Uncle Bear

Uncle Bear (Xiong Da Ye) is a rapidly growing Chinese fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in freshly made dumplings and wontons. The company was founded in 2019 by Liu Junxiong, who, after successfully establishing another dumpling brand, sought to introduce Cantonese-style dumplings to the northern Chinese market. He identified a gap in the market, which was dominated by frozen dumplings, for fresh, hand-wrapped alternatives. The first Uncle Bear store opened in Beijing's Panjiayuan district in May 2019.

The company's business model is a hybrid of retail, restaurant, and takeaway services, described as "raw food for takeaway, cooked food for delivery, and dine-in". This approach targets both customers who want a quick meal and those who wish to stock their refrigerators. Uncle Bear strategically locates its small-footprint stores, typically around 10 square meters, in residential communities and near food markets to reduce overhead and embed itself in high-frequency consumer areas. Revenue is primarily generated through a franchise model, which allows for rapid expansion. The company provides comprehensive support to its franchisees, from site selection and training to operations and marketing.

Uncle Bear's core product offering is its hand-wrapped dumplings and wontons, made fresh in-store. The process is visible to customers through an open-kitchen design, enhancing transparency and trust. The company emphasizes a standardized 14-step process for making each dumpling, ensuring consistency in quality, from the thickness of the dough to the weight of the filling. A robust cold-chain logistics system supplies stores with centrally prepared ingredients, which are then combined with fresh vegetables on-site before being wrapped. Beyond dumplings, the product line has expanded to include noodles, breakfast items, and side dishes, catering to a wider range of tastes and meal times. The company has received significant financial backing, including an angel round in July 2020 and a Series A round in August 2021 led by Meituan Longzhu with participation from Tomato Capital.

Keywords: fresh dumplings, Chinese food chain, wonton restaurant, food franchise, community restaurant, fast-casual dining, food retail, takeaway food service, raw food sales, cooked food delivery, Liu Junxiong, Meituan Longzhu, Tomato Capital, restaurant chain, handcrafted dumplings, community-based retail, Asian cuisine, food and beverage, catering industry, foodservice