{"id":8632,"date":"2021-10-01T07:30:32","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T07:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=8632"},"modified":"2021-10-04T05:42:14","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T05:42:14","slug":"entrepreneur-spotlight-christiana-zhu-yeyo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/entrepreneur-spotlight-christiana-zhu-yeyo\/","title":{"rendered":"Entrepreneur Spotlight: Christiana Zhu, Yeyo"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this series we look at China-based entrepreneurs, the businesses they have developed, and how they have coped with recent obstacles created by the pandemic. Christiana Zhu, founder of plant-based yoghurt brand Yeyo, recounts her China journey<\/h2>\n

I moved to China in 2014<\/strong> to work on a growth project as a specialist marketing consultant for sustainable travel company WildChina. <\/span>At the time I was 5 years into my career in consumer marketing in the tourism sector. I studied PR and started working for the New Zealand tourism board after graduation. They groomed me to become an Asia and China market specialist but I was based in New Zealand working with our China teams and I wanted to get more in-market experience, so this consulting opportunity seemed perfect.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"launchpad<\/a><\/p>\n

My plan was to come to China for one year<\/strong> and then look to starting my own business in the tourism sector. After the project finished, the CEO asked me to stay on to become the company\u2019s head of marketing, an opportunity that was too good to pass up, so I stayed on in Beijing. Eventually, I did become an entrepreneur, but I never would\u2019ve guessed it would be in food!<\/span><\/p>\n

The concept for Yeyo came about in 2016.<\/strong> After my move to China, I started experiencing some health issues which spurred a big lifestyle change where I needed clean, plant-based yoghurt to heal my gut and balance my immune system. I developed something delicious and nourishing for myself and I wanted to share it with others.<\/span><\/p>\n