Retail in 2024: The big picture
Retail in China experienced moderate current value growth in 2024, although a slight slowdown in the rate of increase was seen compared with 2023. Macroeconomic factors played a significant role, with the economy slowing down, and the housing market facing challenges.
Digital and social media initiatives drive retail growth
In 2024, digital and social media initiatives from the government contributed to value growth. In terms of local social media engagement, local governments, such as in Henan province, leveraged social media by using engaging computer-generated non-player characters (NPCs) to interact with consumers.
Shifts in retail channels favour value-based retail and online sales
Although supermarkets saw slight current value growth in 2024, hypermarkets maintained its declining trend, with one of the main factors in this performance being the rise of warehouse clubs. With consumers seeking cost savings and value, especially amidst high unemployment and budget-conscious behaviours, warehouse clubs gained popularity for grocery shopping due to their bulk purchasing options and membership benefits.
What next for retail?
Retail in China is expected to see a gradual acceleration of current value growth rates over the course of the forecast period, due to the government’s support measures and expected economic recovery, although there are risks to growth from geopolitical factors. Growth is expected across most channels, with hypermarkets being the notable exception, although the decline is only expected to be low.
Delivery:
Files are delivered directly into your account soon after payment is received and any tax is certification is verified (where applicable).
This report comes in PDF with additional info in Excel included.
Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Retail industry in China with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Convenience Stores
- Discounters
- Hypermarkets
- Supermarkets
- Traditional Grocery Retailers
- Apparel and Footwear Specialist Retailers
- Electronics and Appliance Specialist Retailers
- Health and Beauty Specialist Retailers
- Home and Garden Specialist Retailers
- Department Stores
- Variety Stores
- Warehouse Clubs
- Direct Selling
- Homeshopping
- Vending
If you're in the Retail industry in China, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Retail in China report includes:
- Analysis of key retail trends
- Detailed segmentation of offline and online retail sales
- Historic channel sizes (retail value sales, outlet counts, and selling space)
- Company and brand market shares (retail value sales and outlet counts)
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Retail in China?
- Which are the leading retailers in Retail in China?
- How are products distributed in Retail in China?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- How significant are discounters and private label in China?
- To what extent are sales shifting towards digital channels?
- What is the long-term outlook for bricks-and-mortar?
- How is macroeconomic and political uncertainty affecting the retail industry?
- What types of retailers are seeing the fastest growth in digital sales?
- What is the future of retail?
Retail in China
Retail in 2024: The big picture
Digital and social media initiatives drive retail growth
Shifts in retail channels favour value-based retail and online sales
What next for retail?
Informal retail
Opening hours for physical retail
Seasonality
618 Shopping Festival and Double 11 Shopping Festival
Shanghai May 5th Shopping Festival
DISCLAIMER
Convenience Retailers in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Rising sales for convenience retailers thanks to growth across China’s lower-tier cities
Adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) enhances operational efficiency and competitiveness
Leaders in convenience retailers sustain their dominance despite competitive pressures
Strong growth forecast for convenience retailers in China over the next five years
Strategic expansion into lower-tier cities set to drive growth
Hours of operation and product portfolios likely to be extended
Supermarkets in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Supermarkets sees modest growth amidst evolving consumer behaviours in 2024
Move towards supply chain efficiency in supermarkets
Players move online and focus on fresh food to remain competitive
Steady growth expected for supermarkets, with opportunities in lower-tier cities
Competitive pressure from retail e-commerce will challenge the performance of supermarkets
Polarisation may be seen in supermarkets
Hypermarkets in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Continued decline for hypermarkets in China, amidst shifting consumer preferences
Walmart Supercenter maintains its leadership amidst decline for hypermarkets
Strategies to try and stop the decline for hypermarkets
Stability forecast for hypermarkets amidst evolving consumer preferences
Differentiation strategies aim to drive growth for hypermarkets
Improvement in delivery coverage anticipated
Discounters in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Rapid growth for discounters in China, as consumers seek value for money
Domestic discounters surpass international rivals in the competitive landscape
A preference for smaller stores in discounters
Anticipated continued momentum for discounters in the Chinese market
Increased importance of localisation in discounters in China
Private label is an area with growth potential
Small Local Grocers in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Value growth maintained in small local grocers amidst post-COVID-19 shifts
Small local grocers continues to play a crucial role in China’s retail landscape
Small local grocers remains highly fragmented
Slow and stable growth expected to be maintained for small local grocers in China over the forecast period
Challenges to growth as younger generations prefer modern grocery retailers
More players will leverage digital tools to get ahead
General Merchandise Stores in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Various factors impact department stores in China in 2024
Steady growth for variety stores, driven by innovation and Gen Z preferences
Leading department stores adapt and maintain growth in a competitive landscape
Stable growth forecast for department stores through community commercialisation
Rapid development expected for variety stores moving forward
Variety stores likely to look at enhancing customer loyalty
Apparel and Footwear Specialists in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Shifting consumer preferences lead to stable but cautious growth for apparel and footwear specialists
Domestic brands dominate as fast fashion falters in apparel in 2024
The popularity of live broadcasts means more offline retailers are becoming involved
Resilience expected for apparel and footwear specialists in China, despite the challenge from other channels
Creating outlets in which consumers want to spend time
