Arawana

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A leading Chinese kitchen-food brand best known for packaged edible oils and the “1:1:1” blended-oil proposition.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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First read: Nov 4, 2026
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Overview

Arawana, known in China as Jinlongyu (金龙鱼), is a mass-market kitchen-food brand operated by Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co., Ltd. Its strongest association is with packaged edible oils, although the brand and its corporate operating platform participate in a much broader food system that includes rice, flour, noodles, condiments, soybean and corn processing, food ingredients, and institutional or food-service supplies. The brand is deeply embedded in China’s modern retail and household-cooking culture and is distributed through supermarkets, traditional grocery channels, e-commerce, catering customers, and institutional buyers. The brand’s roots trace to the development of modern edible-oil processing and packaging in China during the late 1980s. Kuok Khoon Hong, working within the wider Kuok family business network, helped establish an early oil-processing venture in Shenzhen with a Chinese partner. Packaged refined oil was still relatively new to Chinese households, which commonly bought bulk oil. Arawana’s early growth therefore benefited from the shift toward branded, sealed, standardized cooking oils. The Arawana brand was introduced for packaged edible oil in 1991, and television advertising helped turn it into a nationally recognizable consumer name during the 1990s. A major turning point came in 2002 with the launch of the second-generation blended edible oil. Its “1:1:1” communication framed a balance among saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids as a nutritional ideal. The proposition helped move category competition beyond basic safety and purity toward nutrition and health positioning, and it became one of the most recognizable advertising concepts in China’s food sector. The claim later generated regulatory and industry criticism because the promoted ratio was understood by critics not to correspond precisely to the product’s actual fatty-acid composition. Advertising broadcasts were temporarily restricted in Beijing in 2004, while the company maintained that the ratio represented a recommended nutritional concept rather than a literal product composition. Arawana’s corporate platform expanded through the combination of Chinese operations associated with Yihai and Kerry Oils & Grains, alongside the broader development of Singapore-listed Wilmar International. Yihai Kerry, the Chinese operating group, became a large integrated agricultural-processing business with capabilities spanning raw-material procurement, crushing, refining, food manufacturing, logistics, and distribution. The brand’s portfolio and channel presence broadened from household oil into rice, flour, noodles, soy-based products, condiments, and food-service products. Public materials have described a network of more than 80 production bases and distribution coverage across thousands of Chinese counties and cities, although the exact current network should be checked against company disclosures. Sports and education partnerships became important elements of the brand’s visibility. Arawana sponsored volleyball and university sports events, supplied edible oil for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, supported nutrition-education facilities, and later became an official grain-and-oil product sponsor of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. These activities reinforced a positioning built around household trust, nutrition, food safety, national-scale availability, and everyday cooking rather than premium culinary exclusivity. The operating company pursued a domestic listing for many years. An earlier plan to list part of the Chinese business in Hong Kong was not completed. In 2020, Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings completed its Shenzhen Stock Exchange ChiNext listing under ticker 300999. The listing made the company one of the largest food-industry issuers in China and increased public visibility of the ownership relationship with Wilmar International. The brand itself remains active and continues to compete across edib…

