"No reform and opening up, no Wahaha" : founder of China's drinks, snacks giant

2019-01-29 16:21:30 source: CCTV Plus客户端

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"No reform and opening up, no Wahaha," said Zong Qinghou, chairman of Wahaha Group, a drinks and snacks giant in China. Zong, who is already 73 years old, still keeps trying and driving the group to move forward by innovation. At a production base in east China’s Hangzhou City, many processes are completed by robots self-developed by Wahaha Group. The group has also established an electromechanical research institute to further develop intelligent equipment. "To respond to our country's call, we not only make robots for ourselves, we're also seeking to enter high-tech industry," said Zong. Zong is always good at seizing opportunities. In 1986, China launched a policy to encourage multiform management contract responsibility system. With a loan of 140,000 yuan, Zong contracted a money-losing sales department of a school and started up his own business by processing oral liquid. "The reform and opening up gave us a chance. I used to be an ordinary worker at a school-run workshop. The management contract responsibility system gave me a chance, a platform to start my own business," said Zong. In 1988, Zong established the Hangzhou Wahaha Nutritional Foods Factory to make nutritious drinks for children, with the sales volume that year reaching nearly five million yuan. In three years, under his leadership, the output value of the factory exceeded 200 million yuan. To further expand production, with the support of local government, the factory in 1991 was merged with the Hangzhou Canned Food Factory which was heavily in debt. "In others' eyes, it was a great burden. Actually, I took three months to make it profitable. The merge with the canned food factory was a key step for us to move a small company toward a giant," said Zong Qinghou. Wahaha has become a well-known brand and the largest beverage producer in China. However, Zong still works more than ten hours every day, proving hard work can change the fate of a person and a company. "China experiences 40 years of reform and opening-up. Wahaha is 31 years old. So to speak, I caught up with good times. The country is greatly encouraging the development of private companies. I appreciate the Party and will work harder to make Wahaha a century-old brand and make more contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," said Zong.