A Journey of Reform and Upgrade: Jiqin Group Through the Scent of Coffee

Reposted from People’s Network

As spring arrives in Changchun, the city brims with fresh vitality.

A simple yet solemn licensing ceremony unfolded at Songyuan Hotel in Kuancheng District, Changchun. A representative of Les Clefs d’Or International Alliance formally announced the admission decision and presented the license and emblem to the catering project under Jiqin Group.With this milestone, the project officially joined the Les Clefs d’Or International Alliance. It is now the first and only catering service project nationwide among government logistics groups to gain alliance membership.

Just steps away from the ceremony lies Songyuan Café. Blending off-white tones with log-style decor, the space exudes calm elegance. Soft sunlight filters through floor-to-ceiling windows, while coffee machines brew rich aromas, with attendants offering quiet, thoughtful service.

“More than a leisure spot, Songyuan Café serves as a key platform for us to lift service standards and build a distinctive brand,” said Li Hong, General Manager of Jiqin Group. He noted the café embodies the Group’s breakthrough from traditional logistics models and its alignment with international service benchmarks.

The breakthrough in catering is only one highlight of Jiqin Group’s ongoing reform drive.

Founded in June 2024 amid Jilin’s provincial SOE reform and the unified management of government logistics affairs, Jiqin Group was established as a provincial state-owned enterprise funded by the Jilin Provincial Government.

Its founding mission was to resolve long-standing pain points: scattered logistics resources across provincial government departments, inconsistent service standards, and high operational costs. Fragmented asset management and isolated operations across institutions called for a unified operator to integrate scattered resources into a coordinated system.

Jiqin Group delivered a clear solution: it systematically consolidated high-quality existing resources of provincial government bodies. Leveraging core assets including government office premises, supporting property facilities and provincial state guesthouses, it built a high-quality state-owned asset operation system tailored to government service demands.

Guided by professional restructuring and integrated management, the Group unified coordination and scheduling of personnel, assets, business operations and administration. It ended the fragmented silo-style operation of the past and built a unified, coordinated framework for government logistics services.

Based on asset revitalization and institutional innovation, Jiqin Group strategically developed three core business lines: property services, engineering construction and catering support. It fully took over logistics services for provincial public institutions — including office operation and maintenance, project renovation, government hospitality and staff catering — forming a well-structured, synergistic business ecosystem.

In just under two years, the Group’s revenue reached 805 million yuan in 2025, a 68.4% year-on-year increase from 2024. It turned losses into profit with positive net income growth — tangible results driven by down-to-earth reform initiatives.

The Group has enriched public service offerings with targeted upgrades. It renovated staff canteen environments, launched smart canteen systems and customized nutritious catering options. Supporting facilities such as Ji Xiaoqin Convenience Store, food courts and bakeries, alongside a mini central kitchen, have made daily government services more convenient, diverse and user-centric.

The self-developed Ji Xiaoqin mini-program covers one-stop services including dine-in and food ordering, ingredient delivery, meeting reservation, hotel accommodation, laundry and flower services, plus pre-sales of scenic and ski tickets. The platform is also interconnected with logistics information systems of other regions, enabling seamless online service access.

The engineering division has also earned wide recognition across provincial public institutions. The Group delivered 32 key projects including the renovation of Jilin College of the Arts with high-standard construction and reliable service quality.

Meanwhile, Jiqin Group has accelerated the branded, chain-scale development of its home-grown labels: Ji Xiaoqin, Songyuan Café and Xiaoqingsong Coffee.

At the Ji Xiaoqin Bakery on Chunjing West Road, the quiet dine-in area is ideal for casual gatherings. Wood-fired ovens glow warmly, complementing the natural aroma of signature items such as Changbai Mountain-style toast, multigrain bread and peanut cream buns.

Backed by the Group’s complete supply chain, Ji Xiaoqin maintains full quality control from raw material sourcing to finished products, turning premium Jilin local ingredients into premium consumer dining experiences.

On the bakery’s second floor sits a compact central kitchen operating with streamlined efficiency. Fully transparent workspaces feature standardized assembly lines for ingredient sorting, cleaning, cutting, cooking and packaging. Staff work in uniform with full protective gear, following strict operational protocols.

The kitchen addresses insufficient catering support in centralized office zones. Renovated from idle rough housing, it was completed and put into operation in just three months, serving up to 400 diners daily.

“In SOE reform, we value both efficiency and human warmth,” said Li Bin, Person-in-Charge of the central kitchen. “We aim not only to provide meals, but also to bring peace of mind and comfort to every service user.”

Adjacent to the bakery, Xiaoqingsong Coffee presents a fresh, minimalist space for visitors. According to Huang Wei, its manager, the brand integrates coffee culture into daily government services. With a youthful positioning, it attracts broader consumer groups and drives the shift from basic functional services to immersive experience-oriented services.

From premium hospitality at Songyuan Café and everyday delights at Ji Xiaoqin Bakery, to reliable catering support at the central kitchen and casual comfort at Xiaoqingsong Coffee, these four service nodes form a complete experience chain — and trace the clear reform trajectory of Jiqin Group.

Commenting on these visible upgrades, Li Hong stated the Group will stay focused on high-quality development by advancing four key priorities: service quality improvement, cost reduction and efficiency gains, business expansion and institutional optimization.

For the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period, Jiqin has rolled out the “1233” development strategy: centering on government service guarantee, taking asset operation and market development as two growth wings, empowering synergistic development of its three core sectors (property, catering and engineering), and advancing in three phases — initial exploration, service expansion and efficiency upgrading — to achieve scaled, high-quality and market-oriented growth.

Reform has long been embedded in Jiqin Group’s corporate DNA. Its transformation goes beyond structural adjustments, reshaping the underlying logic of sustainable development.

The Group adheres to putting social benefits first while balancing economic returns. It fuels vitality through reform, boosts efficiency via refined management, expands market reach through brand building, and improves modern SOE governance. By broadening development space and fostering new growth drivers, Jiqin continues to fulfill its social responsibility and contribute strength to the new round of Jilin SOE reform and high-quality economic growth, Li Hong added.