Wumart takes inspiration from Pangdonglai to transform its business

Wumart Group has used best practices from its counterpart, Pangdonglai, to transform its store in Beijing, marking an important change in its retail approach, which is highlighted by streamlined assortment and caring for the workforce.

Located on Xueqing Road, the newly renovated Wumart store will open its doors on March 21 after a month of remodeling. This launch is an essential part of Wumart's plan to celebrate its 30th anniversary, with the company aiming to upgrade more than 30 key stores across the country by the end of 2025.

The redesigned store showcases Wumart's efforts to retail improvement. The product selection has been revamped, with about 90 percent of the products reflecting the layout used by Pangdonglai. The store now features a streamlined assortment of around 10,000 items, with 70 percent being newly-added, including 15 percent imported goods.

A total of 68 new products have been added from Pangdonglai, blending essential items with trendy home goods to meet changing consumer preferences.

A key highlight of the renovation is the larger in-store processing area, which focuses on freshly baked and prepared food. Signature offerings like spicy beef and durian cakes are designed to create an engaging shopping environment.

To enhance the shopping experience, Wumart has introduced several convenient services. The store entrance now includes self-service tea stations, medications, and essential supplies. Additionally, free services like blood pressure monitoring and pet storage have been added to meet various customer needs.

A central part of Wumart's new approach is its focus on employee satisfaction. Xu Lina, spokesperson for Wumart Group, said, "Employee satisfaction is key to our success, as we aim to create a positive cycle of 'employee satisfaction—better service—customer loyalty.'"

After the store's reopening, business hours were adjusted from 8:00 am–10:00 pm to 9:30 am–9:30 pm, giving employees a better work-life balance. Entry-level employees now receive an average salary increase of 50 percent, reaching a minimum monthly wage of 6,000 yuan, along with at least 10 days of paid annual leave.

The transformation of the Xueqing Road Store is part of Wumart Group's larger strategic shift. Last year, the retail group has introduced 3,000 new products under its "everyday low-price" initiative, leading to an average price drop of 20 percent.

Furthermore, the company has launched a "supermarket + large canteen" model in key markets like Beijing and Tianjin, with some locations seeing daily customer traffic exceeding 3,000.

wangzhuoqiong@chinadaily.com.cn