Hangzhou Wahaha Group Chairman Zong Fuli may use the new brand “Wah Xiaozong” instead of the Wahaha brand, sparking attention online. Currently, Hangzhou State-Owned Assets holding 46% of Wahaha Group’s shares. Netizens speculate that Zong Fuli may have had a falling out with Hangzhou State-Owned Assets.
According to reports from mainland China, Zong Fuli, the head of Wahaha Group, may abandon the 38-year-old old brand “Wahaha” and adopt the new brand “Wah Xiaozong.”
On September 13, an internal document titled “Notice on Conducting Communication Work with Distributors for the 2026 Sales Year” was leaked from Hangzhou Wahaha Honghui Food and Beverage Co., Ltd. The document mentioned that “since the founder of Wahaha Group passed away, the company has been working to address various historical legacy issues,” to maintain the compliance of the “Wahaha” brand. The company has decided to switch to using the new brand “Wah Xiaozong” starting from the new sales year in 2026.
The notice also stated that under the current equity structure, the use of the “Wahaha” trademark requires unanimous consent from all shareholders of Wahaha Group. Otherwise, no party has the right to use it. As a result, the company will seek opinions from a wide range of distributors and continue to communicate with relevant shareholders on the use of the “Wahaha” trademark.
The document was signed by seven companies, including Hangzhou Wahaha Honghui Food and Beverage Co., Ltd., and others associated with Zong Fuli, the chairman and general manager of Wahaha Group. For example, the legal representatives of Hangzhou Wahaha Honghui Food and Beverage Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Wahaha Food and Beverage Marketing Co., Ltd., and Lhasa Hongsheng Marketing Co., Ltd., are all Zong Fuli. They are wholly owned by Hangzhou Hongchen Marketing Co., Ltd., which is in turn 100% owned by Hongsheng Beverage Group Co., Ltd. Hangzhou Henghui Information Technology Co., Ltd., with Zong Fuli as its executive director, is directly owned by Hongsheng Beverage Group Co., Ltd.
According to Tianyancha, the trademark of “Wah Xiaozong” currently belongs to Hongsheng Group, with a trademark application date in May 2025.
From February to May 2025, according to China Fund News, Hongsheng Beverage Group Co., Ltd. has applied for a total of 45 “Wah Xiaozong” trademarks, covering various fields such as alcoholic beverages, convenient food, food and medicine, catering, accommodation, office supplies, clothing and shoes, education and entertainment, and packaging materials.
On September 13, according to Lanjing News quoting multiple sources, enterprises in the Hongsheng group will officially launch a new brand, “Wah Xiaozong,” next year. This means that the “Wahaha” brand may gradually withdraw from the business system led by Zong Fuli starting from the new sales year in 2026.
On the morning of the 14th, “21st Century Economic Report” sought confirmation from Wahaha Group, who responded with “no comment” on the matter.
This news has sparked attention online.
Prominent photographer “Feiyang Faji” posted on social media, saying that “Zong Fuli is often called ‘Xiaozong Chief’ internally, and in May this year, she launched a sugar-free tea beverage named ‘Wah Xiaozong.’ Could it be that Wahaha will now focus on this brand?”
Investment content creator and Weibo influencer “Lang Zhu Huitou Lindeng Wan” said, “Wahaha is changing its name to Wah Xiaozong, otherwise they have to give money to Hangzhou State-Owned Assets, which means they are completely bypassing Hangzhou State-Owned Assets.”
Technology influencer “Shuangye” posted, saying, “It can only be said that… this is going to sever ties with state-owned assets. Do you think this path will succeed?”
Some netizens expressed their opinions, with comments such as “Hangzhou State-Owned Assets has been marginalized. If I don’t use it, no one else can use it,” “Shareholder infighting has intensified,” and “It’s going to break up with state-owned enterprises.”
According to Qicha Cha data, the largest shareholder of Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co., Ltd. is Hangzhou Shangcheng District Wenshanlvtou Investment Holdings Group Co., Ltd., which is under the administration of the Shangcheng District Finance Bureau.