Loyalty to the boss

By: Dean Best - 11 June 2007 16:28

The dispute between Danone and its Chinese partner Wahaha is fast becoming of serious concern to the French food giant.

Nevertheless, despite the recriminations, Danone’s management must have raised a wry smile upon reading the fierce protests apparently coming from Wahaha workers.

Upon the resignation of Wahaha chairman Zong Quin Hou as head of the ventures between the company and Danone, Wahaha released letters, said to have been written by Wahaha workers, to the Chinese press, which emphasized their loyalty to Zong.

“How can our respectable helmsman be forced away by Chinese traitors and rascal directors,” one passage said. “We only want chairman Zong and we firmly reject Danone!”

This spat looks set to run and run.