Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 119 Admission Ticket? (Seeking September monthly votes and recommendations to continue reading)

Zhou Zhiyuan added, "I agree with Isabella's analysis. Technically, these adjustments are all feasible."

The North American version mainly involves adjustments to the spice ratio and sweetener replacement, with little change in cost.

The Japanese version will have a 2-5% higher cost due to the increased real fruit juice content, but this is acceptable considering Japanese consumer spending power and our desired premium positioning.

Chen Bingwen picked up the blind test statistics data and looked back and forth between the data tables.

The North American market demands straightforwardness and directness; it can't have a chemical feel to it.

The Japanese market demands subtlety and naturalness, as well as a sense of cultural affinity.

What may seem like a change in taste is actually a battle between consumer psychology and culture.

In its past, Red Bull was invincible in Europe and America, shaping the entire energy drink category.

However, in Japan, it has always been an outlier, receiving critical acclaim but not commercial success, with sales far lower than those of local brands like Lipovitan or Oral-Bac, which look like small pill bottles.

The core reason is that the Japanese market has long been dominated by local brands in the form of "health supplements," which have firmly established their functional image in the public consciousness.

When it comes to replenishing energy, Japanese consumers immediately think of those 100ml brown bottles that combat fatigue and replenish nutrients.

Red Bull, however successful in other parts of the world, is merely a "cooling beverage" in Japan.

Because Japanese Red Bull does not contain taurine.

Furthermore, the product forms and consumption habits are completely mismatched.

The Japanese are accustomed to drinking small, inexpensive "medicinal drinks" in one gulp for a quick energy boost.

Red Bull's 250mL aluminum carbonate can is more like a casual soft drink that needs to be sipped slowly, making it seem out of place whether on a commuter train or in the office.

"The channel barriers of domestic brands, deeply ingrained consumer perceptions, and the mismatch between product form and usage scenarios."

Chen Bingwen silently summarized the lessons learned from the failure of his previous life, "Pulse must never repeat the same mistake."

“Okay.” He finally made the decision. “Let’s go with this approach.”

However, our strategy for the Japanese market must be even more sophisticated.

What we need to consider is how to integrate into their cultural environment.

When adjusting the flavor, we should not only consider whether it tastes good, but also think about how to convey a Japanese aesthetic through flavor and packaging design.

We want consumers to feel that drinking "Pulse" is not just about its function, but also about making a tasteful choice.

Isabella, work with Professor Zhou to try to produce improved samples of the North American and Japanese versions as soon as possible.

A second round of blind testing will be conducted. If the data shows significant improvement, Suntory and Coca-Cola's North American and European distribution channels will be contacted immediately to prepare for small-batch production and distribution testing.

“No problem,” Zhou Zhiyuan and Isabella replied in unison.

Ten days later, Chenji Food Fuyuan Branch Factory.

The automated production line for Jinba concentrated powder has stopped, and the last box labeled "Jinba Instant Powder" was skillfully sealed and neatly stacked by the workers.

Wang Jianjun and Li Guowei stood in front of the finished product area, followed by several capable-looking assistants.

They carefully examined the packaging of the cardboard boxes, and even randomly opened one box to check a few small packets of instant powder.

Wang Jianjun held a bag of instant powder, examined it carefully, and nodded in satisfaction. "Mr. Chen, two million bags, not a single one missing, excellent, thank you!"

He put down the sample bag, his gaze swept over the neatly stacked finished products area, and finally landed on Chen Bingwen's face. He said seriously, "Time is tight and the task is heavy. It is not easy for you to complete it ahead of schedule with high quality and quantity."

We've witnessed that level of execution.

Chen Bingwen nodded slightly: "I'm glad Mr. Wang is satisfied."

We just did what we were supposed to do.

Li Guowei added with a smile, "Yes, President Chen, this collaboration went very smoothly."

It seems Chen's production capacity potential is even greater than we previously estimated.

Chen Bingwen smiled but said nothing.

The handover process went very smoothly.

Forklifts steadily loaded boxes labeled "Jinba Instant Powder" onto waiting trucks.

As the last box of Jinba instant powder was loaded onto the truck, Li Guowei and the others said goodbye to Chen Bingwen and prepared to leave.

Li Guowei shook hands firmly with Chen Bingwen: "Mr. Chen, please wait. We'll keep in touch about the follow-up matters."

Wang Jianjun also stepped forward and nodded: "Boss Chen, this cooperation is a good start."

The mainland market is huge, and the demands are also complex.

Good products like 'Jinba' that truly solve practical problems should be made available to more people who need them.

He paused, then said in a calm but meaningful tone: "Perhaps, next time we cooperate, we will need a larger quantity and a wider variety of products."

Hopefully, Chen Ji can maintain this level of quality.

Goodbye! "

"Goodbye, Mr. Wang, Manager Li. Have a safe trip." Chen Bingwen saw the two to their car and watched it drive out of the factory gate and into the traffic.

Only after the vehicle was completely out of sight did Chen Bingwen slowly withdraw his gaze.

He turned around and instructed Gao Zhenhai, who had been quietly following behind him, "Pass down the word that everyone involved in the project will receive a 50% bonus this month."

The production line was switched over for maintenance as planned, and the workers had a day off. We will begin producing 'Pulsating Concentrate Powder' early the day after tomorrow.

"Understood, Brother Wen!" Gao Zhenhai's face immediately broke into a smile, and his voice became even louder. "The brothers will be even more motivated after hearing this news!"

I'll arrange it right away!

