Today's Headlines Coca-Cola Launches Three New Flavors of Sparkling Water Coca-Cola is entering the flavored sparkling water segment with its Smartwater brand, adding three new products to its existing line. The addition of Strawberry Blood Orange, Fuji Apple Pear, and Raspberry Rose flavors marks the first new product launch since the debut of the original Smartwater sparkling water nearly three and a half years ago. Lauren Freedman, brand manager for Smartwater, said consumers, especially millennials, want Smartwater to be creative, so Coca-Cola needs a unique, differentiated, and approachable product portfolio. Coca-Cola will also roll out alkaline water and antioxidant water nationwide, building on a limited launch last year. China Resources Beer Announces 2018 Results, Revenue Up 7.2% to 31.867 Billion Yuan Beer Daily reported on March 21 that China Resources Beer held its 2018 results conference in Hong Kong yesterday, announcing full-year results for 2018. Data shows that Snow Beer's revenue reached 31.867 billion yuan in 2018, up 7.2% year-on-year, with gross profit of 11.198 billion yuan, up 11.7%. Premium beer became a key growth driver for China Resources Beer. In 2018, sales of mid-to-high-end beer increased by 4.8%, and some products saw moderate price adjustments, with the average selling price rising 12.3% compared to 2017. In terms of volume, China Resources Beer sold 11.285 million kiloliters of beer in 2018, a slight decline year-on-year. The company attributed this to the decline in the Northeast market capacity and competition, as well as reduced sales in some local markets due to price increases. AB InBev to Appoint New Chairman, May See First Chinese Female Independent Director According to the Wall Street Journal yesterday, AB InBev announced on Tuesday that it will appoint current board member Marty Barrington as the new chairman, following his retirement as CEO of Altria, the parent company of Marlboro. Additionally, AB InBev announced that four directors will leave the board, including Alexandre Behring, CEO of 3G Capital and chairman of Kraft Heinz, and 3G Capital partner Carlos Alberto Sicupira. Furthermore, AB InBev recently announced the nomination of Liu Xiaozhi to replace Olivier Goudet as an independent director on the global board. Liu Xiaozhi is thus expected to become the first Chinese female to hold this position. The nomination will be reviewed at AB InBev's annual general meeting on April 24, 2019. According to AB InBev, Liu Xiaozhi has extensive knowledge and experience in the Asian market, particularly in the integration of technology and supply chain. Her diverse perspective and rich experience are especially valuable in helping the company achieve substantial growth in its Asian business. Toly Bread 2018 Earnings Rise Toly Bread's 2018 operating revenue was 4.833 billion yuan, up 18.47% year-on-year; net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was 642 million yuan, up 25.11%. The company also announced a board renewal, with the board agreeing to nominate Wu Xuequn, Sheng Yali, Wu Xueliang, Wu Xuedong, and Sheng Long as candidates for the fifth board of directors' non-independent directors, with a three-year term starting from the shareholders' meeting on April 11 this year. Huishan Dairy Restructuring Vote Delayed Multiple informed sources told reporters that the "Draft Plan for the Restructuring of 83 Enterprises Including Liaoning Huishan Dairy Group Co., Ltd." originally scheduled for creditor voting on March 10 has been delayed because some bank financial institution creditors could not vote on the spot and needed to go through internal processes. "The deadline for voting on the entire draft plan has been postponed to April 11," a source familiar with the progress of Huishan Dairy's asset restructuring told reporters, but privately expressed that there is still great uncertainty about whether these bank financial institution creditors will vote before April 11. The reason is that these creditors are not satisfied with the draft plan. "Therefore, some bank financial institution creditors particularly hope that relevant industrial investors can be introduced before the vote on the draft plan." In the view of industry insiders, this undoubtedly highlights the 'institutional operational flaws' in the market-based asset restructuring of debt-defaulting enterprises. Fuling Zhacai Targets 2.4 Billion Yuan Revenue for 2019 Fuling Zhacai released its 2018 annual report last night, showing operating revenue of approximately 1.914 billion yuan, up 25.92% year-on-year; net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was approximately 662 million yuan, up 59.78%. Meanwhile, Fuling Zhacai announced its 2019 financial budget, stating that based on the company's operating targets and business plans, the expected 2019 revenue target is 2.412 billion yuan, an increase of 26% compared to 2018. Reopenable Can After Opening According to foreign media reports, SNSTech has developed a beverage can called SipNShut, which is a can that can be reopened after opening. It is understood that the product is expected to be sold with designated brands in the third quarter of 2019. The company is currently accepting inquiries from partners and hopes to participate in the first phase of marketing. Starbucks Invests in a Fund Supporting Food and Retail Startups According to Reuters today, Starbucks has invested $100 million (approximately 669 million yuan) in a newly created fund managed by Valor Equity Partners, an investor in Tesla, aimed at boosting companies that develop new technologies and products for the food and retail industries. Starbucks said on Wednesday that the fund, Valor Siren Ventures Fund, plans to raise an additional $300 million (approximately 2 billion yuan). Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said in a statement: "We want to support future innovative entrepreneurs, and we are also inspired by them. We may explore business cooperation with them in the future." Synutra Approved for Two Special Medical Infant Formula Products According to recent news from Synutra, it has obtained production licenses for two products: Youbo Anneng Special Medical Purpose Infant Formula for Preterm/Low Birth Weight Infants and Youbo Minjia Lactoprotein Partial Hydrolysis Formula. It is reported that this is the first production license for special medical food for preterm/low birth weight infant formula and lactoprotein partial hydrolysis formula in China. Bright Dairy Plans to Enter Charcoal Yogurt Market According to a recent report from Caijing.com, it was discovered that Bright Dairy applied for an invention patent titled "A Brown Flavored Fermented Milk and Its Preparation Method" at the end of last year. In response, a person from Bright Dairy's public affairs department said that charcoal yogurt is a new development trend in the future yogurt market. "Currently, Bright Dairy is actively developing it. As for the form and timing of the new product launch, since it is still in the planning stage, specific information is not convenient to disclose." AB InBev Makes Savory Popcorn from Beer Waste According to a recent report from Jiemian, Protes, a snack brand invested by AB InBev's innovative investment arm ZX Ventures, recently launched a new product that recycles protein from beer brewing by-products to make a high-protein savory popcorn. Protes' previous classic products were high-protein chips and popcorn snacks. The popcorn made from AB InBev beer waste is expected to be officially launched in 2020. Wanglaoji Ciningji New Product Launch According to reports, on March 18, the Guizhou Provincial People's Government and Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Guiyang, and released the first batch of new products from Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group's assistance to Guizhou's Rosa roxburghii industry, the Wanglaoji Ciningji series. Video China Resources Group Launches First Advertising Film According to China Resources' official WeChat yesterday, China Resources Group launched its first advertising film. The film features China Resources Group and its numerous sub-brands covering multiple fields, with the slogan "Beauty is right beside you." -END-