Core Viewpoint - The recent controversy surrounding Sam's Club and the introduction of the "low-sugar Holi-Ryu pie" has sparked discussions about the brand's commitment to providing a differentiated shopping experience for its middle-class members, which has been compromised by the influx of common products and the removal of high-quality items [1][5][7] Group 1: Product Strategy and Consumer Reaction - Sam's Club has traditionally focused on high-end, unique products to attract middle-class consumers willing to pay membership fees for a premium shopping experience [1][14] - The introduction of the "low-sugar Holi-Ryu pie" has received over 300 negative reviews from consumers, primarily due to concerns about its actual sweetness and the presence of trans fats [5][8] - The removal of popular, high-repurchase items like sun cakes and low-sugar egg yolk pastries in favor of more common brands has led to consumer dissatisfaction, questioning the value of the membership [7][9] Group 2: Quality Control Issues - Sam's Club has faced multiple quality control issues in 2025, including reports of foreign objects in food products, which have contributed to a growing distrust among consumers [8][9] - Complaints regarding food safety have surged, with over 8,000 complaints reported in 2024, 40% of which were related to food safety concerns [8][9] Group 3: Business Expansion and Challenges - Rapid expansion has led to challenges in maintaining quality control, with plans to open 10 new stores in 2025, bringing the total to nearly 60 [10][12] - The company's local sourcing rate exceeds 70%, which has complicated quality management as the scale of operations grows [10][12] - Financially, while Sam's Club reported a sales figure of 100 billion yuan and 2 billion yuan in membership fees in 2024, there are concerns about slowing sales growth, which has dropped from 15% to single digits [12][10] Group 4: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Hema and Costco are intensifying pressure on Sam's Club by innovating their product offerings and enhancing customer engagement [12][10] - The retail industry is evolving, and consumers are increasingly prioritizing product quality and uniqueness over mere brand prestige [16][14]

Group 1 - Sam's Club has become a unique presence in the Chinese market, attracting middle-class consumers despite ongoing food safety scandals [1][5][7] - The frequent negative incidents are attributed to rapid expansion and a lack of detailed management in stores, leading to a failure in maintaining standardized operations [1][3][7] - In response to these issues, Sam's Club has appointed a new CEO for the China region and is restructuring its organizational framework to enhance management [1][2][3] Group 2 - Sam's Club is undergoing a significant organizational adjustment, increasing the number of regions from six to seven, with a focus on Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces [2][3] - The company plans to accelerate its expansion in China, aiming to open 8-10 new stores annually starting in 2025, a significant increase from the current rate of about six per year [2][3] - As of May 2025, Sam's Club has opened 56 stores in China, with eight located in Jiangsu and eight in Zhejiang, indicating a strategic focus on these regions [2][3] Group 3 - Despite rapid growth, Sam's Club faces challenges in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang markets, with no stores in the top ten for sales as of 2024 [3][9] - The company has experienced multiple food safety incidents in 2023, including complaints about spoiled products and foreign objects in food items [5][6][10] - Sam's Club's customer service responses to these incidents have been criticized as inadequate, highlighting a need for improved management and accountability [5][7][10] Group 4 - In contrast to Sam's Club, Costco has adopted a slower expansion strategy in China, opening only seven stores in five years, which has limited its market presence [9][10] - Costco's reliance on imported goods results in higher prices compared to Sam's Club, which sources 70% of its products locally, allowing for faster inventory turnover [10][11] - The differences in operational speed and supply chain management between Sam's Club and Costco illustrate varying approaches to market penetration and customer satisfaction [9][10]

Core Points - A consumer reported finding a suspected glass foreign object in a "Fresh Meat Bun" purchased from Sam's Club, raising concerns about food safety [1] - Walmart responded to the incident by conducting an internal investigation and confirmed that no abnormalities were found in the same batch of products, but the item was removed from shelves as a precaution [1] - There have been multiple reports of food safety issues at Sam's Club, including complaints about spoiled milk and foreign objects found in other food products [2] Group 1 - A consumer named Xu reported finding a transparent foreign object in a "Fresh Meat Bun" from Sam's Club, which costs 48.9 yuan for a pack of 20 [1] - Walmart stated that they are taking the matter seriously and are in communication with affected members while investigating the source of the foreign object [1] - Previous incidents at Sam's Club include reports of live insects found in products and foreign objects in food items, indicating a pattern of food safety concerns [2]

Group 1 - Recent reports indicate that consumers have found live worms in black diamond wax apples purchased from Sam's Club, raising concerns about product quality and safety [2] - Sam's Club's customer service stated that the presence of worms is considered a normal occurrence due to the lack of pesticides on fruit products, although they claim to conduct quality checks [2] - There have been previous complaints regarding the organic high-calcium fresh milk from Sam's Club, which reportedly turned lumpy and sour while still within its shelf life, leading to the product being removed from multiple sales channels [4] Group 2 - A consumer discovered that a cold dish labeled with a short shelf life was actually a frozen pre-prepared dish with a much longer shelf life, prompting regulatory scrutiny and a requirement for Sam's Club to rectify labeling issues [6] - The Wuhan market supervision authority has initiated quality inspections on the mislabeled cold dishes and mandated their removal from shelves to prevent consumer deception [6] - Sam's Club is a high-end membership store under Walmart, with over 30 years of operational history since its first store opened in 1983 [6]