Core Insights - The concept of "reward economy" is gaining traction, defined as consumers purchasing non-essential goods or experience services to cope with work-life stress and fulfill psychological needs, leading to immediate gratification and self-affirmation [1] Group 1: Market Performance - As of December 23, 2025, the CSI Hong Kong-Shenzhen Online Consumption Theme Index (931481) shows mixed performance among its constituent stocks, with Perfect World (002624) leading at a 2.74% increase, followed by Kaiying Network (002517) at 1.79%, and Gome Retail (06808) at 1.69% [1] - The Online Consumption ETF (159793) is currently priced at 1.01 yuan [1] Group 2: Index Composition - The CSI Hong Kong-Shenzhen Online Consumption Theme Index comprises 50 listed companies involved in online shopping, digital entertainment, online education, and telemedicine, reflecting the overall performance of online consumption theme stocks in the mainland and Hong Kong markets [2] - The top ten weighted stocks in the index include Alibaba-W (09988), Tencent Holdings (00700), Meituan-W (03690), Kuaishou-W (01024), JD Health (06618), Giant Network (002558), Bilibili-W (09626), iFLYTEK (002230), Kunlun Wanwei (300418), and Kaiying Network (002517), collectively accounting for 55.21% of the index [2]

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing transformation of Gao Xin Retail, the parent company of RT-Mart, is marked by significant leadership changes and strategic shifts aimed at revitalizing the business and addressing declining performance metrics [3][4][9]. Leadership Changes - On November 30, Gao Xin Retail announced the resignation of CEO Shen Hui due to personal reasons, with Li Weiping appointed as the new CEO effective December 1, 2025. Li brings over 20 years of retail management experience, having previously held key positions at Hema and Lotte Supermarket [3][4]. - Li Weiping's appointment is seen as a strategic move, with a three-year service agreement and a fixed annual salary of 3.36 million yuan, reflecting the company's trust in her capabilities [3][4]. Organizational Restructuring - Since the acquisition by Dehong Capital in February 2025, Gao Xin Retail has undergone significant organizational changes, including a reduction in operational divisions from five to four and a focus on anti-corruption measures within the company [4][5]. - The company has initiated a product system overhaul, eliminating homogenized products and accelerating the development of private labels [4][5]. Strategic Initiatives - Gao Xin Retail has launched a "three-year strategy" aimed at enhancing product differentiation, improving supply chain efficiency, and transforming store formats to better serve community needs [5][6]. - The company has begun establishing front warehouses in several cities to improve logistics efficiency and reduce delivery times, while also closing underperforming stores and converting some into membership-based formats [5][6]. Financial Performance - Gao Xin Retail has faced declining revenues, with a reported 12.4% decrease in product sales revenue for the first half of the 2026 fiscal year compared to the previous year, attributed to increased market competition and consumer fatigue [14]. - The company has also seen a drop in same-store sales growth, with a reported decline of 11.7%, although online B2C sales have shown some growth [14][15]. Challenges Ahead - The company must navigate internal resistance to change and the competitive landscape, particularly in the areas of private label development and supply chain management, to achieve its strategic goals [7][16]. - Li Weiping's leadership will be critical in addressing these challenges and ensuring the successful execution of the company's transformation strategy [8][16].

