Leading discount snack retail chains Zhao Yiming and Hao Xianglai have recently come under fire amid allegations of shortchanging customers through inaccurate weighing practices.

In Hebei, a customer purchased four pieces of beef jerky for 64.58 yuan based on the in-store scale reading, but an independent re-weighing revealed the actual cost should have been just 17.29 yuan. In Henan, another shopper was charged 111 yuan at checkout, only to see the bill drop to 64.8 yuan after requesting a second weigh-in.

Responding to these incidents, the Baotou Municipal Market Supervision Administration in Inner Mongolia launched a city-wide special inspection targeting the weighing practices of mainstream snack retail chains, including Hao Xianglai, Zhao Yiming, Qilou Snacks, and Cailiren. The campaign aims to strike hard at any illegal short-weighing behavior.

In Xinjiang County, Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, local regulators conducted a focused inspection of electronic pricing scales at chain stores operated by Snack Youming, Zhao Yiming, and Hao Xianglai.

Meanwhile, in Funing County, Jiangsu Province, market watchdogs initiated a dedicated rectification drive for the snack retail sector, inspecting major chains like Hao Xianglai and Zhao Yiming. Enforcement officers carried standard calibration weights to thoroughly examine the electronic scales in use. Where irregularities were found, such as improper scale management or missing measurement codes, the stores were ordered to rectify the issues promptly.

Who exactly is Zhao Yiming? The brand operates under the umbrella of BUSYMING Group. It was founded in January 2019 by Zhao Ding in Yichun, Jiangxi Province, named after the founder's son. The chain positions itself as a discount snack retailer.

In November 2023, Zhao Yiming merged with Snack Busy to form BUSYMING Group, with both brands operating independently while sharing supply chain and warehousing logistics systems. In January 2026, the group went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, becoming the first listed company in China's discount snack sector.

According to the latest financial report, BUSYMING generated revenue of 44.997 billion yuan in the first half of 2026, up 60.0% year-on-year. Net profit for the period reached 2.24 billion yuan, a surge of 155.4%. Overall gross margin improved to 11.53%, up 2.20 percentage points from the same period last year.

As of June 30, 2026, the company operated a total of 26,405 stores, a net increase of 4,457 locations since the end of 2025. Of these, 26,396 are franchise outlets, accounting for 99.97% of the total, while only 9 are company-owned. This asset-light franchise model has been the key driver behind the brand's rapid expansion.

Previously reported on August 10, a customer in Cangzhou, Hebei, complained that at a Zhao Yiming store, four beef jerky pieces weighing 0.299 kilograms were charged at 64.58 yuan. Upon re-weighing, the actual weight turned out to be 0.08 kilograms, priced at 17.29 yuan. The customer discovered that all items on the receipt had been overcharged by weight.

In response, the store owner claimed that surveillance footage showed no staff wrongdoing, and the scale itself passed inspection. The owner suggested the system may have malfunctioned, adding that the store manager had apologized and offered triple compensation for the entire order. However, the customer insisted on filing a formal complaint. Several netizens have previously posted online alleging weighing irregularities at Zhao Yiming stores.

As measurement issues in the snack retail industry grow increasingly prominent, market regulators across multiple regions have stepped up enforcement. In July 2026, the Bengbu Municipal Market Supervision Bureau in Anhui Province launched a special measurement inspection campaign targeting discount snack outlets, focusing on chains such as "Laiyoupin" and Zhao Yiming. Officers verified the integrity of seals on electronic scales, measurement accuracy, and the validity of mandatory calibration certificates.

In the same month, the Xiangshan County Market Supervision Bureau in Zhejiang Province conducted similar checks at stores operated by Zhao Yiming and "Laoban Daren". Inspectors used standard weights to calibrate each scale, examining whether mandatory inspection certificates were still valid and whether equipment seals remained intact.

Earlier, in Hanshan County, Anhui Province, regulators had already imposed administrative penalties on a Zhao Yiming outlet for using unverified measuring instruments.

Under the Consumer Rights Protection Law, businesses are prohibited from shortchanging customers by weight. If a merchant engages in fraudulent measurement practices, consumers are entitled to demand a refund of three times the purchase price as compensation. Electronic pricing scales are subject to mandatory national calibration requirements, and merchants must schedule periodic inspections, maintain the equipment properly, and ensure compliant usage. Tampering with measurement parameters or compromising weighing accuracy constitutes an illegal act. Market regulators will impose severe penalties on confirmed violations.

System malfunctions or equipment irregularities may be cited as objective causes, but they cannot exempt businesses from management accountability. Stores have a duty to ensure their weighing equipment is accurate and their checkout systems are reliable. Consumers should not bear the cost of a merchant's operational oversight failures.