四个河南男人，“掏空”中产钱包

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rise of three prominent consumer brands from Henan, China: Mixue Ice City, Pop Mart, and Pang Donglai, highlighting their unique business strategies and the founders' backgrounds that resonate with current consumer sentiments [3][5][10]. Group 1: Company Overview - Mixue Ice City went public in Hong Kong in March 2023, with its stock price soaring from the IPO price of 202.5 HKD to 456 HKD, marking a 125% increase within two months [5][9]. - Pop Mart, founded by Wang Ning, initially faced challenges post-IPO in 2020 but has recently seen a resurgence, with its stock price reaching nearly 200 HKD, driven by popular IPs like Labubu [6][9]. - Pang Donglai, known for his high-profile public persona, has built a supermarket chain that emphasizes employee welfare and community engagement, becoming a symbol of hope during economic downturns [7][10]. Group 2: Founders' Backgrounds - The founders of these companies, all from Henan, share a humble background, which influences their business philosophies. Zhang Hongchao and Zhang Hongfu of Mixue Ice City grew up in poverty, leading to a focus on affordability in their products [5][8]. - Wang Ning of Pop Mart, despite initial skepticism from investors, persisted in his vision of creating a unique retail experience that appeals to adults, which has now gained significant traction [11][12]. - Yu Donglai of Pang Donglai has a more public-facing approach, actively engaging with the community and promoting a positive work environment, which has garnered both support and criticism [7][10]. Group 3: Market Strategies - Mixue Ice City has rapidly expanded into Southeast Asia, with over 550 stores in Vietnam and Indonesia by early 2022, aiming to provide affordable beverages globally [26][27]. - Pop Mart has adopted an aggressive expansion strategy into major international cities, including New York and Paris, focusing on high-traffic tourist areas to enhance brand visibility [28][29]. - Pang Donglai has maintained a stronghold in Henan, with a significant portion of its products being self-branded, projecting a sales increase from 20 billion to 60 billion in proprietary goods by 2024 [30][31].