Noodle Price War at Shandong University
A price war erupted at Jinan University when a campus supermarket attempted to force out a food stall vendor selling 3.5 yuan noodles by raising their own noodle prices to 10 yuan, sparking student protests and debate about campus business ethics.
A significant controversy has emerged at Shandong University in China, centered around what initially appeared to be a simple matter of noodle prices but quickly evolved into a larger debate about business ethics and student welfare on university campuses.
At the heart of the dispute is a food stall vendor at Shandong University’s cafeteria who offered affordable noodles at 3.5 yuan, with just a 0.5 yuan processing fee for students bringing their own noodles. This pricing made the stall extremely popular among students, who appreciated both the reasonable cost and the vendor’s friendly service.
The situation took a dramatic turn when a campus supermarket, seeing the food stall’s success, launched their own noodle service at 10 yuan per bowl. When their higher-priced offering failed to attract customers, the supermarket owner allegedly attempted to pressure the food stall vendor to raise prices. Upon the vendor’s refusal, reports suggest the supermarket owner leveraged connections within the university to force the food stall’s closure.
The supermarket owner’s subsequent behavior further inflamed tensions. When confronted about the pricing issues, they attempted to deflect criticism by mentioning their child’s attendance at Tsinghua University, a response that students found both irrelevant and condescending. The incident gained widespread attention on social media, with students reporting the matter to both university authorities and local market regulators.
The university’s initial response was notably passive, claiming the food stall’s closure was due to “personal reasons.” However, as public pressure mounted, university officials announced an investigation into the supermarket’s practices, requiring them to remove certain hot food items and implement clear pricing policies.
This incident reflects broader issues within Chinese university campuses regarding commercial operations and student welfare. The supermarket’s other pricing practices came under scrutiny, with students noting significantly marked-up prices on everyday items - charging 18 yuan for instant noodles typically priced at 5-6 yuan elsewhere, and 7 yuan for tissue packets usually costing 3-4 yuan.
The market supervision authorities have since intervened, launching an investigation into the supermarket’s pricing practices. While the supermarket has been ordered to suspend operations and make corrections, many students and observers argue these measures are insufficient given the broader implications of allowing such predatory business practices on campus.
The incident has sparked a larger conversation about the need for more effective oversight of campus commercial operations and better protection of student interests at Chinese universities. It serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor issues like noodle pricing can reveal significant problems in campus management and commercial regulation.