4元卖掉4家家乐福，昔日巨头缘何沦为“白菜价”？

Core Viewpoint - The sale of four Carrefour subsidiaries by Suning.com for a mere 4 yuan reflects the struggles of Carrefour in the Chinese market and Suning's difficult transformation amid financial challenges [1][4]. Group 1: Carrefour's Journey in China - Carrefour entered the Chinese market in 1995, pioneering the hypermarket model and quickly gaining market share due to its innovative business practices [5][6]. - By 2008, Carrefour had become the leading foreign retailer in China, with an average store revenue of 252 million yuan, but faced challenges from competitors and changing consumer behaviors [8][9]. - The company's decline began post-2008, exacerbated by its slow response to the e-commerce boom and increased competition from Walmart and other retailers [11][12]. Group 2: Suning's Acquisition and Subsequent Challenges - In June 2019, Suning acquired 80% of Carrefour China for 4.8 billion yuan, aiming to enhance its offline presence and integrate resources for a comprehensive retail ecosystem [13]. - However, Carrefour China's performance did not improve post-acquisition, leading to significant losses of 1.099 billion yuan and 578 million yuan in 2017 and 2018, respectively [12][15]. - By 2023, Carrefour China had to close many of its traditional stores, indicating a potential complete exit from the market by 2025 [15]. Group 3: Suning's Strategic Shift - The sale of the four Carrefour subsidiaries for 4 yuan is part of Suning's strategy to divest non-core assets and focus on its core home appliance and 3C business to alleviate debt pressures [16][19]. - Suning has faced severe debt challenges, prompting asset disposals, including the sale of its loss-making logistics subsidiary for 10 million yuan, which helped improve its financial situation [16][17]. - The sale of Carrefour subsidiaries is expected to enhance Suning's financial statements, potentially increasing net profit by approximately 572 million yuan [18][21]. Group 4: Industry Implications - The decline of Carrefour and Suning's drastic measures highlight the difficulties traditional retailers face in adapting to e-commerce and changing consumer preferences [21][22]. - Suning's focus on its core business may provide an opportunity for recovery, but the future of the retail industry remains uncertain amid ongoing transformations [22].