Planet Retail 9 May 2008

According to reports in the Chinese press, Metro Group has launched a pilot project supported by the Ministry of Commerce that helps to enhance food safety through a standardised and professional supply chain. The "Metro agricultural products sourcing base project" introduces a consulting company to guide local farmers on safe breeding and planting. Metro estimates about 100 leading agricultural companies will attend the training programme this year.

"Toward Inclusive Economic Development in China" Speech by Haruhiko Kuroda, President, Asian Development Bank at the China Development Forum 2008, 23 March 2008, Beijing, PRC

Planet Retail 8 Feb 2008

According to reports in the Japanese press, AEON is accelerating the pace of its store network expansion in Asia, planning to more than triple the number of outlets in neighbouring countries from 54 to around 190 in the three years ending February 28th 2011. In China, the company is aming to open an average of around 18 superstores and around 10 supermarkets annually over the period. In Malaysia, AEON is planning to add about 37 stores, of which 25 are expected to be hypermarkets. In Thailand, AEON plans to extend its store network to 25 sites from 8 at present. In addition, AEON has reportedly launched feasibility studies in Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Planet Retail 21 November 2007

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture yesterday announced that it would issue monthly reports on agricultural produce prices to increase "market transparency and offer guiding information for farmers. The fluctuations of agricultural products are closely related to the overall performance of the national economy," Gao Hongbin, vice minister of agriculture, told reporters. "They also affect the interests of both producers and consumers." Rising farm product prices have done little to benefit farmers, the minister said, with most of the gains going to those who process, deliver, sell and consume the products. He said domestic prices were increasingly influenced by global markets, whose influence could be transmitted to China through imports and futures exchanges.

China Retail News, November 14, 2007

Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety will launch a pre-statutory voluntary notification scheme from November 1 for importers and distributors of fruit and vegetables.

Planet Retail 19 September 2007

In China, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce director Zhou Bohua yesterday said that the country will establish a nationwide grocery tracking system to ensure food safety. By the end of this year, all food markets and supermarkets in cities above county level will have set up the system requiring invoices and documents attached to purchased commodities. All township, street-side and community groceries will also set up a system of keeping real-time records when purchasing and selling commodities. The above measures are aimed at supervising product quality and food safety more effectively in accordance with the campaign, launched on August 25, to strengthen supervision and administration of the safety of food and other products.

Planet Retail 7 September 2007

In China, Carrefour CEO Jose Luis Duran said yesterday the retailer has opened 101 hypermarkets since it entered the Chinese market in 1995. More than 100 million customers shopped at the 101 Carrefour stores in China last year, bringing a sales volume around CNY24 billion (USD3 billion), Duran said. The retail industry in China has witnessed great changes during the past decade with an annual growth of more than 50%, much higher than the growth of GDP, Duran added. The Carrefour CEO attributed the success of the retailer in China to its localisation strategy as 95% of product lines in the hypermarkets are procured in the country. Chinese nationals account for 80% of store managers and hold half of the posts of regional managers.

China has overtaken Russia and Pakistan to become the world's third largest dairy producer, according to China Securities Journal.

Planet Retail 24 July 2007 

According to unconfirmed sources in China, Wal-Mart is likely to buy Beijing Hualian's hypermarket business. The sources also suggested that Wal-Mart and Beijing Hualian are in talks already. Beijing Hualian's hypermarket business is estimated worth more than USD1 billion. "We do not have to respond to the rumour", said an official from PR department, Wal-Mart China.

Planet Retail 23 July 2007

According to reports in the Chinese press, citing public relations officials at Carrefour's local subsidiary, the retailer has opened its first direct procurement centre in Shanghai which will mainly purchase agricultural products. According to the retailer, direct procurement enables Carrefour to bypass wholesalers, reducing costs and benefiting farmers who supply the company.