Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the shift in the competitive landscape of the retail industry in China, particularly focusing on the transition from online food delivery wars to offline discount retail battles, with major players like JD.com, Meituan, and Hema making significant moves in this space [3][4]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - JD.com opened four discount supermarkets in Suqian, leveraging its supply chain to offer direct-sourced products, eliminating middlemen [3][4]. - Meituan launched its first self-operated supermarket, Happy Monkey, in Hangzhou, emphasizing affordability, while Hema rebranded to "Super Box Calculation NB" [3][4]. - The China Chain Store & Franchise Association (CCFA) reported a decline of 2,750 stores among the top 100 supermarkets in China in 2024, a 9.8% year-on-year decrease, indicating a contraction in the traditional retail sector [4]. Group 2: Competitive Strategies - Experts suggest that platforms can leverage their proprietary brand development capabilities for differentiated competition in the "hard discount" sector, making it difficult for consumers to compare prices [5][6]. - JD.com has been actively expanding its offline presence, with plans for significant investments in discount supermarkets, as traditional retail faces closures, creating opportunities for online platforms [6][5]. - The focus of the retail industry is shifting from middle-class consumption to "hard discount" strategies, with Aldi's rapid expansion in Shanghai exemplifying this trend, reporting a 100% year-on-year sales growth in 2024 [6].

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].