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The Covid crisis ripped through parts of the Chinese economy, but it was growth opportunity for companies catering to a community in lockdown. One food firm made its name during the pandemic by providing at-home diners with all the ingredients for a flavorsome hotpot.

Fresh from turning its first annual profit, pandemic beneficiary Guoquan Food (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. is now aiming to take its business to the next level with a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company brands itself as a leading one-stop shop for “eat at home” meals, providing ingredients for hotpot and barbecue through a network of franchise stores. By the end of last year, it boasted 9,221 Chinese outlets and ranked 59th on a list of China's top 100 unicorns in the new economy.