Zong Qinghou’s Brother Launches Competing Beverage Brand “Wa Xiaozhi,” Heati...

Zong Zehou, the brother of late China’s beverage tycoon and Wahaha founder Zong Qinghou, has launched a new brand – Wa Xiaozhi – to rival with Wa Xiaozong, a brand created by his niece and former heiress of Wahaha, signalling the escalation of the family feud over inheritance.

Zong Fuli stepped down as Board Chair on Friday after the Board of Directors and Shareholders’ Meeting approved her resignation.

According to promotional materials and confirmed by sales representatives, Wa Xiaozhi held a national distributor conference in Hangzhou on Friday, kicking off its franchise recruitment campaign. Distributors who purchase over 100,000 yuan (about $13,700 USD) in products can gain exclusive regional rights.

A sales representative told reporters that Wa Xiaozhi is intended to compete head-to-head with Zong Fuli’s Wa Xiaozong. “We started operations for the new brand last November,” the representative said. “Work on Wa Xiaozhi began around China’s National Day holiday this month. There’s no deposit required to become a distributor, just an initial order of at least 30,000 yuan.”

The Wa Xiaozhi product lineup mirrors that of Wahaha, including AD calcium milk, mineral water, coconut water, and eight-treasure porridge. “Our formulas are identical to Wahaha’s, but our prices are lower,” the representative claimed.

As of now, Wa Xiaozhi has signed up 153 distributors, mostly in Zhejiang province, with others in Hunan and Guizhou. The brand is currently targeting chain supermarkets and major distribution channels.

Business registry data from Tianyancha shows that Wa Xiaozhi Food (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. was founded in 2025 and is based in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province. The company is primarily involved in wholesale operations. Ownership records confirm Zong Zehou as the actual controller of the company.

This development adds a new layer to the ongoing internal struggle within the Zong family, as rival factions now compete not only for control of Wahaha’s legacy—but also for market share in China’s beverage market.