Core Viewpoint - The transition of leadership at Gao Xin Retail, following Alibaba's divestment, marks a significant shift in strategy towards efficiency and product development, with a focus on transforming into a brand with research and development capabilities similar to Hema and Costco [1][2][3] Group 1: Leadership Changes - Gao Xin Retail announced the resignation of its CEO Shen Hui, effective December 1, with Li Weiping, former Chief Merchandise Officer at Hema, taking over [1][10] - Li Weiping has a strong background in retail management, having previously held key positions at Hema and other major retailers, indicating a strategic shift towards efficiency [1][10] Group 2: Alibaba's Investment and Divestment - Alibaba initially acquired a 36.16% stake in Gao Xin Retail for approximately HKD 224.25 billion, marking a high point for the company with revenues exceeding HKD 100 billion for three consecutive years [2][11] - Following a decline in performance, Alibaba announced the divestment of its stake in Gao Xin Retail, selling approximately 78.7% of its shares for up to HKD 131.38 billion, resulting in a significant financial loss for Alibaba [3][12] Group 3: Performance Decline - Gao Xin Retail's revenue fell to HKD 725.67 billion with a cumulative net loss of HKD 22.35 billion from FY2022 to FY2024, and the company's stock price dropped by 77.8% from its peak [3][12] - The company reported a revenue of HKD 715.52 billion for FY2025, a slight decrease of 1.4%, but managed to achieve a net profit of HKD 4.05 billion, primarily through cost-cutting measures [6][15] Group 4: Strategic Changes Under Dehong Capital - Dehong Capital has implemented significant changes in Gao Xin Retail's management and operational structure, aiming to enhance asset value and transform the company into a more competitive retail platform [4][13] - The restructuring includes reducing the number of operational zones and focusing on developing private label products, indicating a shift towards a more innovative retail model [5][14] Group 5: Financial Challenges and Future Outlook - Despite a temporary profit, Gao Xin Retail faces ongoing challenges with declining same-store sales and customer spending, leading to concerns about long-term sustainability [6][16] - The company’s cash flow situation remains precarious, with a downward trend in cash reserves, highlighting the need for continued financial support from Dehong Capital [7][17] - New business initiatives, such as membership programs and private label products, are still in their infancy, contributing minimally to overall revenue [8][17]

Group 1 - Gao Xin Retail (06808) shares rose over 3%, currently up 3.57% at HKD 1.74, with a trading volume of HKD 5.3693 million [1] - Recently, Gao Xin Retail announced that Li Weiping will serve as the Executive Director and CEO, while Shen Hui resigned from these positions due to family reasons, effective December 1, 2025 [1] - Li Weiping has 26 years of experience in the retail industry, having joined Hema in 2018 and held key positions such as General Manager of North China Beijing Region, CEO of Hema Fresh, and Chief Merchandising Officer [1] Group 2 - UBS expressed optimism regarding Gao Xin Retail's transformation plan but remains cautious about the short-term outlook due to intense competition in delivery platforms and the need for offline food retail upgrades [1] - UBS noted that management aims to reduce SKU numbers, shrink store sizes, and accelerate new product launches, which could enhance the product strength of RT-Mart [1] - The management's goal is to increase the sales proportion of private label products from the current 3% to 10% within three years, and eventually reach 20% in the long term [1]

Group 1 - Gao Xin Retail (06808) saw a morning increase of over 3%, with the stock price rising by 3.57% to HKD 1.74 and a trading volume of HKD 7.7993 million [1] - The company announced that Li Weiping will take over as Executive Director and CEO, effective December 1, 2025, following the resignation of Shen Hui due to family reasons [1] - Li Weiping has 26 years of experience in the retail industry and has held significant positions at Hema, including General Manager of North China and CEO of Hema Fresh [1] Group 2 - UBS expressed optimism about Gao Xin Retail's transformation plan but remains cautious about the short-term outlook due to intense competition in delivery platforms and the need for offline food retail upgrades [1] - The management aims to reduce SKU numbers, shrink store sizes, and accelerate new product launches, which could enhance the product strength of RT-Mart [1] - The goal is to increase the sales proportion of private label products from the current 3% to 10% within three years, and eventually reach 20% in the long term [1]

Group 1 - Gao Xin Retail (06808) saw a stock increase of over 3%, specifically 3.57%, reaching HKD 1.74 with a trading volume of HKD 5.3693 million [1] - The company announced that Li Weiping will take over as Executive Director and CEO, effective December 1, 2025, following the resignation of Shen Hui due to family reasons [1] - Li Weiping has 26 years of experience in the retail industry and has held significant positions at Hema, including CEO and Chief Merchandising Officer [1] Group 2 - UBS expressed optimism regarding Gao Xin Retail's transformation plan but remains cautious about the short-term outlook due to intense competition in delivery platforms and the need for offline food retail upgrades [1] - The management aims to reduce SKU numbers, decrease store sizes, and accelerate new product launches, which could enhance the product strength of RT-Mart [1] - The goal is to increase the sales proportion of private label products from the current 3% to 10% within three years, and eventually to 20% in the long term [1]

