For almost half a century, the business of China Resources was selling Chinese goods and commodities in Hong Kong. These days, the company makes most of its money using international retailing strategies that it imported via Hong Kong back to the mainland.
The turnround has been a great success. China Resources is now one of the mainland’s largest food retailers, with more than 3,000 stores and a much wider network in the world’s most populous country than close western rivals Carrefour and Walmart.
“Our strategy is to target the entire country,” Wang Weiyong, senior vice-president of China Resources’ retail group, says.“We want to be the leading player in the domestic market. We have more understanding of the market.”