Core Insights - The konjac product is emerging as a phenomenon in the snack market, with several companies focusing on this segment to drive revenue growth [1][3][4]. Group 1: Company Performance - Salted Fish (002847.SZ) has successfully capitalized on the konjac snack sub-brand "Big Demon King," contributing 791 million yuan in revenue in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 155.10%, accounting for 26.90% of total revenue [1][7]. - Wei Long Delicious (09985.HK) reported that its konjac products "Konjac Shuang" and "Little Demon Girl" significantly boosted its vegetable product segment revenue by 44.3% to 2.109 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, representing 60.5% of total revenue [4][5]. - In the first half of 2025, Salted Fish achieved a revenue of 2.941 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 19.58%, with a net profit of 373 million yuan, up 16.70% [7]. Group 2: Market Trends - The konjac food industry has seen a compound annual growth rate of 20% over the past decade, with the market size expected to reach 26.9 billion yuan by 2024 [3]. - More than 30 companies, including Cha Cha Food (002557.SZ) and Three Squirrels (300783.SZ), are entering the konjac snack market, indicating a competitive landscape [8][9]. - The konjac product category has become a significant growth driver for companies, with Salted Fish's konjac snacks growing from 476 million yuan in 2023 to 838 million yuan in 2024 [8]. Group 3: Channel Expansion - The snack industry is experiencing intensified competition in offline markets, with the Ming Ming Group surpassing 20,000 stores nationwide [2][10]. - Salted Fish has shifted its strategy to prioritize channel penetration, with over 70% of its revenue coming from distribution channels, including snack retail chains [11][12]. - Cha Cha Food has also increased its investment in emerging channels, reporting a rise in revenue from snack retail channels from 5 million yuan in January 2023 to approximately 45 million yuan in April 2024 [13].

Core Viewpoint - Konjac, known as "human cat strips," is becoming a phenomenon in the snack food industry, with companies like Salted Fish Pouch and Wei Long capitalizing on this trend through their konjac product lines [1][4]. Company Performance - Salted Fish Pouch's konjac snack brand "Big Demon King" generated revenue of 791 million yuan in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 155.10%, contributing significantly to the company's total revenue of 2.941 billion yuan [1][12]. - Wei Long's konjac products "Konjac Shuang" and "Little Witch" drove a 44.3% increase in the vegetable products segment to 2.109 billion yuan, accounting for 60.5% of total revenue in the first half of 2025 [7][8]. - In the first half of 2025, Salted Fish Pouch reported total revenue of 2.941 billion yuan, up 19.58% year-on-year, with a net profit of 373 million yuan, an increase of 16.70% [12][18]. Market Trends - The konjac food industry has seen a compound annual growth rate of 20% over the past decade, with the market size expected to reach 26.9 billion yuan by 2024 [5]. - More than 30 companies, including Qiaqia Food and Three Squirrels, are entering the konjac snack market, indicating a competitive landscape [14]. Channel Development - The competition among snack companies is intensifying in the offline market, with the Mingming Busy Group surpassing 20,000 stores nationwide [3][19]. - Salted Fish Pouch has shifted its strategy to prioritize channel development, emphasizing the importance of distribution channels in its growth [19]. - Qiaqia Food has also increased its investment in emerging channels like snack wholesale stores and membership stores, reflecting a broader trend in the industry [20].

