Rotating Hot Pot Sector Surges Toward 50,000 Stores: Smart Equipment and Durable Technology Become Key to Breaking Through

I. Explosive Market Growth Intensifies Labor Challenges

Rotating hot pot is experiencing an unprecedented wave of expansion. According to industry data, the rotating hot pot market surpassed RMB 40 billion in 2025, representing year-on-year growth of approximately 14%, with total stores nationwide reaching 48,000. By 2026, the latest figures show the store count approaching 50,000. The segment centers on the "single-diner" dining scenario, characterized by low average ticket prices, high table turnover rates, and flexible business models — making it one of the most promising growth areas in the catering industry.

While stores multiply rapidly, labor cost pressures are rising in parallel. A rotating hot pot store of around 50 square meters can operate with 3 to 5 staff members on a regular basis, compared to 6 to 10 for a traditional hot pot restaurant, saving RMB 8,000 to 12,000 per month in labor costs. However, as the number of stores surges, the shortage of professional catering talent and the annual increase in labor costs remain prominent pain points. In 2025, the global catering industry saw labor costs rise 9.8% year-over-year.

As recruitment and retention difficulties become the industry norm, reducing reliance on manual labor has become an imperative. The combination of smart equipment and durable technology is emerging as a key path for rotating hot pot brands to break through these challenges.

II. Smart Delivery Systems: Replacing Labor with Technology

HaiSheng's Restaurant Rotating Hot Pot Conveyor Belt Equipment can be integrated with a variable-track intelligent food delivery car system, delivering significant operational efficiency gains for rotating hot pot restaurants.

The smart delivery vehicles operate on independent tracks, equipped with embedded chips that connect to the restaurant's control system and receive orders from customers' ordering terminals. Once an order is placed, the delivery car departs from the kitchen and navigates precisely to the designated table. The entire process enables accurate delivery, U-turns, obstacle avoidance, and intelligent error correction. A single smart delivery train can carry multiple individual orders simultaneously, replacing at least two manual servers.

In terms of delivery efficiency, the variable-track system combines advanced track-switching and conveyance technology, enabling smooth navigation through curves and complex paths. The automatic routing system calculates the optimal delivery route based on the order's destination, significantly improving overall work efficiency. The global market for restaurant delivery robots exceeded US$4.72 billion in 2025, up 34.6% from the previous year, with the Chinese market accounting for over 41% of unit sales. Smart delivery equipment is transitioning from "novelty purchase" to "efficiency-driven procurement."

For operational stability, HaiSheng's equipment features reinforced anti-slip and anti-tilt platforms, with protective guards and optimized surface flatness that minimize dish displacement during transport. The power control system ensures smooth starts, stops, and steering, reducing vibration and preventing spillage. The equipment can be calibrated to perform reliably on different floor surfaces, maintaining a stable operating posture even in complex environments.

For hygiene maintenance, the conveying channels and load platforms of the track-based delivery system are easy to clean thoroughly on a regular basis, removing residual food debris and odour molecules. Built-in ventilation units promote air circulation and keep the internal environment fresh, minimizing flavour transfer between dishes.

For dining experience enhancement, the smart delivery vehicles can be custom-designed to resemble trains, spaceships, or other themed characters — adding visual appeal and interactive fun. This customisation feature is especially popular among younger consumers, helping restaurants differentiate themselves in a highly competitive market.

III. Robust Engineering: Stability, Silence, Durability

At the core technology level, HaiSheng's Restaurant Rotating Hot Pot Conveyor Belt Equipment incorporates several proprietary innovations:

Twin-Layer Stabilised Frame Structure. Adopting Japanese craftsmanship with continuous engineering upgrades, the twin-layer frame greatly enhances load-bearing capacity. Even when the rotating hot pot conveyor belt exceeds 30 metres in total length, the system remains stable and smooth — effectively eliminating common issues such as vibration, abnormal noise, and chain jamming.

Acrylic Silent Chain. The rotating chain is made of acrylic silent material, providing smooth, wear-resistant, and stable operation. Acrylic silent chains are widely recognized in the industry as a premium choice, delivering quiet and aesthetically pleasing performance with minimal post-installation maintenance issues. Combined with a precision drive system, equipment noise levels are kept to a minimum, creating a quiet and comfortable dining environment — a critical advantage as noise control regulations for dining establishments become increasingly stringent across regions.

Adjustable Tension Mechanism. HaiSheng's proprietary adjustable tension device allows operators to flexibly adjust chain tightness according to actual usage conditions. This design effectively extends equipment service life and reduces maintenance costs, providing reliable assurance for long-term store operations.

Modular Design. The entire system is built on a modular architecture, with components manufactured in modules at the factory and assembled quickly on site. Installation timelines are significantly shortened compared to traditional methods. Should any section of the conveyor belt require repair, only the affected module needs to be replaced — without dismantling the entire line, allowing other seating areas to continue operating normally. Against the backdrop of the domestic rotating catering equipment market maintaining a CAGR of over 12%, modular design significantly reduces the time and labour costs associated with store expansion and maintenance.

IV. Customised Solutions: Tailored to Every Restaurant's Needs

Rotating hot pot restaurants are increasingly located in prime commercial areas, where irregular floor plans, supporting pillars, and other spatial constraints are common. Maximising seating capacity within limited space directly impacts revenue and profitability.

HaiSheng's Restaurant Rotating Hot Pot Conveyor Belt Equipment can be customised according to each restaurant's operational requirements, spatial structure, and investment budget. Regardless of floor area or layout complexity, the company provides precise space-adaptation solutions. In addition to the core conveyor system, supporting accessories such as ambient LED lighting, overhead exhaust systems, and multi-functional drawers are available to help restaurants create a distinctive dining environment.

V. Global Presence, Trusted by Leading Chains

With 16 years of manufacturing experience in rotating hot pot and conveyor belt sushi equipment, HaiSheng operates a 10,000-square-meter smart factory and employs an engineering team of over 100 professionals. The company offers a full-service package — from design planning, R&D and manufacturing, production testing, to installation and maintenance. Its products have been exported to more than 20 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. The equipment holds CE certification, NSF food equipment certification, and UL safety certification, meeting the most stringent food safety and electrical safety standards worldwide.

Leading chains such as Haidilao, Little Sheep, Shengxiangting, Yiwei Feiniu, Longge Small Hot Pot, Xijia Self-Service Hot Pot, and Maguangguang Rotating Hot Pot have established long-term partnerships with HaiSheng. As the rotating hot pot sector continues to expand — with the latest 2026 data approaching 50,000 stores nationwide — demand for high-quality, intelligent, and customisable Restaurant Rotating Hot Pot Conveyor Belt Equipment will only intensify. HaiSheng Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. remains committed to leveraging its 16 years of technical expertise and global service experience to help restaurant brands navigate industry challenges with smart equipment and robust engineering, and to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.