Zong Fuli's "exodus" turmoil: business dilemmas and public sentiment under the succession problem of family business
Wahaha, the national beverage brand that carries the childhood memories of generations, has recently been in a uproar due to an internal power struggle. Zong Qinghou's "successor", Princess Wahaha Zong Fuli's resignation, made this old enterprise the focus of public opinion for a while. Interestingly, as events unfolded, it was discovered that Zong Fuli had already created her own beverage brand "Yicha" in a low-key manner. For a while, the call for "abandoning Wahaha and switching to a tea" was everywhere. Behind this farce is the succession problem that Chinese family businesses generally face, as well as the subtle game between consumer emotion and business rationality.
Not to mention whether Zong Fuli will really leave Wahaha, just looking at the thousands of waves stirred up by this turmoil is enough for us to have a deeper understanding of the complexity of China's consumer market. First of all, I have to admire Zong Fuli's business sense. As early as 2016, it launched the "Yicha" brand in a low-key manner, which not only avoided head-on competition with Wahaha, but also left a way back for itself. This proactive approach shows her foresight as a new generation of entrepreneurs.
What's even more interesting, however, is the reaction of consumers. When the existence of "One Tea" was exposed, a large number of netizens immediately expressed their intention to support Zong Fuli with practical actions. This near-blind support is not so much an endorsement of the product itself as it is an emotional projection. In the eyes of many people, Zong Fuli has become a representative of the disadvantaged group who "resists family oppression", and supporting her brand seems to have become a "standing in line" behavior.
This phenomenon can't help but remind people of the uproar caused by the "Li Ziqi incident" some time ago. is also the head of a well-known brand, and has also encountered internal disputes, and has also won the sympathy and support of a large number of netizens. This kind of "standing on the sidelines" consumer psychology seems to have become a norm in the current era of social media in China.
However, we have to be wary of the possible negative effects of this emotional consumption. First of all, overly emotional consumption decisions often lack rational judgment, which may lead consumers to ignore the quality and value of the product itself. Secondly, this kind of "standing in line" consumption may also be used by some unscrupulous businesses to create false contradictions to win sympathy. Finally, if this consumer psychology is abused, it may distort the market competition environment and be detrimental to the healthy development of the industry.
Returning to the case of Wahaha and "One Tea", it is not difficult to find that behind this turmoil is actually the succession problem commonly faced by Chinese family enterprises. As the founder, Zong Qinghou obviously has a strong desire to control the enterprise. As a new generation, Zong Fuli hopes to have more autonomy and development space. This kind of generational conflict is not uncommon among many family businesses in China, but Wahaha has exposed it to the public eye because of its brand recognition.
So, in the face of this situation, how should consumers look at it rationally?
First of all, we need to recognize that personnel changes within the company do not necessarily affect the quality of products. Whether it is Wahaha or "Yicha", whether it can win the market depends on the competitiveness of the product itself. Blind boycott or support can make us miss out on a truly high-quality product.
Second, we need to be wary of over-substituting personal emotions into business behavior. Supporting a brand should not be based solely on sympathy for its founder, but on the basis of a comprehensive consideration of product quality, corporate culture, social responsibility and other factors.
Finally, as consumers, we can actually participate in this discussion in a more active way. For example, we can rationally evaluate the products of two brands and give constructive opinions; We can pay attention to the broader social issue of family business succession and contribute our own thinking; We can even take this opportunity to reflect on our own consumption habits and consumption concepts.
In general, the turmoil between Zong Fuli and Wahaha is far more than just a gossip news. It reflects the dilemma faced by Chinese family businesses, the conflict of values between the old and new generations, and the game between consumers' emotions and rationality. In the face of such a complex situation, what we need is not to simply take sides, but to think and act more rationally and constructively.
After all, in this ever-changing market, the products and brands that can continue to create value for our lives are always the ones that can really attract consumers for a long time. Whether it is Wahaha or "Yicha", whether it can become the next national brand depends on excellent product quality and excellent corporate culture.
So in the end, I would like to ask: in the face of this turmoil, will you choose to support Wahaha or "Yicha"? Or do you have any other opinions? Feel free to leave a message in the comment section and let's explore this interesting topic together.