The founder of China’s Zhulijian elderly shoes, Zhang Jingkang, along with associated companies, has been recently designated as dishonest executors by the court, with the involved amount being approximately 1.95 million yuan. Once a prominent brand boasting over 4,700 stores and achieving an annual revenue peak of 4 billion yuan, Zhulijian now finds itself grappling with the founder’s credit issues, overwhelming debts, and the urgent quest for new business growth avenues.
The journey from rapid expansion to financial pressure reflects the broader challenges faced by China’s consumer market and private enterprises.
According to a compilation of reports from various Chinese media outlets including Dahe Daily, Southern Metropolis Daily, and Daily Economic News, recent records from Tianyancha indicate that Zhang Jingkang, as well as Zhang Shaokang, Xin Junlan, and Suixian Zhulijian Footwear Co., Ltd. were declared dishonest executors by the Feixi County Court in Anhui province for refusing to fulfill obligations outlined in legally effective documents, amounting to over 1.95 million yuan.
Prior to this, several companies associated with Zhang Jingkang had already been marked as dishonest executors and faced high consumption restrictions.
Headquartered in Suixian County, Shangqiu City in Henan Province, Zhulijian Footwear Co., Ltd. was established in 2017 with Zhang Jingkang as the legal representative. The company’s operations encompass production and sales of shoes and shoe materials, along with fitness equipment, foot massage machines, and other massage devices. Zhang Jingkang holds a 51% stake, while Zhang Shaokang possesses 49%.
As for the company’s current operational status, a customer service representative from Zhulijian confirmed recently that production and operations are proceeding normally, and shoes are still being sold as usual.
Previous reports have highlighted that following the establishment of the Zhulijian elderly shoe brand, Zhang Jingkang gained rapid market traction thanks to its products aimed at the aging population. The brand subsequently expanded through nationwide recruitment, at one point operating over 4,700 physical stores across China.
By 2020, Zhulijian’s annual revenue soared to between 3 billion to 4 billion yuan. According to market research firm Euromonitor International, from 2020 to 2024, Zhulijian’s elderly shoes consistently ranked first in sales within the Chinese market.
Prominent figures such as actor Zhang Kaili, volleyball player and coach Lang Ping, and the pop music group “Phoenix Legend” have all endorsed the Zhulijian brand over time.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown policies severely impacted the production and marketing capabilities of Chinese enterprises, with Zhulijian being no exception. As reported by company insiders, by October 2023, the number of offline stores had diminished to approximately 3,000, indicating a significant contraction.
Additionally, Zhulijian is battling substantial debt pressures. Previous reports from Chinese entrepreneurs noted that by the end of 2024, the company is expected to still have around 700 million yuan in outstanding debts. A staggering 70% to 80% of the company’s annual revenue is currently allocated towards debt repayment.
In light of this financial strain, Zhulijian has started exploring cross-industry ventures, branching out from the elderly shoes market into the broader elderly health consumer market.
In May 2025, Zhulijian officially launched an organic food mini-program, expanding its business scope to include organic foods, low-GI products, and health supplements.
The company’s recruitment manual for organic food indicates plans to establish 100 member stores in Henan by the end of 2025, 600 stores in 2026, and aim for a total of 2,000 stores by 2027.
However, the critical question that remains is whether this transition from elderly shoes to organic foods can generate sufficient cash flow to sustain the company’s operations, capturing the attention of industry observers.