At the end of 2024, the Central Economic Work Conference placed 'vigorously boosting consumption, improving investment efficiency, and expanding domestic demand in all aspects' at the top of the nine key tasks for 2025. Subsequently, the Ministry of Commerce and six other departments jointly issued the 'Implementation Plan for the Retail Industry Innovation and Upgrading Project.' The main tasks revolve around five aspects: 'promoting scenario-based transformation, promoting quality supply, promoting digital empowerment, promoting diversified innovation, and promoting supply chain improvement.' As the 2025 bell rings, China Resources Vanguard, established 40 years ago, officially enters its 'age of no doubt.' As one of the few major players that have fully participated in China's retail industry from its infancy to maturity, China Resources Vanguard is undoubtedly a constant witness to the long exploration of China's consumer market. This is the 40 years that China Resources Vanguard has been deeply involved, and it is also the 40 years of rapid change and endogenous evolution of China's retail industry. On December 31, 50 stores of China Resources Vanguard nationwide were officially renovated and unveiled. On the one hand, they have been renovated in terms of product iteration, environment upgrade, and service improvement; on the other hand, they have given consumers more of the warmth of home and the warmth of spring, becoming the first show of renovation in the retail industry. Age of No Doubt: The Warmth of Everyday Life Having passed the impulsive and enterprising twenties and the outstanding thirties, China Resources Vanguard's age of no doubt has added a bit of warmth. With 50 new stores in 11 cities, this renovation debut of the retail 'veteran' focuses on 'the warmth of everyday life,' warming up from the three dimensions of 'people, goods, and scenes.' It is not only a reshaping of the brand but also a profound insight into and response to consumer needs. At the 'people' level, consumers are the link and bridge between 'goods' and 'scenes.' All product structure planning and consumption scenario creation cannot be separated from consumer needs. Through 40 years of accompanying service, China Resources Vanguard is familiar with the consumption needs of various consumer classes and age groups. Whether in procurement or operations, it starts from the customer's perspective, optimizes product structure, creates a more enjoyable shopping environment, and allows consumers to shop conveniently and immersively, thereby enhancing the shopping experience. In a narrow sense, goods are the products themselves; in a broad sense, goods are services. On the one hand, China Resources Vanguard focuses on meeting the needs of consumers of different ages in the planning and organization of product structure; on the other hand, it has also optimized services to bring convenience and warmth to consumers. The fundamental aspect of service is to bring convenience and warmth. From free ice, mobile phone charging, and food heating, to science tips in the fruit area and consumption suggestions for meat products, the optimized 20-plus service items reveal meticulous care for consumer needs. In addition, store staff have undergone professional training to welcome every customer with a more enthusiastic and professional attitude, making service a bright business card for China Resources Vanguard. At the 'goods' level, the new categories highlight 'freshness' and 'warmth.' In the aquatic and fruit and vegetable areas, there are not only lively lobsters and fresh shellfish, but also directly supplied fruits with attractive colors. The on-site processing and heating services allow fresh and delicious food to be enjoyed immediately; in the bakery and deli areas, there are not only traditional street snacks such as braised food, roast duck, pickled vegetables, and fried chicken, but also exquisite desserts such as Swiss rolls, egg tarts, and Mario bread. Numerous tasting points and self-service areas make people stop and linger, filling the 'experience' to the fullest. When tired of shopping, sit down and rest, choose, select, and taste on the spot, and the warmth of everyday life is concretized in a space. Close cooperation with suppliers ensures the quality and price advantage of goods, and the launch of private brands provides consumers with more cost-effective choices, such as 9.9 yuan blueberries, 29.9 yuan durians, private brand customized beer, and Runjia 100% NFC orange juice. Newly added Russian product areas, sugar-free areas, young people's beverage areas, fresh food areas, and Guizhou mountain product areas meet consumers' pursuit of freshness and trends. While enjoying a quality life, consumers can also feel real discounts. This adherence to the 'three excellent principles' of excellent selection, excellent quality, and excellent price is undoubtedly the most sincere feedback to consumers. At the 'scene' level, the main aisles in the store have been widened to improve spatial transparency, and shelves have been adjusted to be more user-friendly, making shopping more convenient, comfortable, and relaxed. The store design starts from 'people's' needs, setting up multiple category zones, such as the collection area for cultural toys, pets, and sports, and the beverage area. From lighting to color, from layout to display, every effort is made to create a warm and comfortable shopping environment. It is not just a supermarket, but a living space full of life and freshness. 'China Resources Vanguard has become more enjoyable to shop in and warmer.' Walking into the renovated China Resources Vanguard, the deepest feeling is: this is not just a supermarket, but another scene of a better life. The bustling crowds in the store are the best proof. In the red ocean of retail, only by empathetically responding to consumer needs and expectations can trust and loyalty be won. The store manager of China Resources Vanguard Lianhu Store said: 'We always adhere to a consumer-centered approach, hoping that through this renovation, we can bring consumers a fresher, more affordable, more intimate, and more comfortable shopping experience. At the same time, we hope this renovation can become a new starting point for the store's development, further enhancing the brand image and competitiveness.' This renovation and upgrade is not just a repair of the store's appearance, but a comprehensive transformation from the inside out. In the steady pace of the age of no doubt, China Resources Vanguard has opened with a grand renovation, adding a strong stroke to the warmth of everyday life. The 50 stores are located in major cities, each radiating new vitality and brilliance, becoming new highlights in the urban commercial landscape. Forty Years of Transformation: Unchanged Original Aspiration From the ups and downs of 40 years in the retail world, the author sees a company's determination to 'break and rebuild' continuously, as well as its consistent original aspiration of 'being open and enterprising, people-oriented, and working together to create a