On September 20th, the 2024 China Regional Retail Enterprise Innovation Forum and the Second User Conference, hosted by Shenzhen Kemai Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Kemai"), was held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.

Themed "Retail Innovation, New Quality Growth," the conference invited experts and scholars, including Pei Liang, Honorary Chairman of the China Chain Store & Franchise Association; Zeng Zhaozhi, Founder and Chairman of Kemai; Jiandao Jihe, former director of OK Supermarket and Don Quixote, and representative of the MARCH Chamber of Commerce; Chen Liping, Professor and Executive Dean of the Consumption Big Data Research Institute, Capital University of Economics and Business; Chen Hongliang, Co-founder of Kemai; Ma Xintong, Founder and CEO of Discount Cow; Shi Jianwei, Founder of Jinbaibai; Yu Beili, Director of Tencent Smart Retail Solutions; Wang Qi, Founder of Retail Pica; Chen Yuanyuan, Senior Category Management Research Expert at Wuhan Cecheng (Supermarket 168); and Xiong Yajuan, Industry Expert at Kemai, as well as customer representatives. The aim was to gather industry elites to jointly explore the innovative development of retail formats and the future trends of digital transformation.

Currently, the retail consumer market faces significant challenges. In the first half of 2024, total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 3.7% year-on-year, while GDP growth was 5.0% over the same period, indicating that consumer growth lagged behind overall economic growth. Consumer behavior is undergoing profound changes, with one notable trend being an increasing emphasis on quality-to-price ratio. Many traditional supermarkets and hypermarkets are exploring discount models to adapt to market changes.

In his keynote speech at the conference, Zeng Zhaozhi, Founder and Chairman of Kemai, said that amid the diversification of the retail industry, emerging formats such as discounts, community fresh food, and fresh food convenience stores are opening up vast development opportunities with their unique advantages and potential.

(Zeng Zhaozhi, Founder and Chairman of Kemai)

As a digital partner for retail enterprises, Kemai has always stood at the forefront of change, committed to supporting and promoting innovation and development across various retail formats. By providing advanced digital solutions, Kemai helps retail enterprises seize opportunities in the rapidly evolving market environment and achieve leapfrog development.

Retail Innovation, New Quality Growth

The conference featured multiple keynote speeches and interactive roundtable forums, sharing cutting-edge industry insights, technology applications, and successful cases.

Chen Liping, Professor and Executive Dean of the Consumption Big Data Research Institute, Capital University of Economics and Business, shared several trends in retail transformation amid deflation at the conference. He pointed out that in an environment where deflation accelerates consumer stratification, the trend of market segmentation is evident. Positioning oneself in a highly competitive market is a crucial challenge for enterprises undergoing restructuring.

(Chen Liping, Professor and Executive Dean of the Consumption Big Data Research Institute, Capital University of Economics and Business)

He also emphasized that value-oriented supermarkets will become mainstream in the market, and enterprises should focus on "quality competition" in their business strategies, gaining competitive advantages by enhancing added value.

Jiandao Jihe, former director of OK Supermarket and Don Quixote and representative of the MARCH Chamber of Commerce, shared OK Supermarket's business strategies and goals from an international perspective.

He believes that the Japanese retail industry is at a significant turning point. On the one hand, it faces challenges such as population decline and aging. On the other hand, competition among homogeneous players and the growth of online sales have intensified competition for consumers, making traditional business models difficult to operate.

(Jiandao Jihe, former director of OK Supermarket and Don Quixote and representative of the MARCH Chamber of Commerce)

In this context, OK Supermarket has successfully built a retail format that is closely connected with consumers and achieved business growth by adhering to its "high-quality, low-price every day" business model and implementing technologies such as AI ordering systems and innovative freezing systems.

Additionally, the conference organized a special visit to Kemai's benchmark customer, Discount Cow City Wholesale Center, to conduct field research on its operation model, providing valuable on-site learning opportunities for participants.

Sailing Together for 25 Years, Setting Sail Again

After 25 years of development, Kemai has traversed multiple industry cycles, witnessing the evolution and changes of China's retail industry.

From the rise of e-commerce to the integration of the O2O model and the full expansion of new retail, Kemai has always been at the forefront of digital technology, providing innovative solutions for customers. Adhering to its mission of "accompanying enterprises in sustained growth through digital technology," Kemai fully supports the growth and success of its customers.

The conference marks an important milestone in Kemai's 25-year journey and represents a profound reflection and active exploration of the future development of the retail industry. Kemai hopes to use this platform to witness the new transformation of the retail industry together with all participants and embark on a new chapter of innovation and development in retail formats.