Manila, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- This well-known foreign brand has witnessed the opening up and growth of China's economy
Xinhua News Agency reporters Liu Kai, Huang Anqi, Yan Jie
Many "post-80s", "post-90s" and even "post-00s" grow up memories, accompanied by the magic advertising words and crunchy sounds of "Shanghaojia", and some people also mistakenly regard this brand from the Philippines as a Local Chinese brand. So how did Shanghaojia grow into a well-known snack brand in the hearts of a generation? The story begins in Shanghai more than 20 years ago with a young Filipino man.
At the beginning of 1993, Shanghai Pudong New Area was officially established. Shi Gongqi, a Chinese businessman who runs a family snack business in the Philippines, decided to invest in Shanghai and set up a factory, and Shanghaojia became a foreign-funded enterprise that entered China in the early stage of reform and opening up.
More than two years later, Shi Xueli, who had just graduated from college and was under the age of 23, was assigned by his father to go to China to explore the market. In the business environment at that time, on-site promotion was the most effective way to sell. At the door of a well-known food company on Nanjing Road in the center of Shanghai, Shi Xueli rented a booth to engage in promotions, but he did not expect the effect to far exceed expectations, not only attracting a large number of customers, but also allowing him to get acquainted with distributors across the country, some of which continue to this day.
From the first factory in Shanghai to the 14 factories in the country, the expansion of Shanghaojia's enterprises has accompanied the opening up and development of China's economy. Today, China has become the largest market for Shanghaojia, accounting for nearly 40% of the business volume. Shi Gongqi, chairman of Shanghaojia Group, told Xinhua News Agency in Manila that enterprises have caught up with the opportunities of China's rapid development and are participants and witnesses of China's reform and opening up.
For Shi Xueli, the head of Shanghaojia China, the rapid development of China's economy has also contributed to his personal growth. In an interview with Xinhua News Agency in Shanghai, Shi Xueli said that the development and application of some of the latest technologies in the Chinese market have effectively promoted the development of the consumer field. "The biggest feature of the Chinese market is that it changes quickly and updates quickly. New technologies, new channels and new models are constantly emerging, and China is undoubtedly at the forefront of innovation. Shi Xueli said.
As an international business center, Shanghai is not only the first stop for Shanghaojia to enter China, but also the outpost of the company to a larger market, and the Expo is a key springboard. At the first CIIE, Shanghaojia received a government delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan at a 36-square-meter booth and successfully finalized the investment project in this Central Asian country.
Shi Gongqi said that the Ciie is an all-round international platform that can stand tall and see far, which shows China's self-confidence and determination to open up to the outside world.
As an enterprise participating in the Expo for four consecutive years, Shanghaojia's booth area has been expanding, and the partners received are more diversified. At this year's Expo, the company's booth design is based on the theme of Manila's Chinatown, hoping to show the world the grand scene of business and trade and the friendship between China and the Philippines.
Shi Xueli said that the CIIE conveys China's determination to take the initiative to expand opening up to the world, and this opening up will bring sustained prosperity. "The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact and impact on the global economy, and I hope that ciie will help everyone restore confidence and courage and find good ways and new opportunities to cope with challenges." (End)