Consumer >> Analyst Interviews >> February 24, 2014

Restaurant Sales Growth and the Rise of Fast-Food Chains in China

Lai, Elaine
Elaine Lai is an Equity Analyst with extensive experience in Asian consumer, gaming and telecom sectors, and is currently at Macquarie Group Limited covering the supply chains of global apparel brands like Nike and Fast Retailing, cosmetics and restaurants. She is the first China-based Analyst to cover YUM! Brands, providing fresh perspectives on the American chain’s emerging market growth strategy. Ms. Lai travels extensively in China to find investment insights. Her thematic research in recent years covers a wide range of topics from social lending, cosmetics manufacturing, food safety to 3D knitting. Prior to Macquarie Group Limited, Ms. Lai worked in the asset management industry, first with UBS Wealth Management’s multi-asset class investment management division, then with Putnam Investment’s international large-cap equity division. Profile
TWST: What exactly is your coverage in the restaurant sector?

Ms. Lai: I am very much focused on anything that is close to Greater China, so that includes Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and