Di Yi Cai Jing Zi Xun·2025-08-08 13:21Group 1 - The core point of the article is that Hema has officially abandoned its strategy of competing with Sam's Club by closing its last X membership store, marking a significant shift in its business model as it focuses on Hema Fresh and Hema NB [2][3] - Hema's initial strategy involved two directions: "going up" with Hema Fresh and X membership stores to compete with high-end retailers like Sam's Club, and "going down" with Hema Outlet and Hema NB targeting lower price points [3][4] - The failure of the X membership store is attributed to its inability to generate profit, with reports indicating that the store in Beijing closed just seven months after opening due to insufficient customer traffic and financial losses [4][5] Group 2 - Hema's supply chain capabilities have been called into question, particularly in light of recent food safety issues and high product wastage rates, which hinder its competitiveness against established players like Sam's Club and Costco [5][6] - The new CEO of Hema, Yan Xiaolei, is focusing on Hema NB as a key growth area, which operates as a community discount store model and allows for franchise expansion, aiming to achieve profitability in the upcoming fiscal year [6][7] - Competition is intensifying as both Meituan and JD.com are launching their own discount supermarket formats, with Meituan planning to open 1,000 stores, posing a significant challenge to Hema's market position [6][7] Group 3 - Hema's strategic value may lie in its role within Alibaba's broader consumer platform strategy, as it integrates with Alibaba's e-commerce initiatives, such as the launch of Hema sections on Taobao and the 88VIP membership benefits [8] - The shift in competition from Sam's Club to Meituan and JD.com highlights the increasing pressure on Hema to adapt and expand its market presence, particularly in lower-tier cities [7][8] - Despite the challenges, Hema's past positioning as a pioneer in "new retail" under Alibaba's vision remains a significant aspect of its identity, although the current market realities are increasingly difficult [8]