Zong Qinghou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zong Qinghou
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| 宗庆后 | |
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| Born | 16 November 1945 |
| Died | 25 February 2024 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Title | Chairman and CEO, Hangzhou Wahaha Group |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Spouse(s) | Shi Youzhen |
| Children | Zong Fuli (宗馥莉) (Kelly Zong, dauguter) |
Zong Qinghou (Chinese: 宗庆后; 16 November 1945 – 25 February 2024) was a very successful Chinese businessman. He was the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Hangzhou Wahaha Group. This company is one of China's biggest beverage (drink) companies. In March 2022, people estimated his wealth to be around US$8.7 billion.
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The Story of Zong Qinghou
Zong Qinghou was born on November 16, 1945. His family in Zhejiang, China, was not wealthy. Because of this, he did not get much formal schooling. He even had to leave middle school early.
When he was young, Zong was part of a program called the sent-down movement. This meant he went to work in the countryside, specifically at a salt farm in Zhoushan. In his free time, he loved to read. He studied books about communism, like The Collected Works of Mao Zedong. He also read How the Steel Was Tempered by Nikolai Ostrovsky.
In 1979, Zong returned home when his mother retired. She had been a school teacher. He later moved back to Hangzhou. At first, he could only find simple jobs at a local school because he had not finished much schooling.
Starting Wahaha: A Sweet Success
In 1987, Zong saw a chance to start his own business. He focused on a small grocery store at a school in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou. He began by selling milk there.
Zong led the very first steps of what would become the Wahaha business. They sold fizzy soft drinks, ice, and even school supplies. He teamed up with two retired schoolteachers. Together, they borrowed 140,000 CNY to start making milk drinks.
Zong was very determined and worked extremely hard. He helped Wahaha grow into the largest drink maker in China. He was known for his strong leadership style.
Working with Danone
Wahaha later joined forces with a big French company called Groupe Danone. This partnership was called the WHH joint venture. Danone invested US$70 million into five joint venture companies. In return, Danone owned 51% of each company.
They signed an agreement in 1996. This agreement gave the joint ventures the only rights to make, sell, and distribute products under the Wahaha brand. By 2007, they had grown to 39 joint venture companies together.
However, in 2007, their partnership faced problems. Eventually, Danone and Wahaha decided to end their partnership. Zong Qinghou stepped down as chairman of the joint ventures on June 5, 2007.
China's Richest Man
Zong Qinghou became very famous for his business success. In 2010, Forbes magazine named him China's richest man. He was also ranked as China's richest man in 2012. In 2013, the Hurun Report listed him as the second-richest person in China.
Zong Qinghou's Personal Life
Zong Qinghou was involved in politics too. He served as a representative to the Chinese National People's Congress. This is like a big national meeting where important decisions are made. He was a delegate from 2002 to 2018.
Zong was married to Shi Youzhen. They had one daughter named Fuli, who is also known as Kelly Zong. Shi Youzhen worked at Wahaha as a purchasing manager.
Zong Qinghou was known for living a simple life. He once said he spent less than $6,000 per year. He believed in saving money, which he said came from the teachings of Mao Zedong. He also focused a lot on keeping costs low in his business. He saw cost control as a key reason for Wahaha's success.
Zong Qinghou passed away on February 25, 2024, at the age of 78.
Awards and Titles
Zong Qinghou received many special awards and titles for his work. Here are some of them:
- National Excellent Entrepreneur (meaning a top business leader in the country)
- National Excellent Manager
- Model of Patriotism to Support the Armed Forces
- Outstanding Builder of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
- The First Chinese Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Prize
See also
In Spanish: Zong Qinghou para niños
