Founding

Chunguang was established in 1996 in Hainan. According to company materials, founder Huang Chunguang began the business with approximately RMB 30,000, initially operating on a very small scale. An English-language company profile describes the original operation as a roughly 100-square-metre workshop with seven employees producing coconut chips and coconut candy.[1]

The company’s location in Wenchang, an area traditionally known for coconut cultivation, became integral to its identity. Chunguang built its business around processing locally associated tropical agricultural products rather than treating coconut merely as a commodity ingredient.[1]

Expansion during the 2000s

The early 2000s marked a significant period of product development and market expansion.

In 2001, Chunguang products were designated as official products for the Boao Forum for Asia, providing the brand with a prominent platform to represent Hainan products to domestic and international visitors.[1]

In 2002, the company obtained export-product hygiene registration, facilitating its expansion into international markets. In 2003, it developed its distinctive specialty coconut candy, which subsequently became one of the products most closely associated with the brand.

The company subsequently expanded beyond confectionery. Product development included coconut powder, ginger products, biscuits, coffee, dried fruits and vegetables, condiments, and other processed tropical food items.[1]

Development into a major Hainan food company

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Chunguang increasingly emphasised research and development, food safety systems, and industrialised production.

The company reports obtaining ISO 9001, HACCP, BRC, HALAL, Kosher, and GMP-related certifications or qualifications during its development. It also gained recognition as a national key leading enterprise in agricultural industrialisation and a national demonstration enterprise in agricultural product processing.[1]

In 2010, the “Chunguang” trademark was recognised as a China Well-known Trademark (中国驰名商标), according to the company’s historical honours.[1]

Although Chunguang is strongly associated with coconut candy, its business scope is considerably broader. The company currently describes its portfolio as covering 10 major product systems and more than 200 individual products.[1]

Coconut confectionery

Coconut candy is arguably the brand’s signature category. Chunguang’s specialty coconut candy was independently developed in 2003, and coconut-based sweets remain central to its identity.

Its coconut confectionery portfolio includes products such as:

• Coconut candy
• Ginger coconut candy
• Coconut soft candy/jelly
• Coconut-flavoured sweets
• Coffee and other flavoured candies

The combination of coconut and ginger is particularly characteristic of Chunguang’s product identity.

Coconut snacks

Chunguang produces a variety of coconut-based snacks, including:

• Coconut chips
• Coconut crisps
• Coconut wafer rolls
• Coconut cookies
• Coconut pastries

The brand’s positioning generally emphasises the connection between these products and Hainan’s tropical agricultural environment.[1]

Coconut and tropical fruit beverages

The company has expanded into powdered and ready-to-drink beverages, including coconut-based drinks and tropical fruit products.

A significant development was the construction of the company’s beverage facility. The second phase of the Chunguang Coconut Kingdom project was completed in 2021 and began production in 2022, featuring four beverage production lines and an investment of approximately RMB 300 million, according to the company.[1]

Other foods

Chunguang’s broader product range includes:

• Biscuits
• Pastries
• Dried fruit
• Dried vegetables
• Ginger powder
• Coconut powder
• Coffee
• Instant beverages
• Convenience foods
• Chilli sauce
• Pepper and other seasonings

This diversification transformed Chunguang from a coconut candy producer into a broader Hainan tropical food manufacturer.[1]

The central concept behind Chunguang is its association with Hainan’s coconut culture. The company uses the philosophy of “making coconut professionally” and positions itself around the processing and commercialisation of Hainan coconut products.[1]

This gives Chunguang a distinct identity compared to large nationwide Chinese snack companies. Rather than being primarily identified with a generic snack category, Chunguang is strongly tied to a specific region and ingredient:

Hainan → coconut → tropical food → souvenirs → Chunguang

Consequently, the brand is commonly encountered as a Hainan specialty and souvenir brand, particularly among visitors seeking regional food products.

Chunguang’s principal production facilities are located in Wenchang, Hainan. Its original production base is situated in the Dongjiao Coconut Grove area, a region historically associated with coconut cultivation.[1]

The company emphasises the local environment—including Hainan’s tropical climate, coastal geography, and coconut resources—as a vital source of its raw materials and product identity.[1]

The company currently states that it employs nearly 2,000 people and exports to more than 50 countries and regions, offering 10 major product systems and over 200 product items.[1]

Chunguang has developed an export business alongside its domestic Chinese market operations.

According to the company’s profile, its products are sold or exported to markets including the United States, Singapore, Europe, the Middle East, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, among other destinations, covering more than 50 countries and regions.[1]

Its English-language corporate profile specifically highlights products such as ginger coconut candy and ginger coconut drink/powder as items with popularity in overseas markets.[2]

The company has also sought international food safety and market certifications, reflecting its focus on export-oriented manufacturing.[1]

One of Chunguang’s notable projects is Chunguang Coconut Kingdom (春光椰子王国) in Longlou, Wenchang.

Opened in 2018, the first phase was developed as a coconut-themed industrial tourism attraction. Rather than functioning solely as a factory, the site combines:

• Food manufacturing
• Tourism
• Coconut-related education
• Research and development
• Product demonstrations
• Shopping and visitor experiences

The company describes it as China’s first tourism-oriented factory centred on coconut culture. The project subsequently expanded with a second phase focused on beverage production.[1]

This project reflects a broader Chunguang strategy of connecting agriculture, food manufacturing, and tourism, rather than keeping the brand solely within the packaged food sector.

Chunguang and its products have received numerous Chinese corporate and industry recognitions. Among those reported by the company are:

• China Well-known Trademark (中国驰名商标)
• National Key Leading Enterprise in Agricultural Industrialisation
• National Demonstration Enterprise/Base for Agricultural Product Processing
• Hainan Famous Brand Product
• Designated products associated with the Boao Forum for Asia
• Various food safety and quality management certifications

The company has also participated in major trade events such as the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) to promote Hainan coconut products internationally.[1]

Chunguang’s importance extends beyond individual snack products; it represents a broader model of agricultural product processing in Hainan.

While Hainan possesses abundant tropical agricultural resources, selling raw coconuts and tropical fruits provides less value than processing them into branded consumer products. Chunguang’s business model adds value through the following chain:

Local agricultural resources → food processing → branded products → domestic distribution → exports → tourism

This model has allowed the company to market Hainan’s tropical food culture outside the island while simultaneously developing a recognisable consumer brand.[1]

Huang Chunguang (黄春光) founded the company in 1996 and has served as its chairman and general manager. His business strategy has centred heavily on coconut and Hainan’s tropical agricultural resources.[1]

The company’s history portrays his long-term ambition as building Chunguang into a century-old brand and using coconut products to introduce Hainan’s regional flavours to consumers worldwide.[1]

1. 海南春光食品有限公司—椰味休闲食品知名品牌
2. Hainan Chunguang Foodstuff Co., Ltd._Coconut/Ginger Candy/Ginger Drink Powder | LinkedIn