ZINWI Honored with Imperial Brands’ Global Innovation Award, Demonstrating International Leadership in the Industry

A Milestone Achievement: ZINWI Secures Innovation Award and Three Nominations

In the inaugural Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Excellence Awards by Imperial Brands—a 124-year-old global tobacco giant—ZINWI emerged as the only e-liquid company nominated among 12,000 global suppliers, ultimately winning the prestigious Innovation Award. This also marks ZINWI as the sole Chinese enterprise honored in Imperial Brands’ first SRM supplier recognition program. Additionally, ZINWI received nominations for the Agility Award and the People & Planet Award, showcasing its comprehensive strengths and industry-leading capabilities in innovation, agile supply chain management, and ESG sustainability.

As stated by Mattia De Dominicis, Global Head of Next Generation Products (NGP) at Imperial Brands, in his award speech:"Flavor will be the core and key to future innovation in e-cigarettes and next-generation tobacco products. ZINWI has demonstrated exceptional technical expertise in e-liquid flavor innovation, with its high-quality, compliant flavor formulations gaining widespread recognition among global consumers. It is truly deserving of the Innovation Award."

This accolade not only signifies international industry recognition of ZINWI’s professional capabilities but also highlights its competitive edge in the global supply chain.

Global Elite Certification: Six Dimensions Decoding ZINWI’s Winning Formula

As a key partner in Imperial Brands’ SRM Connect initiative, ZINWI has earned high praise from evaluators by embodying the program’s core philosophy of "building sustainable, high-value strategic partnerships."

The evaluation criteria encompass the following six dimensions:

In innovation, ZINWI has built a global flavor database covering 60,000 flavor combinations, leveraging continuous consumer insights and multi-dimensional flavor technology to evolve from single-taste profiles to multi-sensory experiences. Its Multi-Dimensional Safety Assessment System (ingredient screening → toxicology analysis → biological testing → clinical trials → long-term tracking) ensures enhanced flavors while effectively reducing harm.

In manufacturing and supply, ZINWI’s 2,000 sqm smart production center utilizes automated lines and intelligent scheduling systems, enabling full-process traceability and a "standardization-information-automation-visualization" smart production model for a highly responsive supply chain.

In sustainability, ZINWI adheres to environmental management certifications, implements virtualization and energy-saving technologies, and integrates eco-friendly practices across all operations.

This triple-core competency—spanning innovation, smart production, and sustainability—has earned ZINWI high recognition from Imperial Brands. This honor not only acknowledges past achievements but also lays the foundation for deeper collaboration.

Co-Building a Value Ecosystem: From Supply Chain to Value Chain

Aligned with Imperial Brands’ 2030 strategy, which emphasizes consumer-centric innovation, technological advancement, and sustainability, ZINWI is transitioning from a traditional supplier to a value co-creator through:

Consumer-Centric Approach: Joint consumer insights, early-stage product definition involvement, and data-driven innovation.

Technological Leadership: Increased R&D investment, particularly in Next-Generation Products (NGP), to enhance user conversion and market competitiveness.

Sustainable Development: Adoption of energy-efficient technologies, systematic carbon footprint reduction, and close collaboration on ESG initiatives.

These strategic measures reflect Imperial Brands’ vision of a "relationship-based ecosystem", marking a critical shift from basic supply chain cooperation to high-value co-creation.

ZINWI will leverage this award as a catalyst to further advance R&D, quality management, and sustainable practices. We look forward to deepening collaboration with Imperial Brands and other global partners, driving industry progress through innovation, and delivering superior products for a healthier future.