better life.' The birth of China Resources Vanguard was 'swift and sensitive.' In 1984, against the backdrop of China's economic opening, China Resources Vanguard keenly seized market opportunities and opened its first store in Hong Kong. With the gradual opening of the mainland retail market, China Resources Vanguard opened its first branch in Shenzhen in 1992—Aihua Store. Since then, it has continuously explored and tried, expanded the number of stores, and quickly established a chain network nationwide. At that time, it was committed to providing consumers with a more convenient and high-quality shopping experience and meeting the people's growing material and cultural needs. Entering the new century, China's retail industry entered the golden decade (2003-2013), and new retail formats entered China. China Resources Vanguard began rapid mergers and acquisitions and integration. In 2002, China Resources Group acquired Wanjia Department Store and formed China Resources Wanjia Supermarket Co., Ltd., which was later renamed China Resources Vanguard Co., Ltd. Through a series of acquisitions, such as acquiring Suguo Supermarket and Tianjin Jia World Supermarket, China Resources Vanguard integrated resources, achieved economies of scale, and quickly took a leading position in the national market. In the Internet era, facing the impact of e-commerce and the increasing diversification of consumer needs, China Resources Vanguard established an e-commerce business division in 2014, building digital capabilities and cross-border supply chain capabilities from both organizational and business perspectives. In terms of stores, China Resources Vanguard has continuously explored new retail models, introduced intelligent technology, optimized product structure, and enhanced the customer shopping experience. The multi-format development layout meets the diverse shopping needs of consumers. At this stage, China Resources Vanguard's original aspiration is to keep pace with the times, continuously innovate service models, and create a better life experience for consumers. Reviewing the 40-year development history of China Resources Vanguard, it is not difficult to find that the enterprise has always adhered to the original aspiration of providing consumers with a high-quality shopping experience. Whether it was the courage to be the first in the early days, the strategic vision during the merger and acquisition period, or the wise choices during the innovation and transformation period, all demonstrate China Resources Vanguard's adherence to and pursuit of its original aspiration. Choosing transformation means choosing to face 'breaking the cocoon,' but it is precisely through continuous self-breaking and self-exploration that a company so close to consumers can continue to progress, fly into thousands of households, and become a necessary part of a better life. The Warmth of Spring: Responsibility and Commitment The prelude to an industry's transformation often begins with inconspicuous details. But when the 'elephant dances,' the horn of the mid-game battle in the retail industry has already sounded. Amid the intense competition, there are traditional players like 'Lian Po' gradually exiting, and there are also new forces 'rising suddenly' expanding rapidly. Although the outcome of the second half has not yet been revealed, everyone knows that the division has already begun during this long winter. On December 30, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce held a video conference on the promotion of the retail industry innovation and upgrading project, deploying the implementation of the 7-department 'Implementation Plan for the Retail Industry Innovation and Upgrading Project,' which clearly stated: 'Whether high-quality, high-cost-performance goods can be provided is the key to boosting the retail industry; whether people-oriented services can be provided is the core of boosting the retail industry; whether business formats and management models that conform to the requirements of the times can be developed is the fundamental of boosting the retail industry.' 'People' has once again been elevated to an unprecedented height in the retail industry. The vigorous 'Donglai-ization' trend need not be elaborated. From being a place to 'display and sell goods' a few years ago to now striving to be a 'companion for a better life,' the profound understanding and satisfaction of consumer needs is precisely the core of competition in the second half of the retail industry. China Resources Vanguard adheres to the concept of 'leading consumption upgrading and jointly creating a better life,' committed to providing consumers with better, more convenient, and more intimate services. The elephant's turn undoubtedly sets a benchmark for the entire industry, demonstrating the determination and confidence of the industry leader. The retail network extends upward to regional development and downward to thousands of entities and specific individuals. This chain is not only the new 'battlefield' of retail but also the endogenous driving force flowing in countless capillaries during China's economic transformation and upgrading. As the years change, China Resources Vanguard has taken 'renovation' as a starting point to open a new chapter in the retail industry. As a livelihood enterprise, China Resources Vanguard not only focuses on consumers' shopping experience but also always remembers its social responsibility. It is not only a comprehensive upgrade of its own brand but also a powerful boost to the entire consumer market. Relying on its strong supply chain system, China Resources Vanguard's 'Wanjia Huanxiang Plan' actively purchases agricultural products, helping farmers increase income and become prosperous. Through direct procurement and direct supply, it reduces the circulation links of agricultural products, lowers procurement costs, and provides consumers with fresh and high-quality agricultural products. This win-win cooperation model not only promotes the development of the agricultural industry but also brings tangible benefits to consumers. For the vast number of consumers, by providing richer and more diverse product choices and more convenient and efficient shopping methods, China Resources Vanguard has successfully attracted a large number of consumers' attention and favor, undoubtedly injecting a strong impetus into the consumer market. The warmth of everyday life is the most soothing to the human heart. Only this warmth can best retain people. China Resources Vanguard, at its age of no doubt, shoulders the 'responsibility of a giant,' and also focuses on details and human touch, igniting the warmth of everyday life with freshness, filling happiness with affordability, and giving consumers a reason to enter the store with warm hospitality. This is the first show of the retail industry in 2025, and it is also another signal: Along with the cold winter at the end of the year, the warmth of spring also arrives. [New Order · Symbiosis] The 10th China FMCG Innovation Conference Time: March 17-19, 2025 Location: Chengdu, China