Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

CARREFOUR China has seen steady growth in its online sales in southern China fueled by the e-commerce boom during COVID-19 and its digitalization drive.

The retailer’s southern China division recorded online sales of more than 26 million yuan (US$3.8 million) in August, an increase of 12 percent month on month, said Xue Peng, president of Carrefour’s southern China division.

During the epidemic, Carrefour China launched its own flash delivery services along with Suning’s convenience stores to meet residents’ demands. On Feb. 6, the retailer also entered the Suning Convenience Store app, covering all Suning convenience stores across the country.

Sales registered on the app in southern China accounted for 26 percent of the total online sales. Orders made via the Carrefour WeChat mini-program accounted for more than 30 percent of Carrefour’s one-hour delivery service in the region, according to the retailer.

Talking about Carrefour’s future plans, Xue said Carrefour will continue to accelerate upgrades in merchandise, supply chain, stores and one-hour delivery service.

Last year, the French retailing giant Carrefour Group announced it had agreed to sell 80 percent equity interest in Carrefour China to the leading Chinese retailer Suning.com.

With a presence in China dating back to 1995, Carrefour China operates a network of 200 hypermarkets, 10 high-end supermarkets and 21 convenience stores.