[Concurrent] Zhong Chenliang, founder of Huazhilin Humanistic Teahouse
Coming to the mainland should have no regrets and no regrets, and it has also changed my life.
Thanks to this motherland for giving us such an opportunity for Taiwanese businessmen. Under so many (good) environments, there is no reason not to do a good job in the enterprise and the brand.
[Explanation] The name of the elegant Taiwanese businessman in front of him is Zhong Chenliang. He has been opening a tea restaurant in the mainland for 25 years. During this period, his career has continued to grow with the rapid development of the motherland's economy.
Now, the company headquarters building is about to be completed in Changsha, Hunan, and is expected to be put into use in June this year.
Zhong Chenliang grew up in rural Chiayi, Taiwan, and joined a real estate agency after graduating from university.
In 1994, 25-year-old Zhong Chenliang came to the mainland for work.
In 1997, he resigned to start his own business, established Huazhilin Catering Management Company, and opened the first tea restaurant in Shanghai. Although the area is only 94 square meters, the business is very good.
[Concurrent] Zhong Chenliang, founder of Huazhilin Humanistic Teahouse
We have been in Taiwan since we were young. After school, we sat and chatted in the teahouse shop. I ate and drank a drink, such as bubble black tea and jasmine green tea, so we are familiar with these operations in the teahouse.
At that time, there were no good cafes and teahouses in Shanghai, so I thought it was a huge market gap, and there should be a lot of room for subsequent (development).
[Explanation] Zhong Chenliang introduced that shortly after the opening of the first tea restaurant, he opened two more stores one after another, and developed many franchise stores in East China with good reputation.
Since then, as the number of franchisees in Hunan gradually increased and the local economic and social development trend was good, after some research, he moved the focus of development from Shanghai to Hunan in 2008.
Zhong Chenliang said that catering in tea restaurants needs to be adapted to local conditions.
He positioned Hunan's "Flower Forest" Chinese food as Hunan cuisine, hired local chefs to cook it, and provided tea and snacks such as Taiwanese mountain tea, mochi, pineapple cake, green tea and melon seeds.
The combination of localization and specialization has allowed "Flower Forest" to quickly open up the market in Hunan.
At present, Zhong Chenliang has expanded more than 150 stores in Hunan, and has nearly 500 stores in mainland China, covering 16 provinces and cities.
In 2018, Hunan introduced 59 measures to benefit Taiwan, making it clear that it will gradually provide Taiwan compatriots with the same treatment as Hunan residents to study, start a business, work and live in Hunan.
This is a great benefit for Taiwanese businessmen.
Zhong Chenliang told reporters that in the early days of the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the "flower forest" with a large number of offline stores was hit hard. 3 months rent, and at the same time, relying on the food delivery business, they survived the most difficult period.
[Concurrent] Zhong Chenliang, founder of Huazhilin Humanistic Teahouse
During the epidemic, we not only did not close a store, nor lay off a single employee, but the performance of takeaway has tripled. Later, we opened 12 stores at the same time in August last year.
[Commentary] Zhong Chenliang said that the fact proved that he made the right step in coming to Hunan.
Now that the company is about to relocate to the new headquarters, he also has a clearer plan for future development: establish a corporate storage center, cooperate with high-quality ingredients and supplies manufacturers, and distribute products to all parts of the country; open a flagship with a larger area and complete facilities Stores to provide better services for consumers; establish training bases so that employees and franchisees can improve their capabilities.
Zhong Chenliang said that it is precisely because he has enjoyed the development dividends of the motherland that he has achieved today's achievements.
Today, the mainland's digital economy is developing in full swing, and various new business formats are emerging one after another. This is both an opportunity and a challenge for Taiwanese businessmen. Having settled in Hunan, he will continue to learn and keep up with this change, and looks forward to more Taiwanese young people in the future. Mainland, employment and entrepreneurship in Hunan.
Xiang Yipeng Guan Ziwen reports from Changsha
Responsible editor: [Li Yuxin]