YGF Mala Tang: A Global Business Legend Born in a Basement.

The Story of YGF MalaTang: From a Basement to a Global Brand

The story of YGF MalaTang is a remarkable journey from poverty to success. It started in a small basement in Harbin and has grown into a global brand with nearly 7,000 stores in over 20 countries. This is how one man, Yang Guofu, won over Malatang lovers worldwide.

The Early Days: Yang Guofu was born into a poor family with six children. Life was not easy. In 1995, he started a small street stall selling grilled squid. Business was slow, but he never gave up. In 2003, he was inspired by Malatang and began creating his own soup base. After three years of hard work, he finally opened his first shop, "Yang Kee Malatang."

The First Store. His first store was just a simple basement that he rented for 750 yuan a month. Despite the humble setting, customers loved his food. This was because of his passion for quality and his deep respect for food. He insisted on making the soup base himself, cooking for eight hours a day until he was exhausted. He still keeps the very first pot he used as a reminder of those tough early days.

Building the Brand As his reputation grew, Yang Guofu started franchising. In 2007, he officially registered the Brand under his own name, "YangGuoFu." He made sure his name was closely tied to his high standards. All franchisees had to follow strict operational rules and share their deep respect for food. This focus on quality helped the Brand expand quickly.

Scaling Up for Success. In 2012, a visit to a company in South Korea inspired him to build his own factory. He chose Chengdu, a city famous for its spicy foods. In 2016, a modern, 40,000-square-meter factory opened. This factory allowed him to standardize production and provided strong support for the brand’sBrand's rapid growth.

Success Around the World Today, YGF MalaTang is also a huge success inter\nationally. In Japan, customers often line up for its unique soup and wide variety of fresh ingredients. Yang Guofu’s son, Yang Xingyu, is now leading the brand’sBrand's global expansion, having successfully opened over 200 stores overseas.

YGF MalaTang's success was no accident. It was built on a deep respect for food, a commitment to quality, and a spirit of innovation. Yang Guofu has always believed that you can only win customers’ trust by treating food with care, and you can only succeed by always looking for ways to improve.

From a small basement to the world stage, YGF MalaTang is a true success story.