"China Economic Weekly" reporter Hou Jun|Reporting from Beijing.
On February 25, Wahaha Group released an obituary, and its founder Zong Qinghou died of illness at 10:30 on the same day at the age of 79.
FMCG practitioners swiped the screen to mourn Zong Qinghou.
From witnessing the Dawa controversy to interviewing the two sessions every year, and then to interviewing Xiaobailou at Hangzhou Wahaha headquarters, etc., the reporter has seen too many labels on Zong Qinghou: "legend", "richest man", "strong", "low-key", "shrewd", "thrifty" ......
As a generation of Zhejiang businessmen, Zong Qinghou is a representative figure of the older generation of outstanding private economic entrepreneurs.
Chief Photojournalist of China Economic Weekly, Xiao Yi|Absorb.
** Lake that fights alone.
As soon as the reporter entered the industry, he knew the name "Zong Qinghou", and it was the time when the "Dawa dispute" was in full swing.
In the mid-to-late 90s of the last century, Wahaha developed rapidly and needed to expand its production capacity through scale expansion and cross-regional investment in building factories.
In 1996, Wahaha established five joint ventures with Danone Group of France with part of its fixed assets to produce products with the trademark "Wahaha", including purified water and eight-treasure porridge. At that time, Wahaha held 49% of the shares, and Danone and Peregrine held 51%. In the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, Hong Kong's Peregrine sold its stake to Danone, which jumped to a controlling position of 51%.
At the beginning of 2007, Danone wanted to acquire the shares of Wahaha's other non-joint venture companies for 4 billion yuan, but Zong Qinghou resisted. After that, Danone took Wahaha to domestic and foreign courts. This is the "Dawa Controversy" that has attracted the attention of the world.
At that time, the two sides launched a large-scale public relations war, and often gave interviews to build momentum for themselves.
Unlike foreign companies that have a strong legal team and public relations team, Wahaha Group is Zong Qinghou alone every time he comes out to see **.
If we don't make amends now, we will be guilty of the enterprise and the country! Zong Qinghou said back then.
He is often very emotional when he is interviewed, and he is also very good at breaking the news, and his reply is very timely when he contacts the interview. Although he speaks strong Zhejiang Mandarin, every time he is interviewed, he will throw out some remarks to reporters that "can be made into news headlines", "It's okay, that's what I said, don't show me the script." Zong Qinghou said.
So in the eyes of **, this is a "**lake", and he almost never brings a lawyer, let alone a public relations team, he can talk for two hours by himself, **sometimes he can't even ask questions.
In September 2009, Danone and Wahaha reached a settlement, and the "Dawa dispute" came to an end.
The Dawa dispute is not only a big collision between local brands and international brands in China's fast-growing FMCG industry in the Chinese market, but also provides legislative and judicial practice cases for the development of China's private enterprises, and brings many useful experiences and enlightenment to the growth and development of China's private enterprises.
China's strongest salesman and the person who understands the sinking market best.
An inconspicuous 5-storey small white building at No. 160 Qingtai Street in Hangzhou is the headquarters of Wahaha Group.
The reporter of China Economic Weekly has interviewed Zong Qinghou here many times.
The reporter was very impressed by the fact that there were many maps in Zong Qinghou's office, mainly regional maps of various provinces and counties in China. In addition to this, there are several trolley cases and a simple bed in the office.
According to Wahaha's veteran employees, Zong Qinghou is on a business trip for more than 200 days a year, ready to pick up the trolley case and go on the road at any time, and rest on the simple bed when he returns.
I'm an old-school person, not very particular, so everyone can relax a little bit in the interview. Zong Qinghou once told a reporter from China Economic Weekly.
Chief Photojournalist of China Economic Weekly, Xiao Yi|Absorb.
In China's FMCG industry, Zong Qinghou is best known for his creation of the "joint sales body" model.
For example, Wahaha once stipulated that dealers should first give Wahaha a "deposit" at the beginning of each year, which can be returned at the end of the year, and the interest will be given to dealers at an interest rate equal to or higher than that of bank deposits, so as to ensure the loyalty of dealers. At the same time, strictly divide the dealer system, carry out strict pricing, and demarcate the area for each dealer, it is strictly forbidden to go cross-linked, once violated, cancel the dealer qualification, and deduct the deposit.
Relying on the joint sales model, Wahaha has established a nationwide distribution system, with a sales network of more than 7,000 dealers, more than 100,000 wholesalers, and more than 5 million sales and retail terminals during the largest period. What's even more commendable is that this distribution system has realized the sales system development strategy of "rural areas surrounding cities", making Wahaha a household name. Today, many multinational companies have been committed to expanding China's sinking market, and Wahaha had already touched it at that time.
In the eyes of many people, Zong Qinghou can be said to be the strongest salesman in China's FMCG industry, and there is no one.
The thrifty business experience of the richest man in cloth shoes.
In 2010, 2012 and 2013, Zong Qinghou won the Forbes list of "China's richest man" three times.
He said in an interview with ** that he has been poor and tired since he was a child, so he often sits in the second class seat on business trips, and feels that there is nothing wrong with sitting in the second class.
Never mind. It doesn't matter what I say, I know how well I'm doing. In an interview with **, Zong Qinghou was very frank.
In particular, Zong Qinghou's daily work and life are very regular, he once described it like this: he usually has a meeting in the morning, and then works in the office, working almost 16 hours a day. More than 40 years.
Unlike many entrepreneurs who have achieved financial freedom at the age of 40, Zong Qinghou was 42 years old when he started his business.
I used to get a salary of more than 30 yuan for more than ten years, and I started a business in the hope of increasing my income and living a better life, which is the same as you young people who want to buy a house and a car to live a good life. Zong Qinghou said.
At the beginning of November 2020, the last time the reporter saw Zong Qing was at a booth at the Shanghai International Import Expo.
He told the reporter of "China Economic Weekly" that he will participate in many exhibitions every year and look at the booths. "Nowadays, people's demand for consumption is shifting from safety to health. Our products also need to be upgraded to solve the sub-health problems of the people, so I want to take a look at new products and good products this time. Only when people have money in their pockets can they have a happy and beautiful life. ”
Editor-in-charge |Guo Jiyao.