In the Shenzhen market, at a large shopping mall, several food distributors gathered to discuss the promotion of some product brands they had in hand.

There was intense competition among the distributors, with shelf space, product visibility, and sales directly affecting their interests.

However, in recent years, the market had become more mature, making it increasingly difficult for the food industry to thrive.

The majority of the market share had been taken up by a few of the largest domestic giants, leaving only scraps for smaller brands to survive on.

Consumers were ruthless and especially had little recall for non-giant brands.

In an effort to grab the attention of consumers, everyone was working hard with discounts and promotions.

Most of the distributors struggled, but they still managed to hold on, as they were better off than others.

Their brands may not be as well-known nationally as the industry giants, but they had a small share of the local Shenzhen market.

Most of the time, consumers chose their brands simply because the prices were low enough.

So when they gathered together, they couldn’t help but talk about their peers who had vision and managed to seize opportunities before the barriers for big brands became too high.

These distributors had seen their brands grow strong, reaping large rewards, and some brands didn’t even need frequent promotions.

After discussing the luck of others, someone casually mentioned, “Did you hear? Old Li signed a distribution contract with Mingde a few days ago.”

A distributor nearby responded with a smile, “How could I not hear? I even called him and tried to persuade him, but he didn’t take it seriously. Sigh.”

Another distributor shook his head, “That Old Li is really confused. The market is so tough now, we’re not like those big distributors who can handle losses and casually take on new brands.”

The first distributor continued, “Actually, it’s not a new brand. Mingde is quite well-established in the restaurant business in Shenzhen. He probably saw an opportunity there. But he doesn’t realize that even though Mingde’s restaurant business is doing well, it has nothing to do with the products Old Li is handling. Do consumers really care about buying his products just because of the restaurant? Anyway, when Mingde’s promotion team approached me, I saw their product introduction and immediately turned them down without even meeting them.”

“I met their promotional team once, but they wouldn’t budge on their terms. So arrogant. I just threw their brochure into the trash right in front of them.”

Although Mingde originated from Linjiang, it was now a rising star in Shenzhen’s food scene. With several well-established restaurants, few competitors could match its scale and reputation.

Some small distributors were excited by the opportunity to get in with such a large company.

“I heard Old Li’s company is already contacting channels to stock Mingde’s products,” one of them laughed and summarized. “What a fool. He doesn’t even think about who he’s going to sell it to once he distributes it.”

Just then, they saw a few customers standing by the freezer, looking for something. They were talking to each other.

“Where is it?”

“Look over there.”

“I can’t find it. Oh no, this mall doesn’t have it, does it?”

The distributors immediately realized that their brands were not in the game.

These customers were very determined, usually looking for a specific flavor or new product, and they wouldn’t be swayed by a sales pitch.

As expected, the customers didn’t even glance at the products the distributors were promoting.

They went straight to the mall’s sales assistant and asked, “Excuse me, where can I find Mingde’s frozen food?”

The distributors exchanged glances, some feeling envious.

Only the big, well-known brands could attract such focused customers who wouldn’t settle for anything else.

Then, they overheard the customers’ conversation—one of them suddenly looked distressed as she held up her phone. “Oh no, it’s not even out yet! No wonder we couldn’t find it in two malls!”

Disappointed, they left without buying anything.

The sales assistant returned to her colleagues and casually commented, “This Mingde brand is amazing. A lot of people have been coming to look for their products these past few days.”

The small distributors were left speechless.

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Meanwhile, the publicity efforts from Mingde’s loyal fans had a hurricane-like effect.

The products, which were not even officially launched yet, had already gained immense popularity.

Fans were pouring all their energy into promoting the brand, posting beautifully shot photos and passionately written recommendations.

The level of enthusiasm was unmatched by typical product promotions.

Thanks to the buzz around the new restaurant opening, Mingde was now the center of conversation in Shenzhen, and their new products quickly gained recognition.

Countless online users, excited after hearing about it, tried to purchase the items, only to discover that they weren’t available yet, leaving them to drool over the online pictures and descriptions.

The official social media account was flooded with comments:

“Did you hear Mingde is launching frozen food?”

“When is Mingde’s frozen food going to be available? Will it be sold in restaurants? Can we find it in supermarkets? Will it be in Shenzhen or Linjiang?”

“Please hurry up! I’m so hooked, I can’t wait!”

“Your product packaging looks great. I love the design of the beef noodle one. Kudos to the designer!”

“I think the packaging for the dumplings is the prettiest.”

Despite not having launched the promotional campaign yet, it seemed like everyone in Shenzhen already knew about Mingde’s new products.

Many local distributors who had previously ignored Mingde’s team during the promotion stage now came knocking on their door, eager to re-discuss business.

But this time, the advantage was no longer on their side.

In the office, Jiang Bai finished a call with a distributor who had once arrogantly tossed Mingde’s promotional documents into the trash.

He looked at the documents he handed to Jin Yaotiao, and then watched his boss calmly reviewing them at his desk.

What should I do if my boss’s fanbase is too strong?

Am I going to lose my job?

Before the promotional campaign was even launched, increasing the company’s visibility was certainly not a bad thing.

