- A fresh and digitally connected experience for urban
professionals
- Brings facial recognition payment solution to consumers for
the first time globally
SHANGHAI, Sept. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China Holdings,
Inc. ("Yum China") (NYSE: YUMC),
today announced that it has launched a new restaurant concept, KPRO
by KFC in Hangzhou, China.
Designed to offer a fresh, seasonal menu to a new generation of
sophisticated diners, the concept harnesses digital technology to
provide a modern and fully immersive dining experience.
"We are excited to launch KPRO – an exciting and fresh new
concept for young, tech savvy consumers who are keen to embrace new
tastes and innovations," said Joey
Wat, President and Chief Operating Officer of Yum China. "Developed to cater to China's
burgeoning population of urban professionals, KPRO offers a
creative, modern and seasonal menu with a wide range of dishes that
are freshly made-to-order. The restaurant is also made for the
digitally connected customers and integrates some of the latest
technologies from mobile ordering to facial recognition
payment."
The KPRO menu features seasonal produce and an assortment of
made-to-order salads, panini and roasted chicken, complemented by
freshly squeezed fruit juice, gourmet coffee, craft beer and
premium Cremia ice cream. The store is designed with a welcoming
"greenhouse" layout and an open kitchen where meals are freshly
prepared, creating a friendly and vibrant food market
atmosphere.
A key feature of the new restaurant, is the integration of
Alipay's new "Smile to Pay" facial recognition payment solution,
which enables customers to pay without the need to reach for their
wallets. Alipay's unique payment technology utilizes a multi-step
authentication process, including a facial scan and mobile phone
number, to verify the identity of customers and facilitate
payment.
The integration of 'Smile to Pay' in the new KPRO restaurant in
Hangzhou is the first commercial
application of the facial recognition payment technology
globally.
"Yum China has a history of
adopting innovative technologies to enhance in-store dining
experience and we could think of no better place to pilot this
advanced technology. Smile to Pay will bring another level of
convenience for customers," said Jidong
Chen, Ant Financial's director of biometric identification
technology. "We are excited to introduce Smile to Pay to KPRO
customers."
"Elevating the customer experience through new design, flavors
and technologies has always been central to our approach at KFC in
China," said Johnson Huang, General Manager, KFC. "We are
excited to partner with Alipay to bring the world's first
commercial application of the facial recognition payment solution
to our customers. With the adoption of the facial recognition
payment solution, KPRO customers can experience this ground
breaking technology while enjoying fresh and tasty meals prepared
in our open kitchen."
In addition to facial recognition payment, KPRO incorporates
other cutting-edge technology throughout the restaurant to provide
customers with a convenient and connected in-restaurant experience.
With no traditional ordering counter, customers are able to 'skip
the queue' by ordering at digital kiosks or using their mobile
phones to scan QR codes and order at their tables. KPRO staff then
serve the freshly prepared food directly to the tables – enabling
customers to enjoy their experience, without distraction.
For more images and b-roll please click on the following
links:
KPRO pictures:
http://www.yumchina.com/uploadfile/kpropicture.rar
KPRO b-roll: www.yumchina.com/uploadfile/kprovideo.rar
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all
forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact
that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and
by the use of forward-looking words such as "expect,"
"expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend,"
"belief," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "likely,"
"will," "should," "forecast," "outlook" or similar terminology.
These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions
made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical
trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as
well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and
reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance
that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and
are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties
that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results to
differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We
cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or
assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements
included in this press release are only made as of the date of this
press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update
any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances, except as required by law. Numerous factors could
cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation: whether we are able to achieve development goals at the
times and in the amounts currently anticipated, if at all, the
success of our marketing campaigns and product innovation, our
ability to maintain food safety and quality control systems, our
ability to control costs and expenses, including tax costs as well
as changes in political, economic and regulatory conditions in
China. In addition, other risks
and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently
believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such
forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should
be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty.
You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (including the information set forth under the captions
"Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K) for additional detail about factors that could
affect our financial and other results.
About Yum China Holdings, Inc.
Yum China Holdings, Inc. is a licensee of Yum! Brands in
mainland China. It has exclusive rights in mainland China to KFC,
China's leading quick-service restaurant brand, Pizza Hut, the
leading casual dining restaurant brand in China, and Taco Bell, which opened its first
restaurant in China at the end of
2016. Yum China also owns the Little
Sheep and East Dawning concepts outright. Yum China is well positioned for growth thanks
to its strong competitive position, integration of its brands into
Chinese popular culture and consumers' daily lives, expanding
geographic footprint in China and
existing operational expertise. It has a strong capital position,
no external debt and expects to continue growing its system sales
and profit by adding new restaurants and through growing same-store
sales. Yum China had more than 7,600
restaurants and more than 420,000 employees in over 1,100 cities at
the end of May 2017. A new generation
of younger consumers who are digitally sophisticated and brand
driven are fueling growth in consumption in China. The ongoing growth of the middle class
and urban population in China is
expected to create the world's largest market for restaurant
brands, with Yum China poised to be
the market leader.
Yum China Media Contacts:
Forest Liu, Director, Finance
Media, at +86 21 2407 7505
Ben Fry, Brunswick Group, at +86 21
6039 6388
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SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc