Three Squirrels(SZ:300783) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-05-27 05:06Core Viewpoint - The company, Three Squirrels, is advancing its plans for an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, having submitted its application and received acceptance from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, amidst challenges in the snack food industry and a shift in its business model [1][4][14]. Company Development - Founded in 2012, Three Squirrels quickly capitalized on e-commerce trends, achieving significant sales growth and market recognition, particularly in the nut category [4][6]. - The company expanded its product range beyond nuts to over 600 SKUs and attempted to establish a multi-channel presence through offline stores [6][9]. - However, the company faced challenges such as reliance on contract manufacturers leading to food safety issues and a high dependency on a single product category, nuts, which accounted for over 60% of revenue [8][9]. Financial Performance - Three Squirrels experienced a decline in revenue from 101.73 billion yuan in 2019 to 71.15 billion yuan in 2023, with a nearly 70% drop in market capitalization [9]. - In 2024, the company reported a revenue of 10.62 billion yuan, a 49.3% increase from the previous year, and a net profit of 407.74 million yuan, an 85.51% increase [10][12]. - The company initiated a strategic transformation in 2022, focusing on self-production and a shift to a "D+N" model, which contributed to a "V-shaped rebound" in 2024 [10][12]. Market Challenges - The snack food industry is experiencing intense competition from low-cost brands, forcing Three Squirrels to consider mergers and acquisitions to maintain market share [18][21]. - The company's sales expenses increased significantly, with a 50.92% rise to 1.868 billion yuan, impacting profit margins [20][21]. - The company is also facing challenges in expanding its offline presence, with only 3% of its store expansion plan realized [9][18]. Future Outlook - The IPO aims to raise funds for supply chain upgrades (40%), channel expansion (30%), product innovation (20%), and strategic acquisitions (5%) [14]. - The company has set an ambitious target of reaching 20 billion yuan in revenue by 2026, which could position it as a leader in the global snack food market if successful [21].