged to compensate over 4,000 diners who visited the outlet during the period surrounding the incident. The chain has assured its customers that no one consumed the contaminated broth, and it has undertaken extensive sanitation efforts, replacing all hotpot equipment and disinfecting utensils across the restaurant.
Management only learned of the incident after videos of it were widely shared online, not long after it occurred in late February. While the restaurant utilized personal hotpot pots for individual diners, uncertainty remained about the cleanliness of the affected cookware before being reused. The company issued an apology, recognizing the distress this incident could cause and emphasizing their commitment to rectify the situation.
As part of their compensation plan, Haidilao is offering full refunds along with cash payments amounting to ten times the total bill for customers who dined there between February 24 and March 8. Known for its exemplary customer service and family-friendly features, including manicures for women and candy for children waiting for tables, Haidilao's rapid expansion now includes over 1,000 locations worldwide, though this incident poses a significant challenge to its reputation and operational practices.
