Exploring growth through transformation in China

China is seeing its lowest inflation levels for over a decade with the latest official release reporting a rate of 1.4% in February of 2015.

China is seeing its lowest inflation levels for over a decade with the latest official release reporting a rate of 1.4% in February of 2015.The challenge from e-commerce continues to erode business as shoppers move purchases to this channel. Recent figure from Kantar worldpanel for 12 weeks ending 20th Feb 2015 shows the top retailers’ have been able to consolidate their share in this environment.

Sun Art Group remains the leading retailer in the latest 12 weeks, with a market share of 7.7% of Modern Trade. The group grew 0.5 percentage points which was the biggest absolute share increase in the market. The retailer has over 300 stores in China with no record of “closing store” since entered the market which contrasts with international rivals such as Walmart who are closing stores. The strongest region for Sun Art Group is the East region, where it has a market share of 15.4%. In recognition of the huge potential in online retail in China in Jan 2014 they launched “Fei Niu”, the group’s E-channel. Sun Art have announced its ambitious plan to go nation-wide with full confidence to be top 3 E-tailer in the near future.

Carrefour in contrast has seen weak performance and constant loss of market share which recorded a decrease by 9.7% year ago (12 weeks ending 20th Feb 2015). The struggling retailer’s leadership has recently announced ‘unprecedented reform’. This reform signals Carrefour’s aim to be a multi-format player. It is trying to meet consumer needs for convenience through building E-channel and by opening its Carrefour Easy banner, with first store opened in Shanghai in Nov 2014.

New Grocery Market Share dataviz

Kantar Worldpanel has launched a new data visualisation tool that allows you to view and analyse Grocery Market Share data online. The latest sales share figures for all of the major grocers can be viewed and compared with historical figures here. All graphics within the Kantar Worldpanel dataviz are available to embed in your site.

*The Grocery Market Share data is derived from Kantar Worldpanel research covering the household grocery purchasing habits of 40,000 demographically representative urban households in China for their consumption at home. All data is based on the value of items being purchased by these consumers. Kantar Worldpanel only supports data published in the context in which it was originally presented. Kantar Worldpanel does not endorse any other interpretation of our data.