“兼香”口子窖越卖越“掉价”，“百亿口子”成泡影？

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the significant decline in the performance of Kuozi Jiao, once a leading brand in the Chinese liquor market, now facing severe financial challenges and a drop in market position due to various internal and external pressures [2][5]. Financial Performance - Kuozi Jiao reported a third-quarter revenue of 643 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 46.23%, and a net profit of 26.97 million yuan, down 92.55% year-on-year [3]. - For the first three quarters, total revenue was 3.174 billion yuan, down 27.24%, with net profit at 742 million yuan, a decline of 43.39% [3]. - The company experienced its largest single-quarter decline since its listing in 2015, with operating cash flow showing a net outflow of 390 million yuan, a decrease of 208.9% year-on-year [4][8]. Product Line Performance - Kuozi Jiao's product lines showed a mixed performance: high-end liquor revenue fell by 27.98% to 2.961 billion yuan, mid-range liquor revenue dropped by 15.38% to 41.3 million yuan, while low-end liquor grew by 25% to 114 million yuan [7]. - High-end liquor accounts for approximately 95% of Kuozi Jiao's revenue, and its decline has severely impacted overall profitability [7]. Cash Flow and Inventory Issues - The gross margin decreased from 74.76% to 70.96%, indicating a shift in product structure towards lower-margin products [8]. - Inventory levels rose to 6.218 billion yuan, exceeding the projected figure for the end of 2024, marking a historical high [8]. - The decline in contract liabilities to 339 million yuan, down nearly 40% from the previous year, signals weakened future sales potential [8]. Channel Strategy and Market Position - Kuozi Jiao's reliance on a "big dealer" model has backfired, as the company failed to adapt to market changes and missed opportunities in the mid-to-high-end segment [9][11]. - The company has initiated a channel reform from "big dealer" to a "1+N small dealer" model, but this has not yet translated into increased sales [11][12]. - Despite adding 102 new dealers in the first three quarters, revenue from both domestic and international markets declined significantly [12]. Leadership and Market Sentiment - The founder, Liu Ansheng, has sold over 17.25 million shares since 2018, raising more than 1 billion yuan, which has raised concerns about the company's future [15][16]. - Kuozi Jiao's stock price has dropped approximately 60% from its peak of over 80 yuan in December 2021, reflecting negative market sentiment [15][16]. Strategic Response - Kuozi Jiao has proposed a "three-pronged" strategy to address its challenges, focusing on channel restructuring, product optimization, and increased brand investment [16][17]. - The company aims to enhance its direct sales channel to exceed 10% of total revenue and establish model markets outside Anhui [17].