TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Wowprime Corp. said that it will expand the number of its hot pot and barbecue restaurants next year and recruit more than 1,200 employees as its sales continue to grow, CNA reported.
Wowprime, which also operates steak, Japanese, teppanyaki, and Taiwanese restaurants, is marking its 32nd year in business.
The company reported revenue of NT$17.32 billion (US$560.5 million) and a net profit of NT$995 million for the first nine months of this year. Third-quarter revenue reached NT$5.89 billion, up 2.36% year-on-year, marking the firm’s second-highest quarterly revenue.
The company plans to open five more restaurants in December, bringing 10 new openings in the fourth quarter. It will also adjust starting salaries, with store manager annual pay reaching up to NT$2 million.
The company will hold a year-end banquet for employees on Dec. 18 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, featuring nearly 1,000 tables. Regent Taipei will provide 124 chefs and 460 service staff for the event. The celebration will also feature a concert by popular singers and a lucky draw with 3,000 prizes totaling NT$10 million.
The company entered the Chinese market in 2003, opening Western, Japanese, and Chinese restaurants. The company has reported profit growth for six consecutive quarters since the second quarter of last year. In the third quarter of this year, its revenue in China reached NT$1.09 billion.
In November, the government distributed NT$10,000 to Taiwanese citizens, foreign permanent residents, and foreign spouses of nationals. To boost spending, the company launched restaurant discount vouchers, which have sold more than 40,000 since going on sale in October.
The company’s revenue fell 0.27% to NT$22.17 billion last year. However, its Taiwan operations rose 4.09% to NT$17.88 billion, with around 350 restaurants nationwide.
