Shi Youzhen

Shi Youzhen, female, Han ethnicity, is the wife of Wahaha Group founder Zong Qinghou. She graduated from Hangzhou No. 8 High School. In her youth, she was sent down to Yanwo Island in Heilongjiang as part of a remote youth corps, where she worked in farming and animal husbandry, eventually becoming deputy leader of a livestock unit. In 1978, she returned to Hangzhou under state policy and was assigned to work in the commercial system.

On May 1, 1980, Shi Youzhen married Zong Qinghou. In January 1982, their daughter Zong Fuli was born. Over the years, she became involved in the operation and investment of Wahaha-related enterprises. In 2002, as chairwoman of Wahaha Apparel Co., Ltd., she announced the group’s expansion into the children’s clothing market. In January 2003, Zong Fuli registered Hengfeng Trading in the British Virgin Islands, and in October of the same year, Shi Youzhen and her daughter jointly founded Hangzhou Hongsheng Beverage Co., Ltd. She later served as the legal representative of Nanning Wahaha Hengfeng Beverage Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Hengli Beverage Co., Ltd., Changsha Wahaha Hengfeng Food Co., Ltd., among others.

In 2006, audits revealed that Danone had paid Zong Qinghou a total of USD 71 million through service fees and dividend payments. Part of these funds were deposited into Hong Kong bank accounts belonging to Zong Qinghou, Shi Youzhen, Zong Fuli, and Du Jianying. In November 2010, Wahaha Venture Capital was established, with Zong Qinghou’s investment company holding 90% and Shi Youzhen holding 10%. In August 2012, Zhoukou Hengfeng Beverage Co., Ltd. was founded, with Shi Youzhen serving as a director.

She has also been a shareholder in Zhejiang Wahaha Venture Capital Co., Ltd., Ningbo Jinrui Investment Management Co., Ltd., and Hangzhou Wahaha Convenience Food Co., Ltd., and has held executive roles in Songyu Printing & Packaging Co., Ltd. and Songyuan Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

In recent years, Shi Youzhen has gradually stepped back from corporate management. In July 2024, she resigned as chairwoman of Shaoguan Hengfeng Beverage Co., Ltd. and as a director of Guangzhou Hengfeng Beverage Co., Ltd. In August, she stepped down as chairwoman of Hengyang Hengfeng Beverage Co., Ltd. In September, she resigned as chairwoman of Hangzhou Hongsheng Hengfeng Beverage Co., Ltd., and in October, she left her directorship at Hangzhou Wahaha Yongsheng Beverage Co., Ltd.

As Zong Qinghou’s partner and Zong Fuli’s mother, Shi Youzhen has played a significant role both within the family and in the broader Wahaha business network, contributing extensively to its growth and investments over several decades.