History

Arawana’s history is connected to the development of modern edible-oil processing in China and to the international agricultural businesses associated with the Kuok family and Wilmar International. In the late 1980s, Kuok Khoon Hong helped establish a Shenzhen oil-processing venture linked to a partnership between the Kuok group and a Chinese state-linked enterprise. The project responded to a major consumption opportunity: Chinese households were gradually moving from bulk oil toward sealed, refined, standardized products. This shift created room for national brands that could combine industrial processing, packaging, distribution, and television advertising. The Arawana name was introduced for packaged edible oil in 1991. During the 1990s, the brand built recognition through national advertising, including prominent television campaigns. Its growth helped make small-package oil a mainstream household category and established Arawana as one of the defining brands in China’s edible-oil market. The brand’s consumer-facing identity was supported by the wider supply-chain capabilities of its parent businesses, including oilseed procurement, crushing, refining, logistics, and retail distribution. In 2002, Arawana launched its second-generation blended edible oil and promoted the “1:1:1” concept. The campaign presented a balance among three broad classes of fatty acids as a desirable dietary goal. This reframed edible oil as a nutrition and wellness product rather than merely a cooking necessity. The concept was highly influential in category marketing and prompted other oil producers to emphasize blended oils and nutritional composition. The campaign also produced a significant controversy. Consumer complaints and industry criticism alleged that the slogan could be read as a factual description of the product, although the product’s actual fatty-acid proportions were not identical to the advertised ratio. In 2004, the China Grain and Oils Society criticized the promotional approach and Beijing authorities instructed major local media to suspend the advertisement temporarily. The episode remains an important example of the regulatory sensitivity surrounding health-related food advertising. Arawana continued to increase its public profile through sponsorships and consumer education. In 2007 it supported the World Grand Prix women’s volleyball final, and in 2008 it became an edible-oil supplier associated with the Beijing Olympic Games. The same year, the mark was recognized as a well-known trademark in China. The company also promoted factory transparency by opening selected facilities to consumers, journalists, partners, and officials. During the early 2010s, it expanded nutrition and food-education programs, including experience centers recognized as social-practice bases for school food-conservation education. It supplied grain-and-oil products for the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade and became a partner and supplier for the 2014 National Student Games. The corporate structure behind the brand changed as the businesses associated with Yihai and Kerry Oils & Grains were combined into the Yihai Kerry platform. In 2006, Wilmar International was formed as a major international agribusiness group through the combination of Wilmar’s operations with the Kerry-related Yihai interests. Yihai Kerry became Wilmar’s principal China operating platform, with activities extending beyond consumer products into agricultural raw materials, food ingredients, logistics, and industrial processing. This structure explains why Arawana is often described as a Chinese household brand while its ultimate corporate ownership is linked to a Singapore-listed multinational group. The company considered a Hong Kong listing for part of its China operations in 2009, but that plan was not completed. It later pursued a domestic listing amid changing rules for foreign investment in agricultural processing and continuing public discussion about the role of foreign companies in food security. In October 2020, Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s ChiNext board under ticker 300999. The offering was one of the largest ChiNext IPOs at the time and brought the group’s China business into the public markets. After listing, the company attracted unusually high investor attention. Its share price rose sharply during the first months of trading before declining substantially from its early peak. Media discussion focused on the contrast between the company’s very large revenue base, relatively narrow margins typical of commodity-linked food processing, raw-material volatility, and the valuation assigned by public markets. These market events concern the listed operating company rather than a separately reported Arawana brand valuation. Arawana remains active as a broad kitchen-food brand. Edible oil is still its central association, but the surrounding product system includes rice, flour, noodles, rice noodles, soy products, condiments, food-service oils, and ingredients used by food manufacturers. Its competitive advantages are commonly associated with scale, manufacturing integration, procurement, distribution coverage, consumer familiarity, and the ability to market nutrition and safety at mass-market price points.

2020
Yihai Kerry Arawana lists on ChiNext
[3]Arawana listing and post-listing market coveragefinance.sina.com.cn
The brand’s operating company completed a Shenzhen Stock Exchange ChiNext IPO under ticker 300999.
2018
Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games sponsorship
[1]Arawana brand reference and chronologybaike.baidu.com
The brand became an official grain-and-oil product sponsor of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
2008
Beijing Olympic supplier and well-known trademark recognition
[1]Arawana brand reference and chronologybaike.baidu.com
Arawana became associated with edible-oil supply for the Beijing Olympic Games and was recognized as a well-known trademark in China.
2006
Yihai and Kerry-related Chinese operations combined
[8]Early modern oil-processing venture established in Shenzhenfinance.ifeng.com
The combination created the Yihai Kerry operating platform within Wilmar International’s broader agribusiness structure.
2002
Second-generation blended oil and 1:1:1 proposition launched
[1]Arawana brand reference and chronologybaike.baidu.com
The brand introduced a blended oil marketed around a balance among three fatty-acid categories, changing the tone of category competition toward nutrition.
1996
National television advertising accelerates recognition
[1]Arawana brand reference and chronologybaike.baidu.com
Large-scale television advertising helped make Arawana a nationally recognized edible-oil brand.
1991
Arawana packaged-oil brand introduced
[9]Arawana packaged-oil brand introducedm.cfbond.com
The Arawana name began appearing on packaged edible oil in China, supporting the transition from bulk oil to branded household products.
1988
Early modern oil-processing venture established in Shenzhen
[8]Early modern oil-processing venture established in Shenzhenfinance.ifeng.com
A Shenzhen oil-processing project associated with Kuok Khoon Hong and a Chinese partner helped lay the industrial foundation for later packaged-oil operations.

