“娃小宗”浮出水面，宗馥莉再造“娃哈哈第二”？

Core Viewpoint - Wahaha Group has announced the launch of a new brand "Wah Xiaozong" starting from the 2026 sales year, due to compliance issues surrounding the use of the "Wahaha" trademark, which has a brand value of 91.187 billion yuan [1][3]. Brand Change - The decision to change the brand was made to address legal risks associated with the "Wahaha" trademark, which cannot be used without unanimous consent from all shareholders of Wahaha Group [3][5]. - The new brand "Wah Xiaozong" will cover a wide range of products, including existing categories and new ones like beer, as registered by Hongsheng Beverage Group [4]. Shareholder Dynamics - The complex shareholding structure of Wahaha Group involves three parties: Hangzhou Shangcheng Cultural Tourism Investment Holding Group (46%), Zong Fuli (29.4%), and the employee shareholding committee (24.6%), limiting Zong Fuli's control over trademark usage [5][6]. - Internal conflicts among shareholders have led to the decision to create a new brand, as Zong Fuli has faced challenges in managing the company since the founder's passing [6]. Legal Risks - The use of the "Wahaha" trademark by Hongsheng Beverage Group has raised legal concerns, as it operates without direct equity ties to Wahaha Group, leading to potential trademark infringement issues [7][8]. - Legal experts indicate that Hongsheng's unauthorized use of the trademark could result in claims for damages and injunctions from Wahaha Group [8]. Company Response - Wahaha Group has not publicly responded to inquiries regarding the trademark compliance issues and the new brand launch [9].