茅台酒业很苦恼:中国年轻人就是不上钩…
China’s Kweichow Moutai Co., the world’s most valuable liquor distiller, said it aims to boost revenue by more than 15 percent this year as it benefits from Chinese consumers shifting to pricier spirits. Full-year net income grew 8 percent last year to 16.7 billion yuan ($2.4 billion). Revenue rose 19 percent to 38.9 billion yuan. Profit growth comes as Moutai raises wholesale prices, a sign that the top-shelf brands in the baijiu industry have succeeded in appealing more to a growing middle class. “Moutai boasts the strongest pricing power in the industry with its strong brand awareness,” an analyst at SWS Research Co., said. “It has robust growth momentum and rising levels of profitability driven by rising income levels and middle-class consumers spending more.” Maotai's stock has more than tripled since 2013, closing at 395.45 yuan Friday in Shanghai. But it faces the long-term challenge of attracting young Chinese drinkers who are fonder of bars and nightclubs than the banquet halls where baijiu is often downed. Their willingness to spend more is also matched by a desire to invest in healthier lifestyles, while makers of wine and Western liquors like whiskey make a strong bid for their attention. “There’s a growing health-consciousness among consumers that could impact the demand for baijiu in the long term,” said Hunter Williams, a partner at Oliver Wyman Ltd. |