Core Viewpoint - The rise of "health water" products, which incorporate traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients, is becoming increasingly popular among younger consumers, creating a rapidly growing market segment valued at billions of yuan [4][10]. Industry Overview - The retail market is witnessing a surge in health water brands, with notable players like Yuanqi Forest and emerging brands such as "Kekou Manfen" and "Keyang" entering the space [3][4]. - Traditional juice brands are pivoting to health water, with companies like Leyuan leveraging their experience to create new product lines that align with modern health trends [4][5]. Market Dynamics - The health water market is projected to grow significantly, with estimates suggesting a rise from 450 million yuan in 2023 to 10.8 billion yuan by 2028, indicating a potential replacement effect on the sugar-free beverage market [10]. - As of 2024, there are already 43 brands and 127 health water products on the market, highlighting the rapid expansion and interest in this category [7]. Consumer Behavior - Health water is seen as a more flavorful and healthier alternative to plain water and carbonated drinks, appealing to the emotional and lifestyle needs of consumers [8][10]. - The concept of "emotional value" is central to the marketing of health water, as it provides consumers with a sense of wellness and self-care [8][10]. Competitive Landscape - The market is facing challenges related to product homogeneity, with many brands using similar ingredients, which raises concerns about long-term sustainability [10][12]. - Companies are encouraged to innovate their formulations and improve ingredient quality to differentiate themselves in a crowded market [10]. Investment Trends - The high margins and novel concepts associated with bottled health water have attracted significant investment from venture capital firms, indicating strong confidence in the sector's growth potential [3][6].

Group 1: Product Launch and Market Strategy - Yuanqi Forest has launched a new series of plant-based beverages called "Slow Boil," featuring two products: Wu Mei Shan Zha and Pi Pa Xue Li, emphasizing "sugar reduction ≥ 25%" and "traditional boiling process," priced at 6 yuan per bottle, targeting family consumption scenarios [1] - The company aims to continue its "healthification" strategy and differentiate itself in the health beverage market, although the market acceptance of the new products will require time to validate [1] - Historically, Yuanqi Forest's successful product launches take over two years, as seen with Zizai Water, which took one year to exceed 1 billion in sales [1] Group 2: Growth Concerns - Despite announcing "double-digit growth" at the 2024 dealer conference, Yuanqi Forest's growth is heavily reliant on new products like Alien Electrolyte Water, Ice Tea, and Zizai Water, while its core sparkling water market share has not fully recovered [2] - According to Euromonitor data, Yuanqi Forest's market share in the no-sugar sparkling beverage segment decreased by nearly 1 percentage point from 2022 [2] - The decline in sparkling water's prominence at the dealer conference, from first to second place, indicates the company's ongoing dependency on "hit products" [2] Group 3: Channel Management and Cost Challenges - Yuanqi Forest has adopted a "co-building agent" channel management system, covering 60%-70% of agent salaries to enhance terminal control, with plans to add 32,000 ice cabinets by 2025 [3] - Feedback from some distributors indicates improved inventory turnover, with days decreasing from 40 in 2022 to near the industry average, but penetration in lower-tier markets remains insufficient [3] - Increased production costs due to health-oriented investments, such as the elimination of over 100 ingredients for Zizai Water, may compress profit margins, with distributors noting profit margins are now close to traditional brands like Nongfu Spring and Coca-Cola [3] Group 4: Market Penetration Challenges - The convenience store channel in first and second-tier cities is saturated, while penetration in lower-tier markets is still lacking, with reports indicating that Yuanqi Forest products take significantly longer to sell compared to competitors like Coca-Cola [4] - The pricing of Yuanqi Forest's products, such as sparkling water at 5-5.5 yuan per bottle, lacks competitiveness in lower-tier markets, leading distributors to prefer stable profit traditional brands [4] - The launch of the Slow Boil series represents another strategic attempt in the health sector, but the company faces challenges beyond the product itself, requiring a balance between traditional and innovative approaches [4]