Zong Qinghou, the founder and chairman of Hangzhou Wahaha Group, China’s leading beverage manufacturer, passed away on February 25 at the age of 79. Tens of thousands of Wahaha employees, dealers, citizens and others spontaneously expressed their condolences and laid flowers to bid farewell. More than 200,000 people have sent flowers and condolences online in the online condolence hall of Wahaha’s official public account.

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As one of the most respected representatives of China’s first generation of entrepreneurs since the country embarked on reform and opening-up in 1978, Zong’s down-to-earth style and innovative spirit greatly impressed the public. He was remembered for innovative ideas, humble lifestyle, concern for others.

Born in 1945 in Suqian, Jiangsu province, Zong took over a small grocery store at a school in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in 1987, and worked as a distributor of soft drinks and popsicles for children.

In 1989, he founded Hangzhou Wahaha Nutritional Food Factory, which became Hangzhou Wahaha Group two years later after the acquisition of a local canned food factory on the verge of bankruptcy.

In 1996, Zong launched Wahaha AD calcium milk, which became a great hit with Chinese consumers.

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As one of the most iconic figures in Chinese business history, Zong was ranked as the country’s richest person in 2010, 2012 and 2013 by business magazine Forbes.

The company’s products now cover more than 200 categories, including purified water, milk and yogurt drinks, carbonated drinks, fruit and vegetable juice, tea and coffee drinks, with its sales revenue reaching 51.2 billion yuan ($7.1 billion) in 2022. It has nearly 30,000 employees and 81 production bases nationwide.

Despite his huge fortune, Zong led a modest life and diligently worked from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. He slept in a bedroom located in the same building as his office and was known for his calm and soft-spoken demeanor.

He preferred simple meals like porridge and noodles from the company canteen. The tycoon often traveled alone on business trips carrying a single suitcase and once went second-class on a bullet train, chatting to and befriending other passengers. He lived frugally, and it was common to see him dressed in a white shirt and black cloth shoes.

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He once said, “I am an ordinary person, but luckily I was born in such an era.” He said that Wahaha would not exist without reform and opening-up.

He said that Chinese entrepreneurs should fulfill their social responsibilities, and create wealth for the people, adding that they should create more employment opportunities and participate in public welfare activities, contributing to the country’s economic and social development.

Zong attached great importance to technological innovation, which was conducive to ensuring the quality and diversity of Wahaha’s products in a highly competitive market, and providing strong impetus to the company’s sustainable growth.

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