Core Viewpoint - White Elephant Food is facing public scrutiny due to trademark issues related to its "Half Bag Noodles" and "Half Bucket Noodles" products, which mislead consumers regarding the actual weight of the products [1][2] Group 1: Trademark Controversy - The packaging of "Half Bag Noodles" and "Half Bucket Noodles" claims "large quantity, double satisfaction," leading consumers to believe the products contain significantly more than standard offerings [1] - Actual weight comparisons show that the "Half Bag Noodles" only contain 25 grams more than the regular version, which is a 1/5 to 1/4 increase, contrary to consumer expectations [1] Group 2: Company Response - White Elephant's customer service confirmed that "Half" is a trademark and that the actual weight is as stated on the packaging, acknowledging the public's perception of "playing with words" [2] - The company issued an apology and announced plans to rename the products to "Noodle Cake 120g" and "Noodle Cake 110g," ceasing production of the original packaging within the month [2] Group 3: Company Performance and Market Position - White Elephant Food has experienced significant fluctuations in its market presence, initially gaining popularity with its 1 yuan bone soup noodles in 2003 but later facing competition from brands like Jinmailang [3] - The company rebounded after the "soil pit pickled cabbage" incident in 2022, which improved its brand image and led to a surge in sales, reaching 9.175 billion yuan in 2023, surpassing Jinmailang to become the third in the industry [3] - Despite revenue growth, White Elephant is criticized for its over-reliance on online channels and an imbalanced development between online and offline sales [3]

Core Viewpoint - The recent controversy surrounding the "Duoban" product from White Elephant Foods highlights the challenges faced by the company in maintaining consumer trust while navigating its brand identity and product offerings [1][2]. Group 1: Company Performance - White Elephant Foods achieved a revenue of 9.175 billion yuan in 2023, nearing the 10 billion yuan mark, with a projected growth of over 20% in 2024, aiming for approximately 12 billion yuan in revenue [2][4]. - The company has surpassed Uni-President in the instant noodle market, positioning itself as the second-largest player after Kang Shifu [2][5]. Group 2: Brand Reputation and Marketing - The brand's reputation significantly improved following its humanitarian efforts during the 2021 floods in Henan, which included donations of food and water [4][5]. - White Elephant's proactive response to the "土坑酸菜" scandal in 2022 further enhanced consumer trust, leading to increased brand visibility and sales [5][6]. Group 3: Market Strategy and Challenges - The instant noodle market is shifting towards premium, healthy, and unique products, with competitors like Kang Shifu and Uni-President launching high-end lines [7][9]. - White Elephant has attempted to enter the high-end market with collaborations and new product lines, but has faced challenges in consumer acceptance and brand positioning [9][10]. - The company is expanding its production capacity in southern China to enhance its market presence and diversify its product offerings [11][13]. Group 4: Distribution and Channel Issues - Despite its online success, White Elephant struggles with channel imbalance, as the majority of instant noodle sales still occur through offline channels [13][14]. - The company's aggressive online marketing strategy has led to a decline in profitability for offline distributors, creating a challenging environment for maintaining a balanced distribution network [14][15].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent controversy surrounding the "Duoban" noodle product from Baixiang, highlighting the implications of marketing strategies and consumer perceptions in the competitive instant noodle market. Group 1: Product Controversy - Baixiang's "Duoban" noodle was found to be a trademark name rather than indicating a larger quantity, with only a 25g increase from the base product, leading to consumer backlash and accusations of misleading marketing [2][4] - Following the controversy, Baixiang announced a rebranding of the "Duoban" series to "Noodle 120g" and "Noodle 110g" to clarify the product's weight and avoid further consumer confusion [4][6] Group 2: Market Position and Growth - Baixiang's sales reached 9.175 billion yuan in 2023, closing in on the 9.849 billion yuan sales of its competitor, Uni-President [6][22] - The brand has gained significant market share, with reports suggesting it may have surpassed Uni-President in 2024, although this has not been officially confirmed [6][22] Group 3: Brand Evolution - Baixiang has transformed from a low-end market player to a leading brand, leveraging crises in the industry to position itself as a "national treasure" and appealing to consumer sentiment [8][13] - The brand's marketing strategy has included innovative product launches and a strong presence on social media platforms, contributing to its rapid growth [18][22] Group 4: Challenges Ahead - Despite impressive growth, Baixiang faces challenges such as reliance on marketing strategies that may not sustain long-term growth, and potential issues with pricing strategies affecting profitability [23][29] - The overall instant noodle market in China is experiencing stagnation, with a decline in consumption from 463.6 billion servings in 2020 to an estimated 438 billion servings in 2024, intensifying competition among brands [25][28]