Want Want

I Lan Foods headquarters

In 1962, Want Want began operations in the name of I Lan Foods Industrial Company Limited (宜蘭食品工業股份有限公司) in Yilan County, Taiwan, which manufactured canned agricultural products. It was founded by Tsai Eng-meng's father, Jonathan Shuai Qiang Ng.

In 1983, it collaborated with Iwatsuka Confectionery Company Limited, one of the top three Japanese rice cracker makers, to develop a rice cracker market in Taiwan. In return, Iwatsuka obtained 5% of the common stock of the company.[2] In 2009, Iwatsuka's share in Want Want was valued at about US$350M, nearly three times as much as Iwatsuka's own market value of US$125M.[3]

In 1987, it became the first Taiwanese operator to apply for the registration of the "Want Want" trademark in China. In 1992, it started its business in Mainland China. In 1994, it commenced its first production plant in Changsha, Hunan. In 1996, it was listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange under the name Want Want Holdings Pte Ltd.

In 2007, Want Want Holdings Pte Ltd was delisted from the Singapore Stock Exchange.[4] In 2008, its subsidiary, Want Want China Holdings Limited, was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.[5][6]

On 24 January 2019, Want Want announced its plans to open its first-ever flagship store in Singapore on Ayer Rajah Crescent.

Want Want has faced repeated accusations of overly close links to the Chinese Communist Party,[7] and the Financial Times reported that these ties include coordination with the Chinese government's Taiwan Affairs Office.[8]

• List of companies of Taiwan
• Want Want China
• I-Mei Foods

• Want Want Holdings Limited