Instant hot pot (photo/Hai Di Lao)

Hai Di Lao, one of China’s giant hot pot chains, recently announced a joint venture with YiHai International Holdings Limited and Xinpai (Shanghai) Catering Management Co. Ltd. to mass produce a self-heating hot pot.

Self-heating hot pots, also called instant hot pots, are the latest development in the hot pot industry. With everything pre-prepared in a small sealed paper box, one instant hot pot merely costs around 30 yuan ($4.45). Pour in hot water, wait for 15 minutes, and a warm and delicious hot pot is ready to serve.

Compared to take-out hot pot, instant hot pot can not only provide people with a feast at home, but can also spare them the trouble of placing the ingredients into the box by themselves. "Instant hot pot will bring about more possibilities for eating hot pot. For example, one can eat alone, during a trip, or when on a picnic," said Lei Xing, chairman of Da Long Yi Hot Pot, another famed hot pot chain in China.

According to a report released by meituan.com, a Chinese online group buying and take-out food service platform, hot pot orders in 2017 has made up more than 20 percent of its total revenue. In recent years, due to its ease, hot pot restaurants have been replicated rapidly nationwide. Instant hot pot is the latest attempt made by industry big names to survive in the competition.

In all fairness, the success of Hai Di Lao’s instant hot pot still remains to be seen. Hai Di Lao is famous for its considerate service and the strength of its instant hot pot has yet to be discovered.

(People's Daily Online, July 27, 2017)