Editor's note: East China's Zhejiang province is renowned for its large international population. Aloft on the wings of China's reform and opening-up policy, a group of Zhejiang people have gone abroad to make a living since the 1970s. As this year marks the 40th anniversary of the policy, the Zhejiang website (www.ezhejiang.gov.cn) is launching a series of stories about overseas Chinese who are originally from Zhejiang, as well as those who are active in the province's development. Stories courtesy of Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and Zheshang Magazine

Qiu Haoqun, owner of Be&Cheery, China's leading nuts and snacks manufacturer [Photo/Zheshang Magazine]

Qiu Haoqun, born in 1978, the year when China initiated the reform and opening-up policy, is part of a second generation overseas Chinese family.

At the age of 11, Qiu moved to Spain with his parents, where he became engaged in interpretation and trade, and found his "first bucket of gold".

In 2010, Qiu decided to hunt for business opportunities back in China and Be&Cheery, a chain of stores selling nuts and snacks, aroused his attention.

At that time, Be&Cheery, with eight stores in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, registered annual sales revenue of 10 million yuan ($1.43 million) and was expanding very slowly.

Qiu took over the stores and introduced internet operations to the business. By building online sales platforms, Be&Cheery has successfully transformed into an e-commerce brand and become a big name in the nuts and snacks sector.

In 2017, the sales revenue of Be&Cheery products reached 4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 42.96 percent.

"Supported by the thriving business climate and favorable policies, and driven by our dream, Be&Cheery's success is a natural result," said Qiu, adding China is entering the best times for development since it's reform and opening-up.

As the owner, the businessman not only focuses on the business expansion, but also thinks about contributing more to the country's development. By establishing supply cooperative agreements with China's less developed regions, Be&Cheery is helping alleviate poverty in rural areas.

"Hindered by untimely information and poor logistics networks, the agricultural products from less developed regions don't sell well", Qiu explained, saying the situation has gradually changed thanks to the emergence of e-commerce. By launching direct supply channels with these areas, Be&Cheery ensures its source of raw materials, as well as helping to boost their agricultural development.

Qiu has set a goal for Be&Cheery's annual sales revenue, which is to hit 10 billion yuan by 2020. He said the goal is not beyond their grasp and believed they will achieve it with quality goods and services.