Core Viewpoint - The capital market is not averse to tea, but it shows a preference for ready-to-drink tea over traditional loose-leaf tea, as evidenced by the challenges faced by companies like Baima Tea in their IPO attempts [1][4]. Group 1: Baima Tea's IPO Journey - Baima Tea officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on October 28, 2023, with a maximum offering price of 50 HKD per share, raising approximately 450 million HKD [2]. - The company faced multiple challenges in its IPO journey, including failed attempts to list on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and New Third Board due to lack of policy support and concerns over profitability [3]. - After several setbacks, including multiple withdrawals of IPO applications, Baima Tea finally succeeded in listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange [3]. Group 2: Market Position and Performance - Baima Tea claims to be the largest tea supplier in China by the number of chain stores, with a leading position in sales of Oolong tea and other high-end tea categories [8][10]. - The high-end tea market in China is growing, with market size expected to increase from 89 billion RMB in 2020 to 135.3 billion RMB by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of approximately 5.6% [10]. - Despite its leading position, Baima Tea's market share in the high-end tea segment increased from about 1.1% in 2020 to approximately 1.7% in 2024, indicating a highly fragmented market [10][9]. Group 3: Revenue and Profitability Trends - Baima Tea's revenue for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 was 1.82 billion RMB, 2.12 billion RMB, and 2.14 billion RMB, respectively, with a noticeable slowdown in growth rates [14]. - The company's net profit for the same years was 166 million RMB, 206 million RMB, and 224 million RMB, showing a declining growth trend in profitability [15]. - In the first half of 2025, Baima Tea reported a revenue decline of 4.2% year-on-year, attributed to decreased sales in offline channels and increased administrative expenses [14]. Group 4: Sales Channels and Strategies - Baima Tea's sales are heavily reliant on offline channels, with offline sales accounting for over 70% of total revenue, while online sales are growing but still represent a smaller portion [34][14]. - The company has expanded its online presence significantly, with a total of 40.9 million followers across major e-commerce platforms [13]. - The average annual purchase amount of offline store members has been declining, indicating potential challenges in maintaining customer loyalty [20]. Group 5: Brand and Market Dynamics - The tea market in China is characterized by a high degree of fragmentation, with over 1.6 million companies involved in tea planting, production, and distribution [9]. - Baima Tea's strategy includes targeting the high-end gift tea market, focusing on business and government gift segments, which has shaped its long-term development approach [24]. - The company has launched sub-brands like "Xiao Ma Tea Qu" and "Wan Shan Hong" to cater to younger consumers and diversify its product offerings [38][39].