On August 29th, recent media coverage suggested that Healthcare Co.,Ltd. founder Ni Zhanggen had criticized the quality of pillows from Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited in a video, warning consumers against "blindly believing in the so-called Atour brand." Ni reportedly stated that Mlily had previously served as a contract manufacturer for Atour, adding, "We are the source factory, not to boast, but to show that when it comes to sleep products, we truly understand them and dare to scrutinize them rigorously." These remarks quickly ignited widespread public debate.
In response, Ni Zhanggen took to his personal social media platform to issue a clarification, stating, "Regarding my comments about Atour, I want to clear things up. Recently, many people online have been taking things out of context, accusing me of defaming Atour. But most of the voices attributed to me are not mine. I hold respect for Atour; I simply wanted to explain a principle and hope everyone can view this rationally."
Ni elaborated on the reasoning behind his original statement, saying, "Some platforms recently claimed that I said Atour's pillows are bad, but that's not the issue. Why did I mention it? The human head has a natural curve. It's a simple question: if we want something to support the head, is a flat surface better, or one that conforms to the curve? This is basic physics. If a pillow is flat, like a hypothetical bread pillow, there are gaps where it doesn't touch the head, and it won't support the cervical spine. With a curved design, you don't need to adjust the pillow; it naturally fits the neck, distributing pressure more evenly. Clearly, a contoured pillow helps us sleep more soundly."
Ni emphasized, "When I refer to 'not good,' I am specifically talking about the pillow's shape, not attempting to disparage Atour. I have great respect for Atour; they are the most successful pillow seller in China today, not one of them, as they sell better than Mlily. I express my admiration for them. Moreover, I was once a very good friend of Atour's founder. I just pointed out one specific aspect, and some individuals twisted my words. These people seem to thrive on creating chaos. My intention was merely to explain the logic, not to manufacture conflict."
According to Mlily's official website, the brand originated in 2003 and was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2016. Based on Mlily's 2025 financial report, the company's revenue increased by 5% year-on-year to 8.9 billion yuan, with losses narrowing by 94% to 9.82 million yuan. By product category, Mlily sells mattresses, pillows, sofas, and more. Pillows account for approximately 7% of total revenue, with pillow sales in 2025 edging up 0.7% to 600 million yuan.
On August 20th, Atour released its results for the second quarter and first half of 2026. For the first half, the company's net revenue reached 6.302 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 44.1%, while net profit attributable to shareholders grew 51.3% to 1.011 billion yuan. Notably, the retail business, which includes Atour Planet brand products such as pillows, mattresses, and pillowcases, saw revenue surge 97% year-on-year to 3.8 billion yuan. In the earnings report, Atour Group attributed the strong performance of its retail segment to increased brand awareness for Atour Planet, which encompasses bedding items like pillows, mattresses, and pillowcases.