Doctor Jiao's big brew leaves others behind

LongRun aims to increase its chain stores and franchises to more than 200 by March

Dr Jasper Jiao's life story is a classic tale of rags to riches, hard work, determination, eventual success and, indeed, enlightenment.

The chairman of LongRun Tea Group Co Ltd is the eldest of five children born to impoverished, illiterate farmers in Yunnan province and raised in a two-story house they built themselves with grass. His parents' annual earnings 30 years ago were just 200 yuan.