On the Internet, the topic of the brand dispute between Wahaha and Nongfu Spring is sparking a heated discussion.
On the one hand, the death of Mr. Zong Qinghou has cast a shadow on the national brand of Wahaha, but the majority of netizens have worked hard to defend this brand that they were once proud of with a high degree of enthusiasm and gratitude. They regard Wahaha as their most beloved "drinking pet" and hope to maintain its dignity through their own strength.
On the other hand, as Wahaha's momentum continues to rise, there has also been a wave of "one hand and one step" against Nongfu Spring on the Internet. Netizens have dug out the allusion of Chairman Zhong Sui's "farmer and snake" back then, and raised severe questions about his brand ethics. Even Li Guoqing, the founder of Dangdang.com, and Hu Xijin, a famous commentator, have also stood up and publicly expressed their support for Nongfu Spring, a brand that was once criticized.
This brand battle led by two national brands has undoubtedly triggered an unprecedented public opinion war. The confrontation between the two camps is intensifying, and the voices of invective and questioning are coming one after another, and the atmosphere has fallen into a white-hot state for a time.
How will this battle for the dignity of the national brand end? When celebrities from all walks of life stepped in and stood in support of Nongfu Spring, how did Wahaha, the former overlord, deal with this sudden reversal?
What kind of profound social significance and value appeal are hidden behind this brand dispute? As the general public, how should we objectively look at this contest for the dominance of national brands?
First, the grievances of the two major brands
To deeply understand the ins and outs of this brand battle, we first need to restore the original grievances between the two parties.
1. Mr. Zong Qinghou's ambition and perseverance
The reason why Wahaha was able to become the industry hegemon in the market for a time is largely due to the foresight and persistent pursuit of its founder, Mr. Zong Qinghou. As an ordinary farmer's son, Zong Lao relied on his tenacity and extraordinary business talent, starting from selling alcohol, and gradually established his own beverage empire.
The reason why Zong Lao was able to achieve such great achievements is that he has always had a grateful heart and unswervingly pursued the rise of the national brand. He repeatedly emphasized that Wahaha should be built into a real well-known brand in China and a national flower that the Chinese people are proud of. This persistent pursuit of national brands has undoubtedly won the love and recognition of consumers.
And now, when Wahaha has become the industry leader again, netizens are naturally unwilling to forget this experience, and they have begun to frequently associate it with Zhong's image, forming a "bad" impression. In the face of the increasingly negative public opinion on the Internet, Zhong had to come forward in person to clarify and explain his behavior back then, but he failed to get the understanding of the majority of netizens.
He was followed by Mr. Hu Xijin, a well-known "special commentator". Although he tried to maintain a neutral stance at first, he did not want to get too involved in the controversy, but as the discussion deepened, he eventually publicly expressed his support for Nongfu Spring, and even accused netizens who criticized Nongfu Spring for "pseudo-patriotism".
Mr. Ren Zeping appeared next, who directly denounced those who "hurt people" on the Internet, and blamed Nongfu Spring's sales decline directly on their "blind following".