Core Viewpoint - Guizhou Moutai is implementing a significant change by directly selling its flagship product, the 53-degree 500ml Flying Moutai, at an official price of 1499 yuan through the "i Moutai" platform starting January 1, 2026, aiming to address market demand and reshape its distribution strategy [6][14]. Performance Overview - Over the past decade, Guizhou Moutai experienced rapid growth, with revenue increasing from 38.862 billion yuan in 2016 to 147.694 billion yuan in 2023, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.01%. Net profit rose from 16.718 billion yuan to 74.734 billion yuan, with a CAGR of 23.85% [6][7]. - In 2023, despite a declining industry environment, Moutai reported a revenue growth of 19.01% and a net profit growth of 19.16% [6]. - However, by 2024, growth momentum weakened, with revenue and net profit growth rates declining to 15.71% and 15.38%, respectively [9]. Market Challenges - The white liquor industry is facing a significant downturn, with production dropping from 13.58 million kiloliters in 2016 to 4.145 million kiloliters in 2024, a decrease of over 69%. This decline is attributed to weak terminal demand and a decrease in the number of large-scale liquor enterprises [8]. - Moutai's direct sales channel revenue fell to 748.43 billion yuan in 2024, with a growth rate of only 11.32%, a drop of nearly 25 percentage points from the previous year [9]. Strategic Shift - The introduction of the 1499 yuan direct sales model is seen as a response to the urgent need to reverse declining performance and stabilize market confidence. The "i Moutai" platform aims to eliminate price speculation and ensure fair access for consumers [11][14]. - The direct sales approach is expected to enhance Moutai's profit margins, as selling at 1499 yuan generates an additional 330 yuan per bottle compared to the traditional wholesale price [14]. Distribution and Channel Strategy - Moutai is restructuring its distribution model to include a combination of self-sales, distribution, and consignment, moving towards a multi-channel approach that integrates online and offline sales [19][20]. - The company emphasizes that it will not engage in practices that harm distributors and aims to balance the interests of direct sales and distribution channels [20]. Future Outlook - The new management under Chairman Chen Hua is focused on a market-oriented transformation, with a commitment to understanding consumer needs and stabilizing the market through the "i Moutai" platform [17][18]. - The long-term goal is to redefine the pricing strategy and product distribution, moving away from reliance on speculative pricing and towards a more sustainable market model [18].
茅台:一场迟到多年的自救