According to an official statement from Wahaha, Comrade Zong Qinghou, the founder and chairman of Wahaha Group, passed away at 10:30 AM on February 25, 2024, at the age of 79 due to an incurable illness.
Reflecting on his lifetime achievements, Zong Qinghou once said, "In my lifetime, I have created only one Wahaha. Just as there are a thousand interpretations of Hamlet in the eyes of a thousand people, there will be a thousand different Wahahas in the eyes of a thousand people. But for me, there is only one Wahaha. It encompasses my entire life, all my dreams, and represents the meaning, value, label, and symbol of my existence in this world."
Wahaha has been operating for 30 years, insisting on not going public or seeking financing.
It is reported that Wahaha has deposited billions of dollars in banks, which provides sufficient cash flow for Zong Qinghou to deal with market risks.
"Going public means taking responsibility for shareholders. If the stock eventually falls and causes a significant loss for the public, I don't think it is appropriate," said Zong Qinghou.
He said, "My dream is to establish a century-old store that safeguards the health of the people and brings benefits to them."
In December 2016, a netizen encountered Zong Qinghou on the G2365 high-speed train. Just like everyone else, he was sitting in a second-class seat and even made the children around him happy, without any airs of being the "richest man."
In March 2017, another netizen spotted Zong Qinghou alone at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, waiting in the boarding hall with his luggage. He was also sitting in the economy class.
In the program "The Reader," Zong Qinghou responded in the following way: "They believe that since I have money, I should fly in higher class cabins. I don't think it should be like that. I always travel alone for business and don't need someone else accompanying me. The entrepreneurial spirit that I proposed during the start of my business is to work hard, persevere, be bold in exploring, and strive for self-improvement. If others look down on us, we should have confidence in ourselves and ultimately earn their respect."
