Core Viewpoint - The performance gap between national dairy companies and regional dairy companies is widening, with regional companies facing significant pressure to find new differentiation strategies in the market [1][2][3]. Group 1: Performance Trends - In 2023-2024, domestic dairy companies experienced a general decline in performance due to market demand and external factors, but signs of recovery were noted in early 2025 [2]. - Leading dairy companies like Yili achieved a revenue of 32.94 billion yuan in Q1 2025, a year-on-year increase of approximately 1.5%, with a net profit of 4.64 billion yuan, up 24.2% compared to 2024 [2]. - In contrast, regional dairy companies like Tianrun Dairy and Yantang Dairy reported declines in revenue and profits, with Tianrun's revenue dropping by 2.5% to 620 million yuan and a net loss of 73.03 million yuan [2][3]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Regional dairy companies are facing increased competition from national players who have expanded into the fresh milk market, which has historically been a differentiating factor for regional firms [3]. - Yili's high-end low-temperature milk revenue grew by over 30% in 2024, while Mengniu's fresh milk brand maintained double-digit growth [3]. - The overall dairy consumption in China is reaching a bottleneck, leading to intensified competition among existing players, particularly affecting regional companies [3][6]. Group 3: Differentiation Strategies - To survive, regional dairy companies must establish new differentiation strategies, as exemplified by New Dairy, which has performed better than its peers by focusing on a 24-hour fresh milk product line [4][5]. - New Dairy's revenue for 2024 was 10.67 billion yuan, with a net profit of 540 million yuan, and its 24-hour fresh milk series has seen significant growth [4][5]. - The company has also emphasized direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, achieving 6.23 billion yuan in direct sales revenue, accounting for 58.4% of its total revenue [5]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The competitive landscape in the dairy market is expected to remain intense in 2025, with increasing market concentration [6]. - Regional dairy companies that fail to find unique brand positioning and product differentiation may face marginalization or even elimination from the market [6].