Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 80 Storm (Second update of 10,000 words per day! Please vote with your monthly tickets and recommendations!)

Thompson, his face grim, continued, "You mean, if we want to solve the problem of the opening experience on Coca-Cola glass bottles?"

Either pay a hefty price to obtain their authorization, or flirt with the legal precipice and bear the enormous risk of infringement?

“Yes, Sir.” William Lee’s answer was firm. “Based on the information we have so far, this is a very harsh reality.”

The office fell into deathly silence.

Thompson leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest of his executive chair.

Using Coca-Cola's resources to launch a patent war against the invalidation of thirty patents?
The process is protracted and costly. Even with Coca-Cola's resource advantages, a quick solution is impossible, given that these patents have already been registered in different countries.

Moreover, doing so would place Coca-Cola's brand in a negative media storm.

But this was not what frightened him the most.

He considered another, worst-case scenario.

If Swire Coca-Cola is still hesitating, researching, or even showing a strong stance of suppression.

PepsiCo, having caught wind of the nightmare that plagued generations of Coca-Cola's management, swiftly forged a partnership with Chen Ji.

Whether it's patent licensing, strategic investment, or even just an exclusive cooperation intention.

That would be an absolute strategic disaster for Coca-Cola's global image and market share!

The thirty patents held by Chen Ji could instantly transform from an obstacle into a dagger that Pepsi could use to stab Coca-Cola in the heart!
“Director Li,” Thompson’s voice was unusually solemn, “Chen’s, with its meticulously constructed patent matrix, has risen from a regional competitor that we need to pay attention to to a key variable that may have a substantial impact on Coca-Cola’s core global interests.”

He paused, his eyes sharp as he looked at William Lee. "The complexity and potential strategic significance of this matter far exceed the decision-making authority and capabilities of Swire Pacific as a bottler, and it is also beyond the scope of my ability to make a decision on my own."

He picked up the telephone receiver on the table, but did not dial immediately.

"Immediately compile all the core data and conclusions of this report into a top-secret briefing of the highest priority."

This includes a blockade matrix of thirty patents, the potentially devastating risk of Pepsi's preemptive cooperation, the fact that the only viable path at present is to negotiate with Chen Kee to obtain a license, and Swire's strategic limitations in this matter.

"I will personally call Coca-Cola's global headquarters in Atlanta to give an urgent report to the CEO and the Group's General Counsel."

The issue of Chen Ji's patents must be assessed and decided upon at the level of Coca-Cola's global strategy.

Until clear strategic instructions are received from headquarters, any actions that could provoke Chen Ji or give others a handle to use against him must be absolutely stopped, including the previously considered invalidation declaration application.

Maintain the status quo, observe discreetly, and avoid making any mistakes.

William Lee stood at attention and replied solemnly, "Understood, Sir!"

After William Lee left, Thompson took a deep breath and dialed the number that connected to Coca-Cola's global headquarters.
The headquarters of Chenji Food is located on the top floor of Weiye Industrial Building.

The air was filled with the distinctive smell of newly renovated building materials.

Outside the window, the rooftops of the Kwun Tong industrial area appear somewhat cluttered.

Further away, the waters of Victoria Harbour shimmered in the midday sun.

Under the brand-new nameplate of Chenji Food R&D Center.

Professor Zhou Zhiyuan, also known as Zhou Zhiyuan, director of Chenji Research and Development Center.

Standing in the center of the laboratory, I surveyed this space, which far surpassed the size of a public laboratory in a science and engineering college.

The facility features a temperature- and humidity-controlled sterile operating room, a brand-new high-performance liquid chromatograph, a high-speed centrifuge, a precision electronic balance, a temperature-controlled shaking incubator, and even a pilot-scale and intermediate-scale workshop equipped with a small-scale hot-filling simulation line.

"Director Zhou, how are you feeling?" Chen Bingwen's cheerful voice came from behind.

Zhou Zhiyuan turned around, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement: "Mr. Chen, this far exceeds my expectations."

It's even more complete than the best food engineering lab in the Polytechnic Institute.

Especially for hot-fill lines, they are crucial for simulating production and optimizing process parameters!

"Originally, we planned to move the equipment from the Kwun Tong plant's R&D center here, but then we considered that the equipment would also be needed for routine safety testing in the plant, so we simply prepared a new set."

Chen Bingwen walked to the control panel, touched the microscope placed on it, and said, "The functional beverage project is the most important breakthrough at the moment."

Although bottled sweet soups have received a warm response in Hong Kong Island and Southeast Asian markets, we are limited by the form of sweet soups and the consumption scenarios, and the ceiling is clearly visible.

Functional beverages, which quench thirst, refresh the mind, are portable, and can be consumed in a wide range of situations, are the fast-moving consumer goods that can truly break through the ceiling and go global.

Besides that, I have a series of other things to study.

Chen Bingwen paused, then looked at Zhou Zhiyuan: "Director Zhou, the team needs time to gel, but the market waits for no one."