Core Viewpoint - Liu Liu Mei, the parent company of Liu Liu Guo Yuan, is attempting to enter the capital market by submitting an IPO application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, despite facing significant financial and operational challenges [2][12]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Liu Liu Guo Yuan sold 2 billion green plums in a year, generating annual revenue of 1.6 billion yuan [2]. - The company reported revenues of 1.174 billion yuan, 1.322 billion yuan, and 1.616 billion yuan for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively, with net profits of 68.43 million yuan, 99.23 million yuan, and 148 million yuan during the same period [7][8]. - The revenue breakdown for 2024 shows that dried plum snacks, plum jelly, and western plum products contributed 974 million yuan, 224 million yuan, and 410 million yuan, accounting for 60.3%, 13.8%, and 25.4% of total revenue, respectively [2]. Group 2: Market Position and Sales Channels - Liu Liu Guo Yuan ranks first in the Chinese plum product industry with a market share of 7% as of 2024, and it has maintained the top position in the sub-markets of green plum snacks and western plum snacks for four consecutive years [3]. - The company has shifted its sales strategy towards direct sales, with the proportion of revenue from direct sales increasing from 25.5% in 2022 to 59.2% in 2024, while revenue from distribution channels decreased correspondingly [3][4]. - The top three customers in 2024 contributed a combined revenue of 228 million yuan, 194 million yuan, and 44.3 million yuan, representing 28.2% of total revenue [4]. Group 3: Challenges and Risks - Liu Liu Mei faces significant challenges due to its heavy reliance on green plum products, which account for 60.3% of its revenue, exposing the company to market saturation risks [8]. - The average procurement price for green plums increased from 2,400 yuan/ton to 2,600 yuan/ton between 2020 and 2024, while imported western plum prices rose from 16,200 yuan/ton to 20,700 yuan/ton, leading to increased raw material costs [9]. - The company has seen a decline in the number of distributors for the first time, with a net loss of two distributors in 2024, indicating potential issues in its distribution strategy [4]. Group 4: Funding and Financial Health - Liu Liu Mei has completed four rounds of financing, with the latest round involving a buyout by Sequoia China at a significant discount, raising concerns about the company's valuation and market perception [11]. - As of the end of 2024, the company had cash reserves of only 78.05 million yuan against short-term borrowings of 312 million yuan, indicating a precarious financial situation [12]. - Government subsidies accounted for over 20% of net profit in 2024, highlighting a reliance on non-operational income that may undermine financial stability [10].

Core Viewpoint - Hunan Mingming Hen Mang Commercial Chain Co., Ltd. has submitted its IPO application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to leverage its dual-brand strategy and significant market presence in the snack retail sector [1] Company Overview - Mingming Hen Mang operates two brands: "Snacks Very Busy" and "Zhao Yiming Snacks," which were merged in November 2023, maintaining a dual-brand strategy [1] - The company is projected to achieve a gross merchandise value (GMV) of RMB 55.5 billion in 2024, with over 1.6 billion transactions [1] - As of December 31, 2024, Mingming Hen Mang will have 14,394 stores, making it the largest snack retail chain in China by GMV [1] Business Model - The company employs a low-margin, high-volume strategy, achieving profitability through high sales efficiency, low expense ratios, and rapid inventory turnover [3] - Gross margins are reported between 7.5% and 7.6%, with net profit margins increasing from 1.7% to 2.1% from 2022 to 2024 [3] - The company simplifies its supply chain by sourcing directly from manufacturers, which allows for competitive pricing, with average prices approximately 25% lower than those in offline supermarkets [3] Market Dynamics - The snack retail sector is experiencing rapid expansion, particularly in lower-tier cities, with a focus on cost-effectiveness and product variety [2][5] - The market is currently characterized by intense price competition, with a growing demand for both cost-effectiveness and quality among consumers [2] - The market for snack retail is projected to continue growing, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% in lower-tier markets from 2019 to 2024 [5] Competitive Landscape - The industry is undergoing consolidation, with larger brands acquiring smaller ones, leading to a significant reduction in the number of regional snack brands [6] - Approximately 100 regional snack brands have disappeared in 2024, with expectations that over 50% of smaller companies will be eliminated by 2025 [6] - Mingming Hen Mang emphasizes the importance of balancing cost-effectiveness with product quality to maintain competitive advantage in the evolving market [6] Future Plans - The company plans to use the proceeds from its IPO to enhance supply chain capabilities, upgrade store networks, empower franchisees, and invest in brand development and technology [6]