Core Viewpoint - The competition among major internet platforms in the offline discount retail sector is intensifying, transitioning from the previous online food delivery battle [1][3]. Group 1: Company Actions - JD.com opened four discount supermarkets in Suqian, leveraging its supply chain to offer direct-sourced products, eliminating middlemen [1]. - Meituan launched its first self-operated supermarket, Happy Monkey, in Hangzhou, emphasizing affordability [3]. - Hema announced a rebranding to "Super Box Calculation NB" on the same day as Meituan's launch [3]. Group 2: Market Trends - The offline retail landscape has seen a contraction, with the number of top 100 supermarkets in China decreasing by 2,750 stores, a 9.8% year-on-year decline [3]. - The focus of the retail industry is shifting from middle-class consumption to "hard discount" strategies [5]. Group 3: Expert Insights - Experts suggest that the platforms can leverage their proprietary brand development capabilities for differentiated competition in the "hard discount" sector [3][4]. - JD.com's expansion into offline retail is seen as a significant investment rather than a trial, as traditional supermarkets face closures, creating opportunities for online platforms [4]. - The potential for JD.com to open over a hundred discount supermarkets is plausible, depending on the performance of its discount store operations [4]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - Aldi, a German discount supermarket, has over 50 stores in Shanghai, with a projected 100% year-on-year sales growth and a 10% increase in store count for 2024 [5].