Gao Zhenhai turned around and strode towards the workshop to announce the good news to the workers.

The bonus is the most tangible recognition of their hard work over the past few days, enough to sweep away everyone's fatigue.

Sure enough, less than two minutes later, cheers erupted from the workers in the workshop.

Chen Bingwen smiled and shook his head, then turned and walked towards a brand-new car parked at the factory gate.

To be honest, I've been in Hong Kong Island for almost a year now, and I mainly get around by taxi. Plus, I spend most of my time either at the factory or the company, so I haven't even thought about buying a car.

It was Zhao Gang and his friends who suggested he buy this car after they arrived.

I just bought it a few days ago.

"Back to Weiye Building," Chen Bingwen said briefly as he sat in the back seat.

"Okay, Mr. Chen!"

Driver Liu Ermeng smoothly started the car and drove towards Weiye Building.

Chen Bingwen leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples.

After several days of tension, as soon as the nerves relaxed slightly, a wave of fatigue washed over me.

Two million bags.

Behind this number is not just the completion of orders, but also the fact that Chenji's entire production system has passed an extreme stress test.

The production team led by Gao Zhenhai, the quality control by Zhou Zhiyuan, the supply chain coordination by the purchasing department, and even the administrative and logistical support all seemed to have undergone a fierce tempering.

This team has finally been truly honed.

This is an asset more valuable than profit.

As the car entered the city, the bustling street scenes outside the window flashed by.

Chen Bingwen's thoughts, however, had already drifted to a much farther place.

Wang Jianjun's last few words kept echoing in his mind.

"The quantity will be larger, and the variety may also be greater."

This was by no means just a polite remark from Wang Jianjun.

There must be something he doesn't know behind this.

The "larger quantity" is understandable, after all, the delivery of two million bags this time proves that Chenji has the capability.

But what does "more variety" mean?
The formula of "Jinba Instant Powder" is a functional beverage based on core ingredients such as taurine and caffeine, with a clear objective: to refresh and combat fatigue.

What Wang Jianjun and his team were clearly interested in was this core function.

So, what does "more variety" mean?
Other flavored functional instant powders?
Or are they completely different products?
Chen Bingwen's heartbeat quickened slightly.

He recalled the backgrounds of Wang Jianjun and Li Guowei, who were part of a vast system with large-scale and diversified demand for functional foods.

What does this system need?
Besides boosting energy and relieving fatigue, what else does it do?
Replenishing energy?

How to quickly restore stamina?
Cold-resistant?

Endurance of hunger?

Even maintaining basic nutrition under special circumstances?

A thought flashed through Chen Bingwen's mind like lightning: military rations!
This guess made him sit up straight instantly.

If that's the case, then the weight of Wang Jianjun's last words far exceeded his imagination!

"Larger volume" means orders that could cover the entire system or even larger-scale demand.

"More variety" means that it may not only include instant beverages, but also a whole set of food solutions for field or special operational environments, such as compressed biscuits, energy bars, ready-to-eat canned food, and even self-heating food!
This is no longer a simple commercial order, but a major project involving strategic material reserves and logistical support!

Its significance, technical requirements, confidentiality level, and underlying interest structure are far beyond those of ordinary commercial cooperation.

Chen Bingwen felt a chill run down his spine and straight to the top of his head.

If that's the case, then the arrival of the streamlined special operations support team makes sense.

If his guess is correct, then Chen Ji has inadvertently touched the threshold of this massive system.

Wang Jianjun's statement, "I hope Chenji can continue to maintain this state," is more like an expectation after certification.

Or rather, it's a preview of a ticket to a higher level of stage.

But this ticket to the event isn't so easy to get.

"More varieties" means that Chen Ji's existing production lines, technology reserves, raw material supply chains, and even management models may face disruptive challenges.

Military standards are incredibly stringent.

Shelf life, adaptability to extreme environments, nutritional ratio, and packaging protection—each of these presents entirely new challenges.

More importantly, venturing into this field means that Chen Ji will inevitably be drawn into a deeper vortex of interests and a system of secrecy.

This presents both a tremendous opportunity and an unprecedented risk for a rapidly growing company that is not yet deeply rooted in the market.

"squeak--"

A slight braking sound was heard, and the car came to a smooth stop in front of the Weiye Industrial Building.

"Mr. Chen, we've arrived," came the driver Liu Ermeng's voice.

Chen Bingwen took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent thoughts, and his eyes returned to a calm and serene state.

He pushed open the car door and strode towards the building entrance.

Whether the speculation is accurate or not, Chen Ji is not yet ready to be served.

If you try to reach for it now, you might not only fail to catch it, but you could also burn your hand.

The most urgent task is not to speculate about what lies behind that door, but to strengthen ourselves as quickly as possible and lay a deep and solid foundation for Chen Ji.

Until one day, no matter what challenges are thrown out from behind that door, he will have enough strength and confidence to steadily catch them and turn them into stepping stones for Chenji to reach new heights.

Back in my top-floor office, the phone on my desk rang as soon as I opened the door.

Chen Bingwen walked over quickly, picked up the receiver, and said, "Hello, this is Chen Bingwen."

“Mr. Chen, it’s me, Ling Peiyi.” Ling Peiyi’s clear voice came from the other end of the phone. “In Singapore, the two franchised bottling plants have just completed all their technical upgrades!”
The production line has been debugged and passed acceptance testing on the first attempt!

Even through the telephone line, Chen Bingwen could feel the barely suppressed excitement and sense of accomplishment in Ling Peiyi's voice.

(End of this chapter)