Dining chain should not duck overseas move

Unfortunately it was with no great surprise that a drop of nearly 30 percent in net profit year-on-year for 2013 was reported recently for Quanjude, one of China's leading brands in the catering sector.

This is in spite of the fact the company, with its chain of ultra-high-class duck restaurants, remains one of the most revered and respected Chinese brands, an integral part of Chinese food culture and history, steeped in nostalgia.

First established in 1864, during the Qing Dynasty, Quanjude enjoys an almost unrivaled status among the Chinese public with its heritage of roast duck preparation, using open ovens and non-smoky hardwood fuel that contributes to a subtle fruity flavor and a golden crispiness to the skin.