Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 209 Soaring (Seeking monthly tickets, recommendations, and subscriptions!)
July 3rd, Tuesday, 10:00 AM.

Chen Bingwen's office is located on the top floor of the Weiye Building.

Wang Manling, a columnist for the financial section of Sing Tao Daily, sat on the sofa in the reception area, turned on her recorder, and said with a smile:

"Mr. Chen, thank you very much for taking the time to grant me this interview."

"Miss Wang, you're too kind. It should have been arranged a long time ago, but I've been busy, so it's been delayed until now," Chen Bingwen waved his hand and said politely with a smile.

After meeting Lin Qingxia last time, Wang Manling expressed her intention to conduct an exclusive interview, and now the time is just right.

He needs to use this interview to pave the way for future capital operations and to generate buzz for the "Pulse" electrolyte water, which will be officially launched on July 1st.

After a few pleasantries, the interview officially began.

“Mr. Chen,” Wang Manling placed the recorder on the coffee table and opened her notebook, “Many readers are curious about why you, at such a young age, chose to enter the beverage industry.”

After all, to many, this doesn't seem as eye-catching as real estate or finance.

Chen Bingwen was prepared and calmly replied, "Choosing a drink is quite simple."

Food is the most important thing for people. Eating and drinking are things that everyone needs every day. The market is large enough and stable enough.

Our dessert shop is the starting point; it allows us to get closer to our consumers and understand what they like.

Later, when we made bottled sugar water and functional drinks, we followed the same path, using modern methods to improve traditional products so that everyone could more easily enjoy products with stable quality.

In my opinion, it is very meaningful to make a daily necessity well and to make more people like it.

Moreover, this industry is about product, distribution channels, and brand – it's very practical and more likely to create long-term value.

At this point, he added, "Like our 'Pulse' electrolyte water, which was launched on the first day, it was developed to meet the need for quick replenishment of water and electrolytes after exercise and sweating, solving a very practical problem."

Wang Manling pressed further, "Mr. Chen, the 'Pulse' electrolyte water you mentioned seems to have a different positioning than the previous functional drinks?"

"Pulse" electrolyte water focuses more on hydration and maintaining bodily balance, while energy drinks focus more on energizing and replenishing energy; the two are complementary."

After briefly explaining the difference between the two, Chen Bingwen gave an example: "Electrolyte water is similar to getting an IV drip when you are sick at the hospital."

We've made this scenario relatable so that everyone can replenish electrolytes anytime.

For example, it can be used to quickly rehydrate someone suffering from diarrhea and dehydration. It tastes better than drinking salt water and is absorbed faster.

"Huh? Pulsating electrolyte water has such effects?"

Wang Manling was very surprised by Chen Bingwen's answer.

Chen Bingwen explained with a smile, "Miss Wang's reaction is quite normal."

The core principle of 'electrolyte water' is actually not complicated. Essentially, it's a scientifically formulated 'salt-sugar water' that mimics the body's fluid environment, helping water to be absorbed more quickly.

He paused briefly to let Wang Manling process the information before continuing, "The same principle applies to intravenous infusions in hospitals, only the concentration and purity are higher."

What we're doing is turning this scientific method of hydration into a safe, convenient, and better-tasting everyday beverage.

Sweating during exercise, hot weather, or even dehydration caused by gastrointestinal discomfort as you mentioned are all applicable scenarios.

"Of course," Chen Bingwen changed the subject, emphasizing, "it is, after all, food, not medicine."

When we advertise, we will clearly state that this is a 'supplementary supplement' and should never replace medical advice.

If you feel seriously unwell, you should definitely see a doctor.

Its purpose is to provide healthy individuals with a more scientific and effective hydration option for specific daily scenarios.

He paused for a moment, then added, "Actually, many households keep lightly salted water or sugar-salt water on hand, and the principle is similar: to replenish water and electrolytes."

We've simply made it more standardized, easier to drink, and more portable.

For example, if a child suddenly has diarrhea in the middle of the night, it is not only troublesome to prepare saline solution on the spot, but it is also difficult to control the concentration. However, opening a bottle of "Pulse" electrolyte water can solve the emergency.

We hope that by doing so, we can provide consumers with an extra layer of convenience and security in their daily lives.

Wang Manling quickly jotted down notes in her notebook, exclaiming as she wrote, "So that's how it is."

Transforming the concept of professional medical fluid replacement into an everyday consumer product is a unique and valuable approach.

It seems that Chen Ji's product development goes beyond mere commercial considerations; they genuinely put a lot of effort into researching real-world needs.

"Commercial value and social value are never contradictory." Chen Bingwen smiled. "Products that can solve practical problems will naturally have their market."

We're just trying to do it a little better.

He then steered the conversation back to a more macro level: "So, back to your original question, why did you choose the beverage industry?"

Because it is close to life, there are countless such subtle but real needs waiting to be better met.

Treat each product as a solution to a specific problem, and the market will naturally reward you.

Chenji's future direction will continue along this path, focusing on the broader food and beverage industry and constantly launching products that genuinely improve consumers' quality of life.