Group 1 - Gao Xin Retail (06808) saw a stock increase of over 3%, currently up 3.57% at HKD 1.74, with a trading volume of HKD 5.3693 million [1] - Recently, Gao Xin Retail announced that Li Weiping will take over as Executive Director and CEO, effective December 1, 2025, following Shen Hui's resignation due to family reasons [1] - Li Weiping has 26 years of experience in the retail industry and has held significant positions at Hema, including CEO and Chief Merchandising Officer [1] Group 2 - UBS expressed an optimistic view on Gao Xin Retail's transformation plan but remains cautious about the short-term outlook due to intense competition in delivery platforms and the need for offline food retail upgrades [1] - The management aims to reduce SKU numbers, decrease store sizes, and accelerate new product launches to enhance the product strength of RT-Mart [1] - The goal is to increase the sales proportion of private label products from the current 3% to 10% within three years, and eventually reach 20% in the long term [1]

Core Viewpoint - Walmart is intensifying its focus on private label brands, particularly "Wojixian," as a strategic response to competition from e-commerce and emerging retailers, while also addressing the declining image of its Sam's Club brand [1][2][4]. Group 1: Walmart's Strategy - Walmart's private label "Wojixian" has been upgraded to cover essential categories like fresh produce, food, and beverages, emphasizing low prices and health attributes [2][4]. - The company is facing challenges as traditional retail formats struggle against e-commerce platforms, prompting a shift towards private labels to enhance competitiveness [1][4]. - The strategy of launching private labels is seen as a "last resort" to revitalize the hypermarket format amid increasing competition [1][4]. Group 2: Market Competition - Other traditional retailers, such as RT-Mart, are also focusing on private labels, with a similar emphasis on low prices and health trends [2][4]. - New players like Hema and Dingdong Maicai have established private labels as core competitive advantages, highlighting the shift in market dynamics [6][9]. - The competition for quality suppliers is intensifying as both established and emerging retailers seek to enhance their private label offerings [7][8]. Group 3: Financial Performance - RT-Mart's parent company, Gao Xin Retail, reported a revenue decline of 12.1% year-on-year, indicating the financial pressures faced by traditional retailers [5]. - Walmart's performance in China is primarily driven by Sam's Club, while its hypermarket segment has been experiencing store closures [5]. Group 4: Private Label Development - The private label penetration varies significantly among retailers, with Aldi achieving a 90% share in China, while Hema's community stores have nearly 60% [7]. - Successful private label strategies require strong brand value and supply chain management to maintain competitive pricing and quality [7][8]. - Walmart's approach involves stringent supplier selection, with only a small percentage of potential suppliers making it through the rigorous evaluation process [8].

Core Insights - Walmart is developing its private label "Wojixian" as a response to the declining image of its high-end membership store Sam's Club, indicating a strategic shift in its retail approach [1][2] - The competition in the retail market is intensifying, with traditional retailers like Walmart and RT-Mart facing pressure from e-commerce and emerging players [1][4] Group 1: Walmart's Strategy - Walmart's "Wojixian" brand focuses on affordability and health, with products prominently displayed at low price points [2][3] - The company is adopting a strategy similar to RT-Mart, which is also enhancing its private label offerings, emphasizing low prices and health attributes [2][3] - The shift towards private labels is seen as a necessary response to market competition and performance pressures, as evidenced by declining revenues and profits reported by RT-Mart's parent company [3][4] Group 2: Market Competition - New retail players like Hema and Dingdong Maicai have established their private labels as core competitive advantages, launching various products since 2017 [4][5] - The self-owned brand strategy is crucial for retailers to attract customers and improve profit margins by defining product standards and reducing intermediary costs [4][5] - The competition for quality suppliers is intensifying as traditional retailers ramp up their private label initiatives, with companies like Dingdong Maicai investing in direct sourcing and partnerships [5][6] Group 3: Supply Chain and Brand Development - The success of private labels relies heavily on effective supply chain management and the ability to create strong brand value [5][6] - Walmart is currently focusing on supplier selection and has a rigorous evaluation process for potential suppliers, which limits the number of partnerships [6] - The retail landscape is evolving, with established players like Walmart actively learning from newer competitors to enhance their product offerings and market positioning [6]

SUN ART RETAIL GROUP LIMITED 高鑫零售有限公司 (Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability) （於香港註冊成立之有限公司） (Stock Code 股份代號：6808) As a non-registered shareholder, if you wish to receive Corporate Communications* in electronic form pursuant to the Listing Rules, yo u should liaise with your bank(s), broker(s), custodian(s), nominee(s) or HKSCC Nominees Limited through which your shares in the Company are held (collectively, the "Intermediaries") and provide your email address to your Intermediaries. If the Comp ...