A circular mirror installation titled Gift, created by Hangzhou-based designer Chen Yaoguang from Kuka Home, is placed in the central courtyard of University of Milan for the 2025 Milan Design Week. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Hangzhou secured four spots on the first list of China's Leading Consumer Brands, recently released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It recognized 93 corporate and 43 regional brands.

The four brands — Kuka Home, Robam Appliances, Nongfu Spring, and West Lake Longjing tea — put Hangzhou ahead of any other city in Zhejiang province.

The list honors brands with strong cultural value and global recognition. Hangzhou's entries reflect excellence across home furnishing, kitchen appliances, beverages, and regional specialty products.

Kuka Home is a global leader in smart furniture, winning top international design awards and leading the world in sofa sales for three consecutive years.

Robam Appliances is China's only kitchen appliance brand to be included on the list. It is a global leader in range hood sales and dominates the domestic steam-oven market.

Nongfu Spring is a household beverage brand with growing influence in the health drink sector, especially through its unsweetened Oriental Leaf teas.

The iconic West Lake Longjing tea, the only regional brand from Hangzhou on the list, reached a brand value of 8.44 billion yuan ($1.16 billion) in 2024, maintaining its top spot among Chinese tea brands.

The cultivation of high-quality consumer brands is a key part of China's efforts to boost domestic demand. Hangzhou plans to deepen digital transformation across sectors and promote integration between traditional industries and new consumer trends, accelerating the growth of premium local brands.

The time-honored West Lake Longjing tea is stir-fried by hand. [Photo/youth.cn]