Zong Qinghou’s Brother Launches “Wawa Smart” Brand — Signs 153 Distributors to Go Head-to-Head with Zong Fuli’s “Wawa Zong”

According to Blue Whale News on October 11, the Wahaha saga is far from over following Zong Fuli’s resignation. Shortly after she launched her new brand “Wawa Zong,” her uncle, Zong Zehou, unveiled his own competing brand, “Wawa Smart,” which has already kicked off a nationwide distributor recruitment campaign.

Blue Whale News obtained promotional materials showing that “Wawa Smart” held its national distributor conference in Hangzhou on October 10. The poster revealed that any distributor purchasing more than RMB 100,000 worth of “Wawa Smart” products could secure exclusive regional distribution rights. Reporters from Blue Whale confirmed the authenticity of this information with company representatives.

A distributor manager stated that the “Master Zong” brand, also owned by Zong Zehou’s side of the family, began operations in November last year. “We started developing ‘Wawa Smart’ around the National Day holidays. This is a Zong family venture under Mr. Zong Zehou’s leadership, and we’re essentially competing head-to-head with Ms. Zong Fuli in the market,” the representative explained. “At the moment, there’s no deposit required to become an agent—just an initial order of at least RMB 30,000.”

The representative added that the “Wawa Smart” product portfolio already includes a diverse lineup of beverages such as AD calcium milk, mineral water, coconut water, and eight-treasure porridge. “Our formula is identical to Wahaha’s, but our prices are lower,” they noted. “As of now, we’ve signed 153 distributors, mainly across Zhejiang, with additional partners in Hunan and Guizhou. Our focus so far has been on chain supermarkets and large-scale distribution networks.”

Business registration data from Tianyancha indicates that Wawa Smart Food (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. was established in 2025 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, primarily operating in wholesale trade. Ownership filings confirm that Zong Zehou is the company’s actual controlling shareholder.

Meanwhile, reports from October 10 confirmed that Zong Fuli officially resigned as chairwoman of Wahaha Group on September 12, with the decision approved by both the shareholders’ and board meetings.

On October 11, her uncle, Zong Zehou, took to social media to express his views:
“Although many online critics have harshly attacked me, the truth is that these people have done her more harm than good, pushing her further down a path of no return. Among the younger generation of our family, she is indeed talented, but her understanding of China’s profound cultural heritage is lacking. As the saying goes, one must cultivate both virtue and skill to achieve greatness—unfortunately, she has not yet done either. Finally, I want to make this clear: Wahaha doesn’t belong to the Zong family alone. It was built together by countless Wahaha employees and consumers. Wahaha is a beloved beverage brand that grew up alongside the generations of the ’80s and ’90s. I believe they—and their children—will always cherish the happiness that Wahaha once brought them.”