QIANHE(SH:603027) Zheng Quan Zhi Xing·2025-06-09 02:39Core Viewpoint - The condiment industry is experiencing a decline in the "zero additives" trend, impacting Qianhe Flavor Industry's performance, which reported its first dual decline in earnings since its listing in 2016, with a 4.16% drop in annual revenue to 3.073 billion yuan [1][4]. Revenue and Sales Performance - In 2024, Qianhe Flavor Industry's core product, soy sauce, saw a revenue decline of 3.75% year-on-year, contributing to an overall revenue decrease of 4.16% [1]. - The company's revenue for Q1 2024 fell by 7.15% to 830 million yuan, with a net reduction of 34 distributors due to negative publicity [1][8]. - From 2021 to 2023, the company experienced significant revenue growth, with sales rising from 1.925 billion yuan in 2021 to 3.207 billion yuan in 2023, and a net profit increase of over 50% annually from 2022 to 2023 [4]. Distributor Network and Sales Model - Qianhe Flavor Industry's distributor count peaked at 3,560 in H1 2024 but fell to 3,316 by year-end, indicating a significant slowdown in expansion compared to previous years [7]. - The company transitioned its sales model from a focus on distributors to a division between online and offline sales, with offline revenue declining by 4% to 2.433 billion yuan [8]. Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Haitian Flavor Industry are rapidly expanding their "zero additives" product lines, with Haitian reporting a 60% increase in sales of its "zero additives" series in 2024 [6]. - Qianhe's soy sauce sales growth of 1.27% in 2024 is significantly lower than the previous years' growth rates of 27.49% in 2022 and 33.19% in 2023, reflecting increased competition [5]. Cost Structure and Profitability - Qianhe's soy sauce has a gross margin of 38%, which is 6.7 percentage points lower than Haitian's, despite having a lower direct material cost of approximately 1,933.45 yuan per ton compared to Haitian's 2,422.99 yuan [8]. - The lower gross margin is attributed to a higher proportion of lower-end products in Qianhe's portfolio, which dilutes overall profitability [8]. Regulatory Environment - New regulations set to take effect in March 2025 will prohibit the use of "zero additives" in marketing, requiring Qianhe to adjust its branding and product strategy within a two-year transition period [9].