Group 1 - The last Hema X membership store, "Shanghai Senlan Shangdu Store," officially closed on August 31, 2023, with remaining products sold at clearance prices of 10-30% off, attracting customers for final purchases [1] - Hema X membership stores have been closing throughout the year, including locations in Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou, and Nanjing, with the closures attributed to a proactive business adjustment by Hema [4] - Hema X membership stores, launched by Hema Group, are the first Chinese brand in the warehouse-style membership market, competing with Costco and Sam's Club, with the first store opening in October 2020 [5]

文 | 《 BUG 》栏目 张奥 今日，"盒马告别会员店"登上热搜。 今年以来，盒马陆续关闭了 X 会员店，目前仅有上海森兰商都店一家尚在营业，该店的闭 店时间为 8 月 31 日。 《 BUG 》栏目实地探访北京世界之花门店发现，目前店内已没有任何设备，包括货架、展 示柜等在内的门店用品已全部运走，入口处均被锁住。但由于尚未确定新的租户，因此 像"盒马 X 会员店"的大标识、门头以及店内装潢仍未被拆卸。 官方客服表示，盒马 X 会员卡可退，也可以通用到其他盒马业态，比如盒马鲜生、盒马 mini 等业态，像 88 折、免费领菜等优惠仍可以正常使用。在退卡方面，官方客服也表 示，"可以退，会核实处理。" 有自称盒马员工人士透露，盒马 X 会员店闭店后，强制要求员工调店。早在去年，盒马方 面便陆续强迫员工改签劳务合同，闭店后合同被转移给第三方劳务派遣公司。"明面上协商 沟通调店，但实际工作内容没有协商一致。若员工不去就说诚信有问题，超三天没去会发解 除劳动合同通知书。"但该说法未得到盒马官方证实。 仅剩一家，月末停业 今年 2 月 28 日，盒马 X 会员店发布公告称：因业务调整，上海盒马 X 会员店高青店、大 ...

Core Viewpoint - Hema is closing all its X membership stores due to business adjustments, with only one store remaining operational until August 31, 2023, marking the end of this retail format in China [2][3][6]. Group 1: Store Closures - Hema has announced the closure of multiple X membership stores throughout the year, with the last operational store located in Shanghai [3][5]. - The Beijing World Flower store has been completely stripped of equipment and is locked, awaiting a new tenant [5]. - Hema's customer service confirmed that X membership cards can be refunded or used in other Hema formats, such as Hema Fresh and Hema Mini [5][6]. Group 2: Employee Impact - Employees were reportedly forced to transfer to other stores after the closure, with claims of coerced contract changes and potential termination for non-compliance [12]. - The company has faced criticism for its handling of employee contracts and labor relations during this transition [12]. Group 3: Market Competition - Hema X membership stores faced intense competition from established players like Sam's Club and Costco, as well as local competitors like RT-Mart and Ole [8]. - Despite initial ambitions to compete directly with these brands, Hema's X membership stores struggled to maintain customer interest and quality standards [7][10]. Group 4: Future Strategy - Hema plans to focus on its core businesses, Hema Fresh and Hema NB, shifting away from the X membership model [12]. - The company aims to open nearly 100 new Hema Fresh stores in the upcoming fiscal year, indicating a strategic pivot towards community-oriented retail [12].

Core Viewpoint - Hema's membership store format is set to disappear entirely, with the last remaining store in Shanghai closing on August 31, 2023, following the closure of several other locations earlier this year [1][4]. Group 1: Membership Store Closure - Hema has been closing its X membership stores throughout the year, with the last one in Shanghai scheduled to cease operations, marking the end of this store format [1][4]. - The X membership store format was initially launched in October 2020 and expanded to major cities, but it is now being phased out as the company shifts focus to other business models [2][4]. Group 2: Strategic Shift - Hema's management has decided to redirect resources towards Hema Fresh and Hema NB, indicating a strategic shift away from the membership store model due to high investment costs and long payback periods [4][5]. - The CEO of Hema expressed confidence in the Hema NB format, with plans to grow the number of stores to 300 by the end of 2024 [4]. Group 3: Challenges of Membership Stores - The membership store model requires significant capital investment for physical store expansion and supply chain capabilities, which has proven challenging for Hema [5][6]. - Intense competition from established membership stores like Sam's Club and Costco, as well as emerging players like Dailu Fan and Ao Le Qi, has further pressured Hema's membership store performance [6]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The retail landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, with a focus on profitability driving Hema's decision to discontinue the membership store format [6]. - The company is likely to continue experimenting with various retail formats to identify the most profitable avenues for growth in a rapidly evolving market [6].

Core Insights - Hema's membership store business is being completely shut down, marking the end of its attempt to establish a second growth curve through this model [1] - The last remaining Hema X membership store in Shanghai will close on August 31, following the closure of stores in Beijing and Suzhou on July 31 [1] - Hema X membership stores were launched in October 2020, aiming to compete with Costco and Sam's Club as the first Chinese brand in the warehouse membership sector [1] Summary by Categories Business Performance - All Hema X membership stores will cease operations after August 31, indicating a strategic withdrawal from the membership model [1] - The closure of these stores reflects challenges in attracting and retaining members, as evidenced by customer complaints regarding membership benefits and product quality [1] Market Position - Hema X was positioned as a competitor to established players like Costco and Sam's Club, but has failed to gain traction in the market [1] - The brand's initial launch aimed to tap into the growing demand for membership-based shopping experiences in China [1]

Group 1 - Sam's Club recently launched a new product, a 49.9 yuan snack containing 48 pieces, which claims to have "80% less sugar" and "30% more cocoa" compared to regular versions, but has faced backlash from members due to perceived lack of ingredient optimization and inclusion of potentially harmful additives [1] - As of June 2025, Sam's Club in China has over 9 million paid members, generating membership fee revenue exceeding 2.34 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of over 40% in Q1 2025 [1][2] - The average annual spending of Sam's Club members is over 8,000 yuan, significantly higher than typical supermarket spending, indicating a strong appeal to the middle-class demographic [2] Group 2 - The introduction of common brands like Holley Friend and others has led to a perception shift, as these products are widely available elsewhere, challenging the exclusivity that members expect from Sam's Club [3] - The rapid expansion of Sam's Club in China may have strained its supply chain management, resulting in a decline in product quality control [3] - Consumer dissatisfaction reflects broader concerns about food safety and quality standards in China, pushing for higher food safety regulations and standards [4]