Products and positioning

Mass-market, mainstream kitchen-food brand emphasizing household familiarity, nutritional balance, food safety, broad availability, and integrated agricultural-processing expertise.

Edible oil · 1991
Arawana edible oils
The core product family includes packaged cooking oils made from different vegetable-oil inputs and blends. Products are designed for everyday household cooking and are sold through mainstream grocery, supermarket, and online channels. The range competes on familiarity, availability, processing consistency, and accessible pricing rather than on a narrowly artisanal identity.
Blended edible oil · 2002
Arawana 1:1:1 blended oil
This flagship line is associated with the brand’s 2002 nutritional-balance campaign. Its marketing emphasizes a dietary balance among saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The proposition became influential in China’s edible-oil category, although its advertising language later attracted criticism over whether consumers could interpret the ratio as the product’s exact composition.
Rice
Arawana rice
The rice range extends the brand from cooking oil into staple foods. It serves household consumers through packaged formats and benefits from the parent group’s grain procurement, processing, packaging, and distribution capabilities.
Flour and noodles
Arawana flour and noodles
Flour, noodles, and related staple products form part of the broader kitchen-food portfolio. They address routine home cooking and baking occasions and complement the brand’s edible-oil presence in mainstream Chinese retail.
Food-service and industrial ingredients
Arawana food-service and food-ingredient products
The wider operating group supplies cooking oils and processed ingredients to restaurants, institutional kitchens, and food manufacturers. Applications mentioned in public materials include baking, quick-service food, frozen foods, beverages, and other manufactured-food categories.

Controversies

2025
Guangzhou Yihai convicted at first instance in palm oil trade fraud case, appeals
Jinlongyu subsidiary Yihai (Guangzhou) Grain and Oil Industrial Co. was convicted at first instance by the Huaibei Intermediate People's Court in November 2025 as an accomplice to contract fraud over a 2008-2014 palm oil trade dispute, fined RMB 1 million and ordered to jointly compensate RMB 1.881 billion in losses; the subsidiary appealed in November 2025 and the Anhui High People's Court held a second-instance hearing in June 2026, with the case still pending.
Source
2024
Edible oil tanker trajectory link sparks transportation hygiene concerns, company publishes self-inspection response
In July 2024, in reports about mixed-use edible oil tanker trucks, vehicle trajectories were linked by netizens to an Arawana factory, prompting concerns about transportation hygiene. The company responded that the Wuhan trip involved a new truck's first transport and the Shaanxi trip involved tank cleaning and inspection, and said oil product tests were qualified. This entry retains the concerns and response and does not treat the trajectory linkage as confirmed contamination of the brand's oil products.
Source
2004
1:1:1 advertising controversy
Consumer complaints and criticism from industry and professional organizations alleged that the 1:1:1 message could mislead consumers because the promoted ratio did not precisely match the product’s actual fatty-acid composition. Beijing authorities temporarily instructed major media outlets to stop broadcasting the advertisement. The company argued that the ratio expressed a recommended nutritional concept rather than a literal formulation.
Source

2019National-team sports nutrition initiative
China
Arawana promoted a sports-nutrition initiative involving nutrition professionals working with China’s Olympic national teams.
Outcome. The initiative connected the brand’s nutrition messaging with elite sport.
Source
2018Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics sponsorship
China
Arawana became an official grain-and-oil product sponsor of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Outcome. The partnership maintained the brand’s long-running association with national sporting events.
Source
2014National Student Games partnership
China
Arawana became a partner and grain-and-oil supplier for the 12th National Student Games and sponsored a swimming event.
Outcome. The program extended the brand’s sports and youth positioning.
Source
2013Nutrition and food-conservation education centers
China
Nutrition and health experience centers in several Chinese cities were used for consumer education and school-oriented food-conservation activities.
Outcome. Several centers received recognition as national social-practice bases for school food-conservation education.
Source
2008Beijing Olympic Games partnership
China
Arawana became an edible-oil supplier associated with the Beijing Olympic Games and supported national women’s volleyball.
Outcome. The partnership delivered broad national visibility and reinforced the brand’s food-safety and large-scale supply credentials.
Source
2007World Grand Prix women’s volleyball sponsorship
China
Arawana sponsored the 2007 World Grand Prix women’s volleyball final as part of a sports-oriented brand-building strategy.
Outcome. The sponsorship strengthened association with national sports and healthy living.
Source
20021:1:1 nutritional-balance campaign
China
The second-generation blended oil was promoted through the idea that consumers should seek balance among three broad fatty-acid categories.
Outcome. The message became one of China’s best-known food advertising propositions and encouraged competitors to develop or promote blended oils.
Source
1996National television brand-building campaign
China
Arawana used high-reach television advertising to build national recognition as packaged cooking oil became more common in Chinese households.
Outcome. The campaign helped establish the brand as a mainstream category leader.
Source

