Core Viewpoint - Wanchen Group has officially submitted its application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to expand into the Hong Kong market with its snack retail brands "Haoxianglai" and "Wife's Big Man" [1] Company Overview - Wanchen Group was established in 2011, initially focusing on edible fungi business, including enoki mushrooms and king oyster mushrooms. In 2021, the company reported revenue of 426 million RMB and a net profit of 24.28 million RMB [3] - The company entered the snack retail industry in 2022, integrating five major snack retail brands and subsequently consolidating them under the "Haoxianglai" brand in September 2023 [3][4] Financial Performance - Revenue growth from 2021 to 2024 saw Wanchen Group's revenue increase nearly 75 times, from 426 million RMB in 2021 to 32.33 billion RMB in 2024, with a projected revenue of 22.58 billion RMB for the first half of 2025 [3][4] - Adjusted net profit improved significantly, from a loss of 28.1 million RMB in 2023 to 9.22 billion RMB in the first half of 2025, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 286.8% [4] Business Segmentation - The snack and beverage retail business has become the primary revenue driver, accounting for 98.9% of total revenue in the first half of 2025, compared to just 12.1% in 2022 [4][5] - Wanchen Group's product portfolio includes 12 core categories, with prices 20-30% lower than similar products in large supermarkets and convenience stores [5] Market Expansion Strategy - The company primarily uses a franchise model for store expansion, with a total of 15,275 franchise stores as of June 30, 2025. The number of new franchise stores opened increased significantly from 163 in 2022 to 9,746 in 2024 [7][9] - The snack retail market in China is projected to grow from 73 billion RMB in 2019 to 1,297 billion RMB in 2024, with an annual compound growth rate of 77.9% [7][8] Market Dynamics - The majority of Wanchen Group's stores are located in lower-tier cities, which are identified as the main battleground for snack retail expansion. As of June 30, 2025, 35.7% of stores are in third-tier cities, and 20.2% in second-tier cities [9][10] - The increasing purchasing power and consumption potential in lower-tier cities are driving the growth of the snack retail market, with a projected market size of 6,137 billion RMB by 2029 [8][10]