Transparency

China’s pre-prepared meal industry is booming, driven by lifestyle changes, advancements in technology, and a growing demand for convenient food options. Over 8,000 new ready-to-eat meal companies have registered this year, bringing the total to over 73,000. Experts emphasize the need for improved quality, flavor, and transparency, including clear labeling in restaurants, to ensure consumer trust and broader acceptance of pre-prepared meals.

Meituan’s Pinhão delivery platform launches the “Million Kitchen Showcase” to enhance food safety and transparency. The initiative partners with 200,000 merchants, providing consumers real-time kitchen access via images, texts, and live streams. Meituan aims to encourage one million merchants to adopt “open kitchen” setups, offering support and subsidies for live streaming. Pinhão now features storefront, dining area, and kitchen images alongside menus. Nearly 300,000 merchants already uploaded these visuals. Pinhão, with over one million merchants and 35 million daily orders, features more than 5,000 established restaurant brands.

The AI industry faces a “Safety-Velocity Paradox” where rapid innovation clashes with responsible development. A public disagreement highlighted the tension between releasing cutting-edge models and ensuring transparency and safety through public system cards and detailed evaluations. While AI safety efforts exist, they often lack public visibility due to the pressure to accelerate development in the AGI race against competitors. Overcoming this paradox requires industry-wide standards for safety reporting, a cultural shift towards shared responsibility, and prioritizing ethical considerations alongside speed.

An investigation reveals potential double standards in the restaurant industry, where some establishments allegedly use premium ingredients for dine-in customers while offering cheaper alternatives to delivery orders. This disparity, fueled by a lack of oversight and cost pressures, compromises food quality for delivery. The report highlights the need for industry regulation, transparent practices, and innovative solutions like “live kitchen streams” to ensure consistent quality and pricing, ultimately building consumer trust in the food delivery ecosystem.

Glenbrook Capital, a Tejon Ranch shareholder, is questioning the sudden departure of CFO Brett Brown, citing a lack of transparency from the board. Glenbrook’s Chairman, Grover Wickersham, expressed concerns over the inadequate disclosure surrounding Brown’s exit, urging independent directors to provide a full explanation. The fund also reiterates its support for a shareholder proposal allowing shareholders owning 10% of shares to call a special meeting, aiming to restore trust and accountability.

OTC Markets Group has launched OTCID™ Basic Market, replacing the Pink Current tier. This new market emphasizes consistent, ongoing disclosure for companies seeking U.S. investor engagement, requiring quarterly/annual financials and certifications. This move aims to enhance transparency, reduce investor apprehension, and improve market quality by providing reliable issuer data. Companies failing to meet these standards are now classified into Pink Limited™ or Expert Restricted markets.

Dorvi, a feminine hygiene brand co-founded by Huang Zitao, addressed consumer concerns about black specks in its products. The brand clarified these are harmless byproducts of the manufacturing process, exceeding industry visual inspection standards. Dorvi is offering replacements, emphasizing transparency and inviting feedback. Huang Zitao also issued a statement, inviting media and customers to observe the production, including online oversight for all existing customers.

Yu Donglai, founder of China’s Pangdonglai Group, responded to recent scrutiny (May 17, 2025) by affirming regulatory compliance and launching a “Crystal Transparency” initiative. The strategy includes open store audits, sharing proprietary metrics via official channels, and blockchain-enabled inventory tracking achieving 98.6% accuracy. With 32% of annual profits invested in employee welfare and 85% of consumers reporting increased trust post-verification, the company also threatened legal action against malicious misinformation while welcoming institutional oversight, signaling potential industry transparency shifts amid rising Chinese retail sector visibility demands.