Wanglaoji Beverage Group Unveiled, Targets Global Natural Plant Drink Market

On September 22, "Guangzhou Wanglaoji Great Health Industry Co., Ltd." was officially renamed "Wanglaoji Beverage Group Co., Ltd." The unveiling of the Wanglaoji Beverage Group signals a more focused core business, a more systematic organizational structure, and a more open approach to capturing the global natural plant-based beverage niche, paving a forward-looking path for the internationalization of Chinese beverage brands.

AI Empowerment and Global Ambitions

At the launch event, Li Xiaojun, Chairman of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited (GPHL), stated that the group's "15th Five-Year Plan" clearly aims to build a world-class, innovation-driven pharmaceutical and health industry group. The establishment of Wanglaoji Beverage Group serves as a core pillar of this plan within the natural beverage segment.

Addressing industry trends, Li emphasized that in the AI era, the company will leverage AI technology to empower marketing and supply chains. It will also strengthen research investment by collaborating with top domestic and international universities—partnerships GPHL has established this year. Under the leadership of its international brand WALOVI, Wanglaoji Beverage Group aims to enrich its product portfolio and branding strategies, positioning itself at the forefront of internationalization, modernization, digitalization, and technological advancement.

Rapid Growth in the Plant-Based Beverage Market

The plant-based beverage sector has been expanding rapidly in recent years. According to data from iiMedia Research:

• The broad plant-based beverage market reached 210 billion RMB in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 9.6%.
• The market is expected to exceed 280 billion RMB by 2030.

Currently, natural plant-based beverages sit at the intersection of three major trends: health-conscious consumption, modern food industry development, and plant-based technology. Key growth drivers include the continued expansion of the sugar-free tea segment, the rapid rise of herbal wellness drinks, and the emergence of new plant-extract beverages.

Strategic Upgrades and Product Expansion

In line with its strategic upgrade, Wanglaoji has already been executing a series of concrete initiatives. At the start of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the company clearly defined its "1+1+N" business strategy:

• Rooted in natural plant ingredients
• Strengthening core mega-products
• Expanding product categories
• Focusing on key consumption scenarios such as gifting and banquets
• Targeting high-frequency occasions like ready-to-drink and dining
• Continuously cultivating "N" emerging markets

Since the beginning of this year, Wanglaoji has launched new products, including:

• Wangzhe Yingxiong (Hero King) natural energy electrolyte drinks
• Lemujiang berry blend compound fruit and vegetable juice

These products extend the brand's reach from traditional gifting and banquet scenarios to everyday life situations such as sports, study, work, state management, and family health management.

Accelerated Global Expansion

Wanglaoji has significantly accelerated its overseas expansion efforts:

• June: Announced Norwegian football star Erling Haaland as the global brand ambassador for WALOVI, leveraging top-tier sports IP to amplify global brand visibility.
• August: Launched the Wangzhe Yingxiong brand overseas; the WALOVI Singapore International Headquarters became operational, overseeing overseas brand promotion and channel management.
• Since May: Held global investment conferences and specialized roadshows in Guangzhou, Vietnam, and Jakarta, continuously expanding the breadth and depth of international cooperation.

Impressive Overseas Growth

Over the past decade, Wanglaoji's overseas market scale has grown 6.5 times, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 25%. Its sales network now covers over 100 countries and regions.

Key regional highlights include:

• Europe: Annual growth rate exceeding 30% over the past five years, with products exported to more than 10 countries.
• United States: Products available in major channels such as Costco and Amazon.
• Southeast Asia: Vietnam serves as the core market, with a CAGR of 95%.

(Editor: Duan Siqi)