A worker checks bottled Wahaha beverages on a new production line in Chaohu, Anhui Province Wednesday. Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co, China’s largest beverage maker, has recently put into operation three new lines for packaged drinks in its Chaohu production base. The new lines add a combined total capacity of 30,000 tons, which is expected to bring in additional revenues of 200 million yuan ($32.1 million) a year. Photo: CFP

Daughter of the founder of Chinese beverage giant Wahaha Group has reportedly resigned as vice chairman of the company, according to media reports on Thursday.

According to a resignation letter circulating online, Zong Fuli, daughter of the late Wahaha chairman Zong Qinghou has decided to resign from her positions as vice chairman and general manager of Wahaha Group, effective July 15. 

In the letter, Zong Fuli said that some shareholders have raised questions about the management of Wahaha Group following the passing of chairman Zong Qinghou and this has made it impossible for her to continue performing her management responsibilities.

According to the letter, Zong said she has submitted her resignation letter to the company and all shareholders, urging them to promptly appoint a new general manager in accordance with the company's regulations to ensure the normal operation of the group and protect the interests of the company, customers, and employees.

Several subsidiaries of Wahaha Group told the Global Times on Thursday that the legal person remained unchanged and they have not heard of Zong Fuli, vice chairman and general manager of Wahaha Group, stepping down from her position at the group headquarters, in response to her rumored resignation.

A Wahaha dairy subsidiary in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province told the Global Times on Thursday that Zong Fuli remained the company’s legal person and they have not heard of any official notice from the headquarters about her stepping down. 

Another Wahaha food subsidiary in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region told the Global Times that they have not received any official notification regarding Zong Fuli’s resignation.

The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shangcheng district, Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, where Wahaha is based, told Jiemian News that they are currently verifying about the resignation from Zong Fuli.

Regarding the resignation rumor, a source close to Wahaha Group told thepaper.cn on Thursday that the situation is true, but the incident was sudden and the company's senior executives were not aware of it beforehand. Currently, the shareholders and management team of the company are in further discussion to handle the situation.

Zong Fuli probably faces challenges in handling integration with the major state-owned shareholders, the existing management model, and the management team during the company's transition. It is crucial to explore and establish a new institutional framework that aligns with the interests and beliefs of all parties involved. This is definitely not an easy task, said Yang Yiqing, executive president of Business Seminar Zhejiang told thepaper.cn.

Public information shows that Wahaha Group was founded in 1987. It has developed into one of the world's leading food and beverage production companies, and is among the top 500 Chinese enterprises and the top 500 private enterprises in China.

On February 25, Zong Qinghou, the founder and chairman of Wahaha Group, passed away at the age of 79. 

Zong Fuli, his daughter, was born in 1982, is currently the vice chairman and general manager of Wahaha Group. The position of chairman of Wahaha has been vacant since Zong Qinghou's passing.