Want Want competes in China with the likes of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Unilever and Wahaha.
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When Danone made its investment, Wahaha says it knew little about business and welcomed a partner.
Wahaha, nor any local or regional players, have not managed to build such strong brands.
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Yet tough competition in its core business at home is leading Wahaha to look into new businesses.
Wahaha is well-liked by Chinese consumers as they have established a positive brand image for themselves over the long term.
FORBES: Zong Qinghou Is Back As China's Richest Man: What's Next For Wahaha?
No doubt something is working well at Wahaha, which is winning in an intensely competitive sector, food and soft drinks.
Unlisted Wahaha, best known for its bottled water, competes in China with the likes of Coca-Cola, Want Want, Uni-President and Tingyi.
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Wahaha, based in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, says it has been China's biggest beverage maker over the past 11 years.
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Zong chairs the privately held Wahaha, the country's top homegrown beverage company.
Five years ago Wahaha was clearly the leader of the pack but it has to be said that other local beverage companies like Want Want.
FORBES: Zong Qinghou Is Back As China's Richest Man: What's Next For Wahaha?
Danone says it believed things were going smoothly until 18 months ago, when it discovered Wahaha had started a parallel firm to market similar products.
To what extent is Wahaha poised to benefit from that growth?
FORBES: Zong Qinghou Is Back As China's Richest Man: What's Next For Wahaha?
While the value of those agreements have not been revealed, Chinese beverage giant Wahaha will become Manchester United's first official soft drinks partner in the country.
CNN: Manchester United teams up with first two Chinese sponsors
Wahaha has established its own production plants and processing factories in the major fruit growing areas to ensure the quality of juice products and a competitive retail price.
FORBES: Zong Qinghou Is Back As China's Richest Man: What's Next For Wahaha?
Wahaha in August signed a research cooperation agreement with the University of Nottingham in the UK in areas ranging from bioenergy technology to animal feed, robotics, electrical motors and food technologies.
In a move to enhance its image among sports fans in China, Wahaha in January said it would become the official beverage partner of the Manchester United soccer team in the country.
"Wahaha is one of the most iconic brands in China ... what better way to endorse this modern-day success story than to partner with the number one club in the world's biggest sport, " said Richard Arnold, Manchester United's commercial director, in a news release.
CNN: Manchester United teams up with first two Chinese sponsors
Groupe Danone ( DA - news - people ) agreed to sell its 51% interest in its joint ventures to its former partner, Chinese beverage tycoon Zong Qinghou's Hangzhou Wahaha, which finally ended all legal proceedings related to trademark and business disputes between the two parties.
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