The retail landscape has been wild this week. Sam's Club faced AI-driven rumors that rattled its team, then had to urgently pull health supplements following customs inspections. Meanwhile, ALDI and Hema ignored the chaos and quietly expanded aggressively across the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta.

Sam's "Retrograde" Week: Double Blow from AI-Fabricated Rumors and Customs Inspections

To be honest, Sam's Club has had a rough week. On Monday, it was trending on social media with claims of a "sharp decline in quality," and countless short videos confidently reported that popular items were being delisted. The company quickly issued a statement clarifying that these rumors were AI-generated fabrications—the so-called "delisted" products were never even listed to begin with. It's an awkward situation: even negative PR campaigns are now leveraging AI, boosting their efficiency by a hundredfold.

But the story doesn't end there. On Thursday, following a customs risk alert, Sam's Club initiated an immediate nationwide recall of its "Good Health" Oyster Extract capsules. Customs inspections detected contaminants across 9 batches. Sam's responded swiftly by issuing full refunds with no return required. Stores in Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanchang have already removed the product from shelves.

But the store is still opening as planned. The Foshan Chancheng location officially opened on Friday, marking the 71th store nationwide. With two locations launched in Foshan within six months, this expansion pace is impressive. However, we must tighten our quality control even further.

Aldi's "Sprint": 127 stores are just the beginning; a four-province synergy is the real game-changer.

While Sam's Club is scrambling, ALDI has had a smooth week. As of Tuesday, it now operates over 127 stores in China—up from the previously reported 80.

Even more aggressive: Hangzhou's first 11 stores are already under construction, targeting a launch in early 1 of year 2027. Meanwhile, Anhui is moving fast with its first 6 stores opening directly in Hefei and Wuhu this 11. The annual plan calls for adding over 50 new locations.

On Wednesday, ALDI China CEO Chen Jia met with the Party Secretary of Suzhou. Officially framed as integrating into a "15-minute happy life circle," this signals strong local support and a desire for increased investment and store expansion. Backed by such government-business collaboration, ALDI's store density in Jiangsu is expected to accelerate. The next step? Let performance speak for itself.

Hema's "Expansion" and "Network Weaving": First Foray into Township Markets via Hard-Discount Franchising

Hema was busy this week, advancing on two fronts. On Tuesday, its subsidiary Hema SuperCalc NB announced an expansion of its franchise program, adding 7 new cities including Ningbo and Shaoxing. The total number of franchise cities has now reached 11, with over 550 stores nationwide. This strategy is solid: first, strengthen supply chain coverage, then open up franchising—avoiding reckless expansion.

Another line of expansion involves Hema Fresh's push into lower-tier markets. Confirmed on Thursday: entry into Zhongshan Guzhen with a store spanning nearly 2000 square feet, expected to open in early 2027. This marks Hema's first foray into a town-level market in the Pearl River Delta. By not overlooking even town-level markets, it signals Hema's updated assessment of consumption power in these areas.

Whether it's the rapid expansion of SuperBox via its franchise network or Hema Fresh entering township markets, the core lies in absolute control over supply chains and products. When it comes to offline product selection and on-site factory audits, reviewing PPTs isn't enough. You must attend the SuperSourcing Fair in Hangzhou from 8 to 21, at the Hangzhou International Expo Center. Seeing the actual products and talking directly with manufacturers on-site is far superior.