Summary of Wei Long Mei Wei Conference Call Company and Industry Overview - **Company**: Wei Long Mei Wei - **Industry**: Food and Beverage, specifically focusing on konjac products and spicy snacks Key Points and Arguments 1. **Significant Growth in 2025**: Wei Long Mei Wei's performance in 2025 is expected to show substantial growth, primarily driven by the konjac category, with sales projected to increase from 3 billion to 4.5-5 billion yuan [2][5][29] 2. **Market Potential of Konjac**: The konjac category is becoming a crucial growth driver in the food and beverage industry due to its high price point, broad audience, and health benefits. The market size for konjac snacks is estimated to reach 10-12 billion yuan in 2024, indicating further growth potential [2][6][27] 3. **Product Innovation**: Wei Long is addressing market gaps by launching new flavors, such as spicy and sesame flavors, while also optimizing its product structure by eliminating underperforming SKUs to enhance competitiveness in the spicy snack market [2][8][11] 4. **High Profit Margins**: Wei Long maintains a high net profit margin, typically between 15%-18%, with potential for further growth due to supply chain advantages [2][12][15] 5. **Expansion into Overseas Markets**: The company is actively expanding into overseas markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, potentially collaborating with Charoen Pokphand Group, which could significantly enhance its valuation [2][13][29] 6. **Competitive Landscape**: Salted Fish (盐津铺子) is rapidly developing in the konjac sector, with sales expected to grow from 1 billion to 2.2 billion yuan by 2025, creating a duopoly with Wei Long and increasing market concentration [2][10][27] 7. **Short-term Stock Price Volatility**: Factors such as quarterly report pressures, management changes, and public opinion events have impacted Wei Long's stock price, but the fundamental logic remains unchanged, with stable profit growth forecasts [3][16] 8. **Long-term Growth Potential**: Wei Long's long-term growth potential is bolstered by its leadership in spicy snacks, strong brand power, and product innovation capabilities, with an average annual revenue growth of about 15% [9][17][15] 9. **Differentiation from Competitors**: Wei Long differentiates itself from Salted Fish through brand premium pricing and strong R&D capabilities, while Salted Fish relies on efficiency advantages for profitability [18] 10. **Future Product Development**: Wei Long is exploring new product categories, including vegetable products and innovative bean products, which are expected to become new growth points [23][29] Other Important Insights - **Market Trends**: The konjac product market is expected to grow significantly, with Wei Long holding a market share of approximately 50%-60%, far exceeding Salted Fish's 15%-20% [20][21][27] - **Channel Strategy**: Wei Long is enhancing its channel strategy by increasing display expenses and SKU offerings, aiming to improve brand exposure and category development [22][24][26] - **Risks and Challenges**: Potential risks include underperformance in channel and new product expansion, as well as slower-than-expected growth in snack retail, online, and overseas markets [29]

Investment Rating - The report initiates coverage on WeLong Delicious with a "Buy" rating and a target price of HKD 19.96, based on a 32x PE for 2025 [7]. Core Viewpoints - The Chinese snack industry is characterized by a long-standing multi-category and weak brand presence, with spicy snacks showing stronger addiction and higher repurchase rates, effectively extending product life cycles. WeLong has successfully established itself as a national brand in spicy strips and is positioned to benefit from rapid category expansion as a pioneer in the konjac segment [1][17]. - The spicy snack segment is experiencing high growth and strong consumer loyalty, with the market size for spicy strips around RMB 10 billion and WeLong holding a 28% market share in 2023. The konjac segment is also thriving, with a projected market size of RMB 7 billion in 2024 and an annual growth rate exceeding 20% [2][18][19]. Industry Overview - The spicy snack market is expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% from 2024 to 2026, driven by the addictive nature of spicy foods. The konjac segment is anticipated to surpass the RMB 10 billion mark, with WeLong's market share projected at 42% in 2024 [2][19]. - The report highlights the increasing health consciousness among consumers, which is propelling the growth of the konjac category due to its unique taste and high cost-performance ratio [2][19]. Company Analysis - WeLong is building competitive barriers through its strong brand identity and innovative product development. The company has a mature research and development management system, allowing for modular reuse of technology and continuous product innovation [3][20]. - The company has successfully created a second growth curve, with revenue from vegetable products expected to exceed that from flavored noodle products in 2024. WeLong is also actively transforming its distribution channels to adapt to market demands, enhancing its presence in offline channels and embracing new channels such as snack wholesale and content e-commerce [3][21]. Future Growth Prospects - WeLong's growth strategy focuses on product innovation and channel diversification. The company aims to solidify its supply chain and enhance its reach through various distribution channels, including traditional and emerging platforms [21][22]. - The report emphasizes the potential for WeLong to benefit from the ongoing expansion of the spicy snack market and the increasing consumer preference for healthier snack options [17][22].

Investment Rating - The report initiates coverage with a "Sell" rating for the company [1]. Core Views - The company is recognized as a leading player in the snack food sector, particularly in the spicy strip market, with a market share of 28% in 2023, significantly ahead of its competitors [9][15]. - The report highlights the successful price increases and channel adjustments that have contributed to revenue growth, particularly in the vegetable product category, which is expected to see a 59% increase in 2024 [9][39]. - The report emphasizes the potential for growth in the Chinese snack food market, particularly for spicy snacks, which are gaining popularity among consumers [77]. Summary by Sections 1. Snack Food Sector Leader - The company has established itself as a leader in the spicy strip market, with a strong brand identity and effective marketing strategies targeting younger consumers [9][23]. - The company has successfully transitioned from traditional distribution channels to modern ones, enhancing its market reach and stability [9][29]. 2. Growth of Vegetable Products - The vegetable product category, led by konjac products, has become the company's largest segment, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49.8% from 2018 to 2024 [39]. - The company has optimized its product structure, leading to a decline in the share of other products while focusing on high-growth categories [39]. 3. Market Potential for Spicy Snacks - The report notes that the spicy snack market is still in its growth phase, with significant opportunities for leading companies to capitalize on consumer trends [77]. - The company is well-positioned to increase its market share in the spicy strip segment, with potential revenue growth projected to reach 39 billion yuan if sales recover to 2021 levels [88]. 4. Financial Projections and Valuation - The company is expected to achieve revenues of 78.6 billion yuan in 2025, with net profits projected at 13.8 billion yuan, corresponding to a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26 [9][1]. - The report suggests that the company's valuation could rise to 25-30 times earnings based on its growth potential and market positioning [9].