娃哈哈上海工厂：卖了20多年娃哈哈，突然改卖“沪小娃”

Core Viewpoint - The launch of the new brand "沪小娃" by Shanghai Wahaha Drinking Water Co., Ltd. is a response to brand authorization disputes and operational challenges faced by the company, which has historically been profitable but is now navigating significant legal and branding issues [1][8]. Company Overview - Shanghai Wahaha Drinking Water Co., Ltd. has been operational for over 20 years without incurring losses, with revenue exceeding 1.2 billion RMB last year, ranking among the top three in the Shanghai bottled water market [3][7]. - The company is a subsidiary of Zhejiang Wahaha Industry Co., Ltd., which holds a 70% stake, while internal employees own approximately 31.5% and social capital holds about 25.5% [4][6]. Brand and Legal Issues - The "Wahaha" brand authorization for Shanghai Wahaha expired in 2021 and 2023, leading to the company's inability to continue using the brand, prompting the creation of the new brand "沪小娃" [8][12]. - The company has faced legal challenges, including a recent court ruling against the appeal made by the representatives of the founder's family regarding inheritance disputes, which has added to the operational difficulties [1][7]. Future Prospects - The new brand "沪小娃" aims to sustain the company's operations amidst the ongoing brand disputes, although the transition to a new brand is expected to be challenging and time-consuming [1][8]. - There are indications that the parent company, Wahaha Group, is also preparing to transition to a new brand "娃小宗" due to similar branding issues, which may further complicate the market landscape for Wahaha products [9][14].