Brand decisions

2020
Domestic A-share listing completedM&A
Background
After restructuring and a renewed listing process, the operating company sought a mainland listing for capital-market access and greater recognition as a China-based public company.
Action taken
Yihai Kerry Arawana issued new shares and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange ChiNext board under ticker 300999.
Aftermath
The listing increased public scrutiny of the group’s scale, ownership structure, margins, raw-material exposure, and market valuation.
IPO proceeds. Approximately RMB 13.9 billion (2020 IPO)
Source
2020
Expansion of kitchen-food investment projectsStrategy
Background
The company’s proposed IPO investment program focused on strengthening its kitchen-food manufacturing and agricultural-processing footprint.
Action taken
Planned projects covered edible oil, rice, flour, condiments, corn processing, and regional grain-and-oil bases.
Aftermath
The strategy supported the group’s move from an edible-oil-centered identity toward an integrated kitchen-food platform.
Source
2009
Initial plan to pursue a Hong Kong listingStrategy
Background
The group sought to separate and list part of its China operations after years of expansion in the domestic grain-and-oil market.
Action taken
The proposed Hong Kong offering was not completed, with market conditions cited in contemporary reporting as a major obstacle.
Aftermath
The company later redirected its listing strategy toward a mainland Chinese A-share offering.
Source

Recent events

Unconfirmed
Reported2026.08.13
Jinlongyu transfers 50% stakes in two Kellanova Shanghai/Kunshan entities to Mars Wrigley[12]Guangzhou Yihai convicted at first instance in palm oil trade fraud case, appeals163.com
During the reporting period, Jinlongyu transferred its 50% equity stakes in Yihai Kerry Kellanova Foods (Shanghai) and Yihai Kerry Kellanova Foods (Kunshan) to Mars Wrigley Confectionery (China) Co., Ltd., generating pre-tax profit of RMB 309 million and net profit attributable to shareholders of RMB 263 million.
Unconfirmed
Reported2026.08.13
Guangzhou Yihai convicted at first instance in palm oil trade fraud case, appeals[12]Guangzhou Yihai convicted at first instance in palm oil trade fraud case, appeals163.com
Jinlongyu subsidiary Yihai (Guangzhou) Grain and Oil Industrial Co. was convicted at first instance by the Huaibei Intermediate People's Court in November 2025 as an accomplice to contract fraud over a 2008-2014 palm oil trade dispute, fined RMB 1 million and ordered to jointly compensate RMB 1.881 billion in losses; the subsidiary appealed in November 2025 and the Anhui High People's Court held a second-instance hearing in June 2026, with the case still pending.
2026.08.12
Reported2026.08.13
Jinlongyu releases 2026 half-year report[12]Guangzhou Yihai convicted at first instance in palm oil trade fraud case, appeals163.com
Jinlongyu (300999.SZ) released its 2026 half-year report on August 12, reporting revenue of RMB 122.852 billion (up 6.20% year-on-year) and net profit attributable to shareholders of RMB 2.294 billion (up 30.69%), while operating cash flow fell 93.16% to RMB 1.001 billion.
2021.10.17
Reported2021.10.18
Jinlongyu and Syngenta Group China sign rice traceability partnership[13]金龙鱼与先正达集团中国签订原香稻溯源合作协议prnasia.com
Syngenta Group China and Yihai Kerry Jinlongyu signed an agreement for end-to-end quality control and traceability of Jinlongyu Yuanxiang rice, with plans to cooperate on product cultivation, branding and market promotion.

Sources14 sources

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