China's Want Want faces major business crisis, netizens suggest reducing sugar

China's Want Want Group, a well-known food and beverage conglomerate, is reportedly facing a "major business crisis," according to its chairman, Tsai Eng-ming. The company's first-quarter profits, spanning April to June, saw a sharp decline of approximately 38% compared to the same period last year.

The gravity of the situation has propelled discussions about Want Want's business challenges to the top of China's Weibo social media platform. Several related topics, including "Want Want's biggest rival is sugar" and "Want Want Group faces major business crisis," have trended among the top 10 most discussed issues.

Chinese netizens have been actively offering their suggestions for the company's revival. A recurring theme in the online discussions is the perceived excessive sweetness of Want Want's products. Consumers point out that popular items like "Wangi Milk," "Snow Cakes," and "Little Buns" are consistently too sugary, which clashes with contemporary health consciousness and the growing trend of sugar reduction.

Many parents have expressed that they no longer prioritize Want Want snacks for their children, noting that while the adult consumers have grown, the product formulations have not evolved. This has led to widespread calls for the company to consider reducing sugar content or even introducing sugar-free options to better align with market demands and consumer preferences.