Jan 29, 2023|
Chinese Spring Festival 2023 Consumption Trends: “3R” Food, Routine Shopping and More
by Vivian Yang
Among the most prominent consumption trends during this Chinese new year holiday period (from January 21-27) were the continued booming of “3R” food, diversified and routine e-shopping categories, and the vast potential in the lower-tier markets, according to a report prepared by JD.com’s Consumption and Industry Development Research Institute.
“3R” food (short for “ready-to-cook”, “ready-to-heat” and “ready-to-eat” food) saw six-fold growth in transaction volume year over year during this period.
Food is an essential element of Chinese Spring Festival celebrations. With the 3R industry thriving in China in recent years, more and more Chinese families are choosing to order 3R dishes to enrich their reunion meals, especially meaningful holiday dishes such as chicken soup with fish maw; those with complex preparations such as Sichuan-style fish filets with pickled vegetables; and those that require special cooking skills, such as the delicacy known as “Buddha jumps over the wall,” which requires hours to simmer a variety of seafood, meat, and other nutritious ingredients.
The report also noted that with the normalization of non-stop delivery service during the festival, Chinese consumers are accustomed to ordering all kinds of “routine” products during the festival period. The transaction volume of mobile phones, home appliances, and health products on JD.com all witnessed substantial increases. (This year marks the 11th year in a row that JD Logistics has offered non-stop delivery service during Chinese New Year.)
Meanwhile, after-sales services have been in hot demand during the holiday, such as mobile phone warranty service (up by 296 percent YoY), home appliance repairs (83 percent) and home cleaning (302 percent).
Consumers’ shopping preferences vary in different tiers of cities. The report found that during the spring festival period, consumers living in higher-tier markets shopped for a lot of fresh food, flowers and pet supplies on JD.com, while those from lower-tier markets bought more mobile phones, home appliances, furnishing and decoration products. This is reflective of the trickle-down effect by which young people returning to their homes from big cities during the holiday are spreading their online shopping habits to their relatives and friends in villages and towns, and enabling more people to enjoy the convenience and quality goods that e-commerce offers, according to the report.
Nov 7, 2024|
CIIE 2024: JD.com to Expand Imports of Specialty Brands, Strengthen Healthcare Partnerships, and Enhance Logistics
At the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 5, JD Super, the supermarket division of JD.com, announced a major initiative to broaden its selection of imported specialty. Over the next three years, JD Super plans to introduce over 1,000 new international brands to meet the increasing demand for high-quality, diverse imported goods.
Meeting the Growing Demand for Quality Imports
According to JD Worldwide’s “White Paper on 2024 China Cross-Border Consumption Trends,” more than 80% of Chinese consumers are interested in imported products, with many prioritizing authenticity, quality, and fast delivery. In response, JD has significantly expanded its range of international offerings. During the ongoing Singles’ Day Grand Promotion, sales of cross-border products have surged, with more than 600 brands experiencing a sales increase of over 100% compared to last year.
Strengthening High-Quality Food Partnerships
Demonstrating JD.com’s commitment to sourcing high-quality products, JD Super signed a new procurement agreement at CIIE with Huadong Foods and Teys, a major Australian beef brand under Cargill. Under this agreement, JD Super and Huadong Foods will procure $50 million of Teys beef throughout 2025. This partnership underscores JD’s strategy of collaborating with trusted suppliers to provide high-quality, affordable beef to Chinese consumers.
Delivering Authentic Global Goods Efficiently
JD Logistics has built a robust logistics network that spans bonded, direct mail, and overseas warehouses, facilitating fast deliveries of imported items across categories such as electronics, fashion, beauty, food, and baby products. In many major cities, delivery times have been reduced to under 48 hours.
For instance, JD Super’s partnership with Raub of Malaysia enables the import of Musang King durians, which are harvested at peak ripeness and air-shipped with cold chain logistics for delivery within 24 hours. Additionally, JD.com also secured an early supply of Chilean cherries, available since October, which can be delivered in as little as 30 minutes in many areas through JD NOW, its on-demand retail service.
JD.com’s “JD National Pavilions” program, which features over 150 country-themed flagship stores from more than 70 countries and regions, continues to be a cornerstone of its import strategy. Supported by embassies and reputable organizations, this initiative offers Chinese consumers access to premium products and cultural experiences from around the world. In April, JD launched the JD National Pavilion of Mali, introducing popular items like shea butter and garnering over 40,000 followers.
Expanding Healthcare and Logistics Partnerships
JD Health is also making strides at CIIE by strengthening partnerships with leading global healthcare companies, including Merck, Bayer, and Roche. As “China’s premier online health access point,” JD Health is committed to integrating digital and physical healthcare resources to improve access and convenience for patients.
Key collaborations include initiatives with Haleon to promote brain health and anti-aging for the “silver economy,” with MSD China on a digital diabetes management model, and with Teva Pharmaceuticals to provide patient education for conditions such as tardive dyskinesia (TD) and Huntington’s disease (HD).
On the logistics front, JD Logistics announced plans to double its overseas warehouse space by 2025 and expand its network of bonded and direct mail warehouses. JD Express now serves over 60 countries, enhancing cross-border delivery efficiency and supporting both brands and consumers.
Through these efforts, JD.com reaffirms its commitment to sourcing and delivering authentic, high-quality imported products to Chinese consumers, supported by an advanced supply chain that ensures a superior shopping experience.
(vivian.yang@jd.com)
Ambassadors Experience Chinese New Year Shopping and Meal at JD.com