After seeing the hype around Mingde’s products, the dealers’ worries were all put to rest, and the product launch that was originally planned could proceed much faster.

With the products already generating buzz, the dealers found their work much easier. After all, pushing a new product to retailers is not always a simple task.

Retailers, being at the end of the supply chain, also carry significant risks when accepting new products.

The two dealers who signed contracts with Mingde weren’t particularly influential industry giants.

They were used to the routine of having to negotiate for a new channel, sometimes making numerous trips.

But Mingde completely changed their perception of work.

In recent times, the inquiries about Mingde’s products were numerous, and the reports from their staff had already left a deep impression on major retailers.

These retailers were anxious.

If they didn’t have the products that consumers wanted, it would create a bad situation.

Especially in the comprehensive retail industry, such as supermarkets, what is the competition about? Isn’t it about having abundant supply and more choices?

If other competitors sell products that they don’t carry, their customers may stop considering them as their first shopping choice next time.

Therefore, when Mingde’s dealers came knocking, many end retailers felt relieved. It had finally arrived.

Once the news that they had the distribution rights for Mingde’s new products was leaked, some impatient partners even proactively contacted them to inquire about the details of cooperation.

Some of the more perceptive ones, noticing the business opportunity in the online buzz, even offered to make some concessions, hoping to become the first retailer in the deep market to sell Mingde’s new products and attract customers.

These two small dealers had never experienced such treatment.

They, of course, didn’t think that these previously hard-to-approach partners were just giving them face. For a moment, holding the contract with Mingde, they felt as if they had discovered treasure, and they couldn’t help but walk around with pride.

But the more this happened, the more cautious they became.

For small dealers like them, it wasn’t easy to partner with a company like Mingde.

Now that the market was proving Mingde’s potential, other industry competitors would certainly eye them closely. If they didn’t try their best, the opportunity might slip through their fingers.

They had to move faster, much faster, to ensure that Mingde wouldn’t abandon them.

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However, Mingde’s smooth progress benefitted some, but also stirred trouble for others.

A newly established department for the production line quickly discovered that some people online were trying to take advantage of the buzz.

The staff reported this to Jiang Bai, who then handed the results to Jin Yaotiao.

Having worked with Mingde for a long time, Jin Yaotiao could easily tell that these actions were from industry competitors.

Since most of Mingde’s promotions were done by fans, the increased attention led many to start promoting other brands’ products in the comments about Mingde’s frozen products.

Although Mingde’s products hadn’t been launched yet, it was understandable for netizens to share other already available brands.

However, when they shared and subtly criticized Mingde, it wasn’t normal. After reviewing the brands with the highest visibility, Jin Yaotiao noticed a familiar name appearing frequently: “Xinghe?”

Jiang Bai nodded. “This is one of the largest frozen food companies in our country. You should recognize them, Director Jin.”

Jin Yaotiao nodded with a slight smile. “They’re a big company, but why are they piggybacking on our hype?”

Though Mingde had established itself in the restaurant industry, it was still a newcomer in the frozen food industry, and compared to them, Xinghe’s scale was much larger and more well-known in other cities across the country.

Jiang Bai shook his head and explained, “Don’t be fooled by Xinghe’s size. Their headquarters isn’t here, and they haven’t yet conquered the deep market. Their market share in nearby areas is also less than that of other big brands. I checked the data, and their sales began to decline a few years ago. It wasn’t until last year that they focused on a few first-tier cities, spending huge sums on advertising, which allowed them to recover. Their market share in these cities is now over 20%, but they haven’t yet entered the deep market. Since the beginning of this year, it’s obvious they’re preparing to activate the deep market. They’ve always used this strategy—massive advertising combined with online promotion of other brands to increase their visibility. In the past, they were more subtle about it, bundling with other big brands.”

Jin Yaotiao nodded, realizing what was happening.

Xinghe saw Mingde as an easy target in a new industry and wanted to seize the opportunity to break into the deep market by riding the hype of Mingde’s new products.

However…

Xinghe seemed to have misunderstood the origins of Mingde’s buzz. It wasn’t like the usual industry competitors they were familiar with. The tactics they used didn’t always work in this case.

Although Jiang Bai found this competitor’s opportunistic behavior annoying, he wasn’t overly concerned, as he was just reporting it to Jin Yaotiao as part of their regular update.

Jin Yaotiao, however, looked at the report thoughtfully.

Though she still didn’t understand why she had a fan club, she had to admit… her fan club’s fighting power was strong.

Fans’ tolerance and loyalty are different from regular brand customers. The accounts that were promoting Xinghe’s products while disparaging Mingde were bombarded with criticism.

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In the deep market, Xinghe’s company, unfamiliar with fan culture, stared blankly at the unexpected feedback they received.

“Go away! Just sell your products and stop attacking Mingde! How dare you!”
“Who says Xinghe’s products taste better than Mingde’s? Mingde’s products aren’t even on the market yet! Are you really going to make your bias that obvious?”

…Were consumers this sharp?

It seemed like the consumer base in this market was quite different from what they were used to.

The person in charge furrowed his brows. In other cities, even when they partnered with industry leaders, they rarely faced such harsh criticism.

Why were these deep market consumers so aggressive?