HEAD OF THE DAY
🥤The Drink Disruptor
For years, giants like Coca-Cola and Nongfu Spring dominated China’s beverage market. But Tang Binsen saw a gap: no brand thought or operated like a tech company.
💡 His approach: Instead of relying on ads or celebrity endorsements, he built Chi Forest (元气森林) like an internet product — driven by rapid testing, fast iterations, and data-based decisions rather than gut feeling. His experience from the gaming industry helped him pull it off.
The result: 0 sugar, 0 calories, 0 caffeine — stylish drinks with the authentic taste of Asian fruits and extra fizz, made for China’s health-conscious generation.
📊 Today, Chi Forest produces over 5 billion bottles per year and sells in 40 countries, including Australia and the UK.
In 2024, the company reached 10 billion RMB (≈ 1.4 billion USD) in revenue.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