The core pain point of functional beverages—the metallic taste of taurine—must be addressed as soon as possible. What are the current strategies?

Although it was his first day at the company, functional drinks were the focus of Zhou Zhiyuan's research during this period.

Upon hearing Chen Bingwen's question, Zhou Zhiyuan immediately got into the zone, walked to the whiteboard, picked up a pen, and quickly sketched:
"Mr. Chen, our team is currently focusing on several key areas:"
By adjusting the sugar-acid ratio and utilizing acidity and sweeteners, a more complex flavor matrix can be created in the mouth, diverting attention from unpleasant odors.

At the same time, increasing the content of B vitamins, which theoretically have a synergistic effect with taurine in the energy metabolism pathway, may enhance alertness and indirectly reduce sensitivity to odors.
However, the exact ratio is still being determined.

Zhou Zhiyuan scribbled on the whiteboard, explaining his research ideas to Chen Bingwen. The more Zhou Zhiyuan spoke, the more his brows furrowed, as if his thoughts had gotten stuck in a dead end.

Chen Bingwen listened quietly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the complex formulas and ratio ranges.

The core secret of that globally popular energy drink from my past life wasn't simply "covering up" the problem, but rather a sophisticated "sensory reconstruction."

However, functional beverages are of great importance and will be a significant source of profit growth for Chenji Dessert in the future.

Chen Bingwen could not possibly reveal all of Zhou Zhiyuan's previous identities.

Now things are different. Zhou Zhiyuan not only signed an employment agreement, but also a corresponding confidentiality and breach of contract agreement.

There's nothing to hide now.

After giving the recipe to Zhou Zhiyuan, he still needs to adjust the flavor to suit his taste.

After Zhou Zhiyuan finished speaking, he seemed to remember something trivial and asked in a casual tone:

"Director Zhou, I've recently been looking at some basic materials that mention the human body's taste perception system is very complex."

You said if we make some adjustments to the overall framework of the flavor.

Instead of simply trying to suppress the taste of taurine, what do you think of the approach of creating a more complex background environment, allowing the taste buds to be guided by other, more harmonious signals?

He speaks slowly and uses extremely careful wording, employing as many non-definite and leading words as possible.

It's as if these thoughts were just fleeting associations triggered by a few bits of knowledge I came across while flipping through a book in my spare time.

“And,” Chen Bingwen continued, “for example, menthol or similar natural extracts, at very low concentrations, can provide a faint, almost imperceptible cooling sensation.”

When this coolness travels across the tongue, can it dilute or confuse unpleasant taste signals?

After he finished speaking, he was a little embarrassed: "These are just some immature, layman's thoughts. They are just random thoughts that popped into my head when I was reading about some taste mechanisms."

Director Zhou is an expert. Do you think there's even the slightest scientific possibility behind constructing this kind of flavorful backdrop?

Chen Bingwen's seemingly casual, even somewhat amateurish, words instantly dispelled the thick fog in Zhou Zhiyuan's mind!

It gave him a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

"It's not about completely blocking access."

"Complex background environment"

Other signals of coordination and harmony

"."

"Menthol, providing a touch of coolness. Confusing?"

These words collided, recombinated, and amplified violently in his mind, which was tormented by taurine!
The technical bottlenecks that had previously plagued the team were suddenly cleared up by Chen Bingwen's seemingly casual words, giving a sense of relief and clarity!
"It's possible! Mr. Chen! Absolutely possible!"

Zhou Zhiyuan practically shouted it out, completely forgetting his usual composure, "This idea will build a flavor matrix!"

Sensory reconstruction!

Correct!
Absolutely feasible!

I... I'll adjust the experimental plan immediately!
Amino acid selection!

Menthol concentration gradient test!
B-group optimized screening!
I'm going to overturn the previous formula framework and rebuild the flavor system around this idea!

He didn't even wait for Chen Bingwen to say anything more. He turned around and rushed to the lab bench, grabbed the notebook and pen, and wrote down a new draft formula with trembling hands.

While rapidly scribbling a new draft formula in his notebook, Zhou Zhiyuan also quickly assigned tasks:

"Qiang! Prepare glycine and alanine samples immediately."

“小陈！去冷库取薄荷脑标准品和留兰香提取物，做1:1000、1:2000、1:5000梯度稀释！”

"Ah Zhen! Re-select the B vitamins and premix them according to the new proportions I wrote!"

"Everyone, overturn the original formula framework."

Rebuild the system around flavor matrix and sensory reconstruction!

Chen Bingwen looked at Zhou Zhiyuan, who was engrossed in his research, and the busy research team, and a faint smile flashed across his face.

He certainly knew that this approach was feasible.

Because it is a trade secret that will be verified in the future.

Now, he has inadvertently handed it over to Zhou Zhiyuan in this way, which has not only solved the problem, won people's hearts, but also protected the source of the core secret.

Chen Bingwen did not disturb Zhou Zhiyuan's research enthusiasm; he turned and left the laboratory with a light step.

(End of this chapter)