老干妈回应“味道变了”

Core Viewpoint - The recent controversy regarding the taste change of "Lao Gan Ma" has sparked discussions among consumers, with some claiming a difference in flavor and ingredients, while the company denies any changes to its recipe or raw materials [1][2]. Group 1: Company Response - Lao Gan Ma's staff refuted claims of changing ingredients for cost-saving purposes, attributing any perceived taste differences to consumers' evolving preferences and personal taste variations [1]. - The company emphasized that its raw materials, production processes, and recipes have remained unchanged [1]. Group 2: Company Background and Performance - Founded in 1984 by Tao Huabi, Lao Gan Ma gained popularity for its unique condiment production methods and became a sales hit after mass production began in 1996 [2]. - In the "2025 Guizhou Top 100 Enterprises" list, Lao Gan Ma ranked 57th, with a reported revenue of 5.391 billion yuan in 2024, a slight increase of 0.18% from 2023, marking three consecutive years of growth [2]. - The company is close to its historical revenue peak of 5.403 billion yuan in 2020, being only 0.12 billion yuan short [2]. Group 3: Leadership and Historical Context - There were rumors about Tao Huabi's return to the company, but staff clarified that she has always been involved, despite her stepping back from direct operations in 2014 [2]. - After Tao Huabi's withdrawal from the shareholder structure in 2014, her sons took over the majority of the shares, with Li Miaoxing being the actual controller [2]. - The company faced challenges in 2017 and 2018 due to a shift in raw materials from Guizhou to cheaper Henan peppers, which led to a decline in taste and consumer backlash, prompting a return to original ingredients in 2019 when Tao Huabi resumed operational control [2].