Popcorn produced by Tianjin Huafuyuan Food. [Photo/WeChat account: jhgbdsxww]
Tianjin Huafuyuan Food, based in Jinghai district's Wangkou town, turns corn kernels into spherical popcorn for its "Little Donkey" brand. The snacks are sold in over 200 Chinese cities and exported to more than 20 countries and regions, including Singapore, South Korea and Australia.
Wangkou town's roasted seed and nut industry dates back 600 years, with annual sales approaching 10 billion yuan ($1.46 billion) and accounting for 30 percent of the market.
Since its 2015 launch, Huafuyuan has leveraged this strong industrial base to specialize in spherical popcorn, becoming a model of industrial upgrading.
The company has launched a new product line featuring four flavors — dark chocolate, corn soup, bacon barbecue and yogurt onion — injecting fresh vitality into the market. In 2023, it became Tianjin's first popcorn exporter.
At a 2024 exhibition in Hefei, Anhui province, Huafuyuan secured a UAE order of over 5,000 cases. In 2025, exports totaled 1,572 metric tons, generating 35 million yuan in sales.
The Wangkou town government has continuously optimized the town’s business environment, providing targeted support in industrial development, policy guidance, financing and export services to underpin the company's growth.
Huafuyuan head Li Maohua said the company will keep innovation at its core, strengthen product development in line with global trends toward health, personalization and diversification, and expand internationally by exploring emerging markets and combining localized customization with cross-border e-commerce.