Hema Fresh: 100+ stores across China
Alibaba group’s Hema is completely changing the retailer landscape in China. The business model integrates robots, ai, and their app to give consumers a completely different shopping experience. Stores also act as a distribution centres that can deliver online orders within 30 minutes. The tech and retail giant surpassed their expansion targets in 2018 and plan to open 1,000 stores in China within the next few years.
Chinese name: 盒马新鲜
CR Vanguard: 5,000+ stores across China
CR Vanguard own various retailer brands including Olé and BLT, which are high end import supermarkets, fantastic for brands entering China. Their stores also include Tesco express, Leonardo Ole, Suguo, Vango, Vivo and Viola.
Chinese name: 华润万
City Shop – 13 supermarkets in Shanghai
City shop has been selling to a loyal group of middle to high end consumers since they established in the 90s. The retailer sells predominately imported food and is a fantastic starting retailer for international brands beginning their export journey into China.
Chinese name: 城市超市
City Super – 6 stores in Shanghai
Super high end and found in premium malls in Shanghai, China’s city Super serves the upper middle classes and upper classes a huge variety of imported food from across the World. Although they only have 6 stores, City Super is very well known and the ideal brand window for new foreign brands.
Chinese name: 超生活
Bravo YH – 60 stores across China
Yonghui has over 800 supermarkets, covering the vast majority of China’s provinces. Over 60 of these stores are branded Bravo YH – higher-end stores with a large selection of quality imported food and drink products. YH also has several ‘Gold’ or ultra-premium stores, and premium convenience stores. Yonghui plans to open 1,000 Convenience stores within the next year.
Chinese name: 永辉
Seven Eleven: 2,800+ stores across China
Seven Eleven needs no introduction, operating a franchise model they have grown rapidly alongside China’s convenience boom. Stores operate 24 hours, serving food, drinks , snacks and convenience products across China.
Chinese name: 7-11
Family Mart: 2,000+ stores across China
With over 1,200 locations in Shanghai alone, Family Mart offers brands the ability to have a focused brand presence in one region. Smaller product formats that work for CVS and can hit a certain price point have the potential to achieve huge volumes through Family Mart China.
Chinese name 全家
Lawson: 2,000+ stores across China
Similar to Family Mart, Lawson is strongest in Shanghai, and is rapidly expanding North, South and West. Including Chongqing (200+ stores) and Beijing (100+ stores) Lawson is a edges towards being more premium.
Chinese name: 罗森
BHG: 20+ stores across North and West China
A leading import supermarket targeting the upper middle classes, particularly strong in Beijing, North and Western China. The Malls can be found in many provinces including Anhui, Jiangsu, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Shanxi, Sichuan, Shandong, Qinghai, Ningxia and Liaoning.
Chinese name: 北京华联
Sam’s Club: 19 stores across China
Sam’s Club serves China’s high end consumers with stores in China’s 1st tier and wealthier 2nd tier cities. Boasting a wide range of imported products, Sam’s club also provides home delivery in top locations in China. Sam’s club in Shenzhen sells more product than any Sam’s Club in the World .
Chinese name: 山姆会员商店
Metro – 80 stores across China
The German cash and carry came into China in the 90s and has grown to over 80 large stores across China with a concentration around Shanghai and Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Metro targets both mid-high end consumers and small sized HoReCa businesses.
Chinese name: 麦德龙
Better Life – 670 stores across South and West China
Better Life group – or ‘Bubugao’ are strong across China’s south western provinces including Sichuan, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangxi, and their food business provides a wide selection of quality imported bands.
Chinese name: 步步高
RT-Mart – 360+ hypermarkets cross China
RT-Mart is one of the few retailers which has a strong presence throughout China, with a presence in all but 2 provinces. The hypermarkets have dedicated import food and drink sections to compliment their domestic products.
Chinese name: 大润发
Watsons: 3,200+ stores across China
Although Watsons is primarily a beauty store, every store has a collection of imported food snacks. From chocolate, nuts and crisps to chewing gum and drinks. Suitable for smaller products that work well in CVS channels, Watsons has a very strong presence across China.
Chinese name: 屈臣氏