Fujian Entrepreneurs
In the blood of Fujian merchants flows the gene of the sea.
Xu Xiaokun
“True business longevity is not found in the wind, but in taking root.”
Xu Xiaokun is the founder of Tangchao Group. In 2011, he founded the first Tangchao snack store in Xiamen, focusing on bulk snack retail chain operations. Tangchao adopts a direct sourcing model from manufacturers. As of 2026, Tangchao stores cover provinces including Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang, with continuously growing store count and membership. In 2023, Tangchao invested in a snack headquarters project in Zhangzhou Longhai.
Xu Xiaokun
In December 2023, Zhangzhou Longhai held an industry signing ceremony — the Tangchao Group snack headquarters project was launched, covering snack production and integrated warehousing-distribution. Tangchao grew from a Xiamen community store to a multi-province snack chain brand.
I. Early Entrepreneurial Experience
Xu Xiaokun is from Longhai, Fujian. In his early entrepreneurial journey, he experienced difficulties — according to his own public sharing, he carried debt that he gradually repaid. This experience reinforced his focus on steady operations and cash flow management.
II. 2011, First Store in Xiamen
In 2011, Xu opened the first Tangchao snack store at Taihe Garden in Xiamen, adopting an affordable snack retail model rooted in the community.
Unlike traditional multi-tier distribution models, Tangchao directly sources from food manufacturers, reducing intermediate links.
III. Regional Focus
In the early stage, Tangchao focused on the Fujian market for years, concentrating on single-store model refinement and warehousing-distribution system development. After the regional model matured, expansion to other provinces began.
Tangchao established a "supplier-platform-franchisee" cooperation model. In 2022, standardized store management and digital systems were implemented. Warehousing and logistics facilities were built in Fujian, Guangdong, and Jiangxi.
IV. Scaled Development
By November 2023, Tangchao's store count and membership reached notable scale. In 2025, stores continued expanding across southern provinces. As of 2026, the store count continued growing.
In product layout, Tangchao offers categories including snacks, beverages, and daily necessities, with cooperation partnerships with multiple food manufacturers.
V. Returning to Hometown
In December 2023, Tangchao Group launched the snack headquarters project in Zhangzhou Longhai, focusing on snack production and integrated warehousing-distribution.
In August 2024, at the Zhangzhou food industry supply-demand matchmaking conference, Xu introduced Tangchao's supply chain cooperation standards, stating focus on product quality, innovation capability, production capacity, and quality control systems.
Tangchao is a vice president unit of the Xiamen Food Industry Association.
From early entrepreneurship to building a snack chain brand, Xu's journey reflects a regional retail brand development path.
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