"Tao Huabi's remarkable story began in an unremarkable rural village in the Chinese province of Guizhou with an everyday product (chili sauce). Simply by doing normal things—taking action, experimenting, and integrating customer feedback—today, Tao Huabi is one of the richest women in China, thanks to her famous Lao Gan Ma ("Old Godmother") chili sauce.

A Hot Opportunity!
In 1989, Tao was a widow selling rice, tofu, and cold noodles as a street vendor to provide for her two sons. Over time she noticed that customers really enjoyed her chili sauce, which she served to spice up the bland noodles and tofu. This led her to launching the Lao Gan Ma branded chili sauce in 1996. Tao turned watchful observation of customer preferences into a business opportunity."