Core Insights - The article highlights the success of a discount supermarket chain in Japan, known for its low prices and high-quality products, primarily sourced from China, and its origins in a food factory in Dalian [1][4]. Group 1: Business Model and Growth - The supermarket operates with a cost-driven "everyday low price" strategy, leveraging a self-owned supply chain to maintain competitive pricing and quality [4][8]. - From 2015 to 2024, the supermarket's net sales grew by 154.7%, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 10.9%, and it accounted for over 90% of the parent company's total sales [4][6]. - The number of stores increased from 713 to 1084 over ten years, with an average of 37 new stores added annually, indicating a steady expansion pace [4][6]. Group 2: Supply Chain and Product Strategy - The company has developed a "food production and sales integration" system over nearly 30 years, allowing it to offer low-priced, high-quality products [8][9]. - The product range includes national brand (NB) items, local private brand (PB) products, and imported PB products, focusing on uniqueness, low prices, and high quality [9][10]. - As of Q3 FY2025, the sales proportion of self-owned brands was 34.3%, with goals to increase this to over 40% by FY2026 [10]. Group 3: Franchise Model and Operations - The supermarket employs a convenience store-style franchise model, with only 4 out of over 1100 stores being company-owned, allowing for a focus on product development and support for franchisees [11][12]. - Each store typically covers an area of about 150 tsubo (approximately 490 square meters) and selects 2500 to 3000 products from a total of around 7000 SKUs [12]. - The main revenue source comes from wholesale of products produced by the company's factories and directly imported goods, rather than franchise fees [12]. Group 4: Market Adaptation and Future Plans - Initially avoiding fresh produce due to high spoilage rates, the company has adapted its strategy to include limited fresh and alcoholic products based on market trends [13][15]. - The company is expanding into the restaurant sector with new brands and aims to enhance existing stores through renovations and upgrades [13][15]. - The company strategically avoids high-rent urban areas, focusing on suburban locations and adhering to a principle of opening one store for every 50,000 residents to ensure profitability [15][16]. Group 5: Competitive Advantage - The supermarket's success is attributed to its focus on supply chain advantages and a balance between cost-effectiveness and product variety, appealing to budget-conscious families while providing a unique shopping experience [16].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the industry is "Positive" and maintained [10] Core Insights - The report analyzes the differences in positioning, business models, and expansion paths between Haier and Uniqlo, both of which focus on high cost-performance in the apparel market [5][17] - Uniqlo has established itself as a global leader in mass apparel, achieving retail sales of 37.8 billion yuan in China, while Haier ranks first in men's apparel with sales of 29.3 billion yuan [5][17] - Both brands initially adopted low-cost sales and store opening strategies to establish their single-store models, but their paths diverged significantly during their growth phases [3][8] Summary by Sections Introduction - Uniqlo is recognized for its SPA model and successful global expansion, while Haier focuses on high cost-performance men's apparel, achieving significant market presence in China [5][17] Business Model Exploration - Positioning: Haier targets mid to low-tier cities with a focus on business casual men's wear, while Uniqlo emphasizes daily wear and basic styles, appealing to a more diverse customer base in high-tier cities [6][26] - Operations: Uniqlo employs a vertically integrated SAP model for product development and inventory management, while Haier relies on a more decentralized supply chain approach [6][26] Expansion Path Differences - Initial Phase: Haier utilized a light asset model for efficient expansion in a fragmented market, while Uniqlo focused on product value enhancement and store efficiency [7][8] - Later Phase: Haier faces challenges in domestic expansion and efficiency, prompting entry into new retail formats, while Uniqlo accelerates global expansion leveraging its strong brand and product capabilities [8][9] Market Comparison - Haier's retail strategy is characterized by a high number of small stores in lower-tier cities, while Uniqlo focuses on larger stores in higher-tier cities [28][31] - As of 2025 Q1, Haier has 5,812 stores with an average size of approximately 160 square meters, while Uniqlo has 1,032 stores, predominantly in second-tier cities and above [28][31] Performance Metrics - Uniqlo's store efficiency is significantly higher, with a store performance of 29.28 million yuan, compared to Haier's 4.28 million yuan [43] - Haier's sales per square meter are 27,000 yuan/year, outperforming other domestic men's apparel brands [43]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the industry is "Positive" and maintained [15] Core Insights - The report analyzes the differences in positioning, business models, and expansion paths between Haier and Uniqlo, both of which focus on high cost-performance in the apparel market [10][25] - Uniqlo has established itself as a global leader in casual wear, achieving retail sales of 37.8 billion yuan in China, while Haier ranks first in men's apparel with sales of 29.3 billion yuan [10][25] - Both brands initially adopted low-cost sales and store opening strategies to establish their single-store models, but their paths diverged significantly during growth phases [12][13] Summary by Sections Introduction - Uniqlo is recognized for its SPA model and successful global expansion, while Haier focuses on high cost-performance in business casual menswear [10][25] - As of 2024, Uniqlo's retail sales in China reached 37.8 billion yuan, making it the largest apparel brand, while Haier's sales were 29.3 billion yuan, leading in men's apparel [10][25] Business Model Exploration - Positioning: Haier targets mid to low-tier cities with a focus on business casual menswear, while Uniqlo emphasizes daily wear and has a more diverse customer base in high-tier cities [11][34] - Operations: Uniqlo employs a SAP model for integrated control from product development to retail, while Haier relies on a more decentralized supply chain management approach [11][12] Expansion Path Differences - Initial Phase: Haier utilized a light asset model for efficient expansion in a fragmented market, while Uniqlo focused on product upgrades and direct store models for growth [12][13] - Later Phase: Haier faces challenges in domestic expansion and efficiency, prompting entry into new retail formats, while Uniqlo accelerates global expansion leveraging its strong brand and product capabilities [12][13] Market Comparison - Haier's store count reached 5,812 by Q1 2025, primarily in lower-tier cities, while Uniqlo had 1,032 stores, mostly in higher-tier cities [39][40] - Uniqlo's store efficiency significantly outperforms Haier, with a store efficiency of 29.28 million yuan compared to Haier's 4.28 million yuan [53][50]