Opportunities for digital transformation within apparel and footwear specialists
Appliances and Electronics Specialists in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Appliances and electronics specialists remains stable amidst housing market slowdown
Premiumisation is notable in appliances and electronics specialists in tier-1 and tier-2 cities
Competitive landscape shifts, with key retailers struggling
Slow and stable growth, and the consumer shift towards energy efficiency
Rising competition from retail e-commerce
Possibility of a change in leadership in the forecast period
Home Products Specialists in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Stable but slower growth for homewares and home furnishings stores
Rise in DIY projects drives continued growth for home improvement and gardening stores
Ikea’s share strengthens amidst competitors’ decline
Stable growth expected despite ongoing challenges, with non-toxic products sought
Players likely to invest in both online and offline resources to attract consumers
Pet shops and superstores set to see the most dynamic growth
Health and Beauty Specialists in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Steady growth for beauty specialists, driven by domestic brands
Steady growth and increasing concentration for pharmacies
Intensification of competition amongst leading players in pharmacies
Return to stronger growth expected for beauty specialists, driven by domestic brands and innovation
Continued growth for pharmacies as they offer wider product ranges
A key strategy for beauty specialists will be differentiation
Vending in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Moderate growth, led by increased need for convenience
Increased prevalence of technology-enabled vending machines
Categories served by vending expand beyond the traditional
Stable moderate growth expected for the next five years
Smart vending will continue to see significant growth in popularity in China
Increasing competition for vending from convenience stores
Direct Selling in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Innovation in products and services boosts consumers’ interest
Amway’s strong performance amidst decline of competitors
Entry of new players discouraged by need for a permit
Stable growth expected for direct selling due to greater trust
Challenges and opportunities from social commerce
Expansion into lower-tier cities
Retail E-Commerce in China
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Robust growth for retail e-commerce, despite slight slowdown
Competitive landscape shifts, with Douyin and Pinduoduo gaining ground
Simplified shopping experiences in e-commerce
Sustained high growth projected for retail e-commerce
Innovation and technological advances set to drive growth in the future
Hyper-personalised shopping likely to be the future of e-commerce in China
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Retail
-
-
-
- Convenience Stores
- Forecourt Retailers
- Supermarkets
- Hypermarkets
- Discounters
- Warehouse Clubs
- Food/Drink/Tobacco Specialists
- Small Local Grocers
-
-
-
- Department Stores
- Variety Stores
- Apparel and Footwear Specialists
- Appliances and Electronics Specialists
-
- Home Improvement and Gardening Stores
- Homewares and Home Furnishing Stores
- Pet Shops and Superstores
-
- Beauty Specialists
- Pharmacies
- Optical Goods Stores
- Health and Personal Care Stores
-
- Bags and Luggage Specialists
- Jewellery and Watch Specialists
- Sports Goods Stores
- Traditional Toys and Games Stores
- Other Non-Grocery Retailers
-
-
- Fashion Vending
- Health and Beauty Vending
- Appliances and Electronics Vending
-
- Alcoholic Drinks Vending
- Hot Drinks Vending
- Soft Drinks Vending
- Tobacco Products Vending
- Foods Vending
- Home Products Vending
- Other Products Vending
-
-
- Apparel and Footwear Direct Selling
- Personal Accessories Direct Selling
- Eyewear Direct Selling
-
- Beauty and Personal Care Direct Selling
- Consumer Health Direct Selling
- Tissue and Hygiene Direct Selling
- Appliances and Electronics Direct Selling
- Drinks and Tobacco Direct Selling
- Foods Direct Selling
- Home Products Direct Selling
- Other Products Direct Selling
-
-
-
-
-
- Apparel and Footwear E-Commerce
- Personal Accessories E-Commerce
- Eyewear E-Commerce
-
- Beauty and Personal Care E-Commerce
- Consumer Health E-Commerce
- Tissue and Hygiene E-Commerce
-
- Consumer Appliances E-Commerce
- Consumer Electronics E-Commerce
- Toys and Games E-Commerce
- Drinks and Tobacco E-Commerce
- Foods E-Commerce
-
- Home Care E-Commerce
- Home and Garden E-Commerce
- Pet Care E-Commerce
- Other Products E-Commerce
-
-
-
- First-Party (1P) Marketplace E-Commerce
- Third-Party (3P) Marketplace E-Commerce
- Grocery E-Commerce
- General Merchandiser E-Commerce
- Apparel and Footwear Specialist E-Commerce
- Appliances and Electronics Specialist E-Commerce
- Home Products Specialist E-Commerce
- Health and Beauty Specialist E-Commerce
- Leisure and Personal Goods Specialist E-Commerce
- Other E-Commerce Retailers
-
-
Retail
Retail is the sale of new and used goods to consumers from a business for personal or household consumption from retail outlets, kiosks, market stalls, vending, direct selling and e-commerce. Retail is the aggregation of Retail Offline and Retail E-Commerce. Excludes specialist retailers of motor vehicles, motorcycles, vehicle parts. Also excludes fuel sales, foodservice sales, rental transactions, and wholesale sales (e.g. Cash and Carry). Sales value excluding or including VAT/Sales Tax. Retail also excludes the informal retail sector. Informal retailing is retail trade which is not declared to the tax authorities. Informal retailing encompasses (a) sales generated by unregistered and unlicensed retailers, i.e. retailers operating illegally, and (b) any proportion of sales generated by a registered and licensed retailer that is not declared to the tax authorities. Unregistered and unlicensed retailers operate predominantly (although not exclusively) as street hawkers or operate open market stalls, as these channels are harder for the authorities to monitor than permanent outlets. Activities in the illegal market, which is usually understood to refer to trade in illegal, counterfeit or stolen merchandise, are included within our definition of informal retailing. Activities in the “grey market”, which is usually understood to refer to trade in legal merchandise that is sold through unauthorized channels – for example cigarettes bought legally in another country, legally imported, but sold at lower prices than in authorized channels – will be included as informal retailing if no tax is paid on sale by the retailer. However if the retailer pays tax – for example on cigarettes bought legally in another country but sold at a lower price than standard – the sale is included within formal retail.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Retail research and analysis database.
NEW REPORT GUARANTEE
If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extraction Free!