宗馥莉已回娃哈哈上班！“娃小宗”仅41天就“退场”，知情人士：部分经销商不信任“娃小宗”，拒绝支付保证金

Core Viewpoint - The recent developments in Wahaha's brand strategy indicate a significant shift, with the company deciding to continue using the "Wahaha" brand for its products in 2026, effectively sidelining the newly introduced "Wawa Xiaozong" brand [1][2]. Group 1: Brand Strategy and Management Changes - On October 23, it was reported that the Hongsheng system's sales companies were notified to continue using the "Wahaha" brand in 2026, indicating a reversal of the previous decision to adopt the "Wawa Xiaozong" brand [1]. - Following her resignation, Zong Fuli has returned to work as the president of Hongsheng Beverage Group, although she previously held the positions of chairman and general manager of Wahaha Group [2]. - The internal conflicts leading to the creation of the "Wawa Xiaozong" brand stemmed from organizational changes implemented by Zong Fuli, which caused tensions regarding the ownership and use of the "Wahaha" trademark [4][5]. Group 2: Stakeholder Reactions and Market Dynamics - Some distributors expressed distrust towards the "Wawa Xiaozong" brand, leading to a significant shortfall in the collection of deposits, with many regions only achieving 10%-20% of their targets compared to the previous year [6]. - Despite the resistance from some distributors, others, particularly those with long-standing relationships with Wahaha, remain supportive of the company's direction and are willing to follow Zong Fuli's leadership [6]. - The situation reflects a normal transitional phase in brand management, where multiple brands and product lines can coexist within a company [6]. Group 3: Historical Context and Trademark Issues - Zong Fuli's resignation in September was reportedly linked to issues surrounding the compliance of the "Wahaha" trademark usage, which has been a contentious point in negotiations with major shareholders [5][7]. - The Hongsheng Group has been actively applying for trademarks related to "Wawa Xiaozong," indicating a strategic move to establish a new brand identity, although the recent announcements suggest a retreat from this strategy [7][9].