He paused, then continued, "The purpose of acquiring Watsons is to have a more stable sales channel."

We participate in some real estate investments, such as Qingzhou Yingni, because we value the synergy between it and our future business layout, such as the optimization of logistics warehousing and production bases.

In short, the strategy is to focus on fundamentals and expand steadily. Wang Manling quickly took notes and then asked, "Recently, the market has been paying close attention to Qingzhou Yingni."

The transformation from a traditional cement plant to proposing a comprehensive development plan for the Hung Hom site is significant.

Could Mr. Chen elaborate on the specific plans and their impact on the company's future?

“Qingzhou Yingni has very good basic assets, especially land resources.”

Chen Bingwen steered the conversation to the main point, "But times are changing, and cities are developing."

Continuing to use that land in Hung Hom for cement production would be inefficient and not in line with environmental trends.

Our plan is to upgrade the industry by relocating highly polluting cement production to a more suitable industrial area, such as Tuen Mun.

The original site will be used to develop a modern beverage and food industrial park that is more in line with the regional plan, combining research and development, production, warehousing and logistics, and some commercial areas.

This is both a responsibility to shareholders' assets and in line with the Hong Kong government's urban development strategy.

Of course, the specific plan still needs to be discussed in detail with government departments.

The interview lasted about forty minutes.

Chen Bingwen struck a balance, revealing enough information to attract market attention without making overly specific promises, thus maintaining flexibility.

A few days later, the Hong Kong government's Works Department and Town Planning Board officially issued their approval for the integrated development plan of the Hung Hom site in Ching Chau.

The application for industrial upgrading and land transformation of Qingzhou Yingni has been approved in principle, but an additional land price of HK$78 million is required.

This figure is substantial, but it was within Chen Bingwen's expectations. Compared to the potential value of the land after its rezoning, the investment was worthwhile.

Once the approval was obtained, the propaganda machine was immediately put into operation.

The press releases arranged by Gu Yongxian were successively issued by several media outlets with which he had good relations.

The Sing Tao Daily's financial section headline reads: "Qingzhou Yingni seeks transformation, Hung Hom plot undergoes comprehensive development, valuation potential awaits release."

The Hong Kong Economic Journal's special report: "From Cement to Real Estate? The Path of Asset Revaluation in Qingzhou Yingni".

Economic Weekly In-Depth Report: "Industrial Upgrading and Land Value: Interpreting the Strategic Transformation of Yingni, Qingzhou".

A barrage of reports bombarded the market.

Previously, in the eyes of ordinary shareholders, Qingzhou Yingni was always a cement company with traditional business and meager profits.

Even though the recent battle between Chen Bingwen and Li Jiacheng for control caused a stir and the stock price fluctuated, people's perception of the company has remained largely unchanged.

This time, as the reporting progressed, the investors finally realized the truth.

It turns out that Yingni of Qingzhou holds such a large and valuable piece of land as Hung Hom!
And they really are shifting their focus to real estate development!

At this time, the real estate market is heating up rapidly, and any company that is associated with the real estate concept is receiving a lot of attention.

"Qingzhou Yingni is going to develop real estate!"

"That piece of land in Hung Hom is worth a fortune!"

"Transformation? There's potential to make a fortune!"

Similar discussions spread in the retail trading hall of the exchange.

Market sentiment was quickly ignited.

Buying activity in Qingzhou Yingni stock suddenly increased, and the stock price broke out of its previous consolidation pattern and began to rise with increasing volume.

Seeing the enthusiastic market response, Chen Bingwen knew the time was right.

He immediately instructed Fang Wenshan to release a pre-prepared asset revaluation announcement in the name of the Qingzhou Yingni Board of Directors.

The announcement stated that, based on the assessment of a professional surveying firm and the company's latest development strategy, a revaluation of the property assets under Qingzhou Yingni, especially the Hung Hom and Kowloon Bay sites, will be conducted.

Following the revaluation, the company's net asset value increased significantly, with a potential market capitalization of HK$8.6 million.

The announcement detailed the location, size, and potential for transformation and development of each plot, painting a blueprint full of imagination.

This announcement was like cold water thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the market.

HK$8.6 million!
Compared to its market value of less than 200 million before the revaluation, it has more than quadrupled!

Although this is only a "potential valuation," it comes in black and white from the board announcement, is backed by a professional British-owned surveying firm, and has been bombarded by the media recently, so there is no reason for shareholders not to believe it.

On the first trading day after the announcement, Qingzhou Yingni's stock price opened 15% higher, with a surge of buying that pushed the price up steadily.

Small and medium-sized retail investors, speculators, and even some institutional investors who were originally on the sidelines rushed into the market, afraid of missing out on this "ugly duckling to swan" opportunity.

The stock price soared like a rocket over several consecutive trading days.

Stock commentators excitedly analyzed the value of Qingzhou Yingni's "hidden assets" and its transformation prospects in newspapers and on the radio, further fueling the market frenzy.

In just over a week, the stock price soared from more than three Hong Kong dollars to nearly nine dollars, a remarkable increase.

Chen Bingwen's paper wealth swelled instantly.

(End of this chapter)