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Articles by 任文青Andy
Browse 107 New Distribution articles by 任文青Andy.
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Low Prices, Discounts, Retail in Flux: What Should Brands Do?
In 2023, discount stores were extremely popular, but this is not an easy business. With no consumption growth and oversupply, businesses are forced into harder ventures. The article explores the future of snack discount stores, the development of discount supermarkets, and the implications for FMCG brands, predicting continued growth but at a slower pace, with more players entering the discount track and intensifying price competition.
任文青AndyThe Brand-Dominated Channel Distribution System Is Collapsing!
In 2023, low prices and discounts became the industry's mainstream topics. Recently, while discussing industry changes with friends, I noticed that different people see completely different things in the same event. For instance, some believe discount stores are the future of retail, while others think they are a flash in the pan. We say the industry is undergoing a supply chain revolution, but some say it's exaggerated and we're creating anxiety. What changes are happening in the industry? What is hard discount? What challenges and opportunities do brand owners and distributors face?
任文青AndyIn the Omnichannel Era, the Core Competitiveness of FMCG Enterprises Depends on Digital Operation Capabilities
In the omnichannel era, FMCG enterprises need to build digital operation capabilities to seize structural growth opportunities. As channels proliferate and consumption enters a stock or even shrinking phase, companies are increasing digital investment, but the industry's digital transformation is still in its early stages, facing obstacles in cognition, organization, and tools.
任文青AndyRen Wenqing: Hard Discount - Reshaping Future Supply Chain Landscape and Growth Models
On December 6, the first China FMCG Hard Discount Conference opened grandly in Zhengzhou. At the main forum on the morning of December 6, Ren Wenqing, COO of New Distribution and chief editor of the 'China Snack Hard Discount White Paper', shared insights on 'Hard Discount - Reshaping Future Supply Chain Landscape and Growth Models'. The following are key points from the speech.
任文青Andy2000+ Stores in Three Years, 70% in Townships: 'Happy Squirrel' Taps the Downgraded Market with Hard Discounts
When it comes to snack discount stores, you can name a string of brands: Snacks Busy, Haoxianglai, Snacks Youming, Zhao Yiming, Love Snacks... There is a brand that has opened 2000+ stores in 3 years, ranking among the top by store count. But its name may be unfamiliar to you, as the media rarely mentions it and the founding team is very low-key. This brand is Happy Squirrel. Of its current 2000+ stores, over 1000 were added in the past year. Unlike other well-known snack stores, 70% of its stores are in townships.
任文青AndyHow Jinbaibai Opened 100+ Warehouse Discount Stores in 3 Years, Reaching 1 Billion in Sales
Last week, I visited Tianjin and had an in-depth conversation with a local discount retail founder. They started in retail by selling near-expiry surplus goods, later transitioning to hard discount warehouse stores and gradually developing a replicable model. Over the past three years, through franchising, they expanded to over 100 stores with total sales exceeding 1 billion yuan.
任文青AndyHard Discount: The Curtain Rises!
In 2023, FMCG manufacturers and distributors faced extreme difficulties. As industry observers, we have firsthand insights. Manufacturers told us: "Discount stores only care about price, not our overall marketing services, but we are forced to cooperate due to performance pressure!" Distributors said: "Business has dropped 50% directly; instead of letting snack discount stores take it away, can I do it myself?" The trend of discounting is sweeping the entire retail industry, with snack discount stores booming and traditional retailers seeking transformation. Hard discount, as an underlying logic, is irreversible, broad in impact, and long-term, reshaping the production and supply landscape for the next 5-10 years.
任文青Andy重磅丨新经销独家发布《中国零食硬折扣白皮书（快消行业洞察2023）》
On October 9, the 5th China FMCG Conference officially opened in Shenzhen. On the morning of October 10, at the 'Snacks and Discount Stores' sub-forum, Ren Wenqing, COO of New Distribution, Dean of the New Distribution Digital Research Institute, and Chief Expert on Hard Discount Industry, released the 'China Snack Hard Discount White Paper (FMCG Industry Insights 2023)'. The following are the key points of the speech.
任文青Andy重磅 | 中国零食硬折扣白皮书（快消行业洞察2023）
In recent months, more brand owners have been adding my WeChat via the official account, mostly discussing snack discount stores. They ask about shifting from distributor supply to direct supply, or want to understand the model and development of this channel. The white paper systematically analyzes the background, model, landscape, impact, and trends of snack hard discount, providing insights for brand owners and distributors.
任文青AndyMass Store Closures and Vicious Price Wars Haven't Occurred; Snack Stores Still Have 80-90% Market Space to Unlock
Last Monday, I had a live-streamed conversation with Mr. Tan. Tan Zhiwang, a seasoned consumer investor with over 10 years of experience, witnessed the development of the tea beverage industry from 2016 to 2021, participated in fresh food chain investments in 2017, and entered the snack discount store track in 2021. He has invested in projects such as Guming, Yipin, Snack Cabin, and Aotle. Why invite him? Recently, New Distribution has published numerous articles on hard discount snacks and held multiple live streams. We hope to help everyone understand hard discount snacks more deeply and comprehensively from different perspectives.
任文青AndyA Store Earning 80,000 Yuan a Month? A Super Franchisee Reveals the Secrets of His Snack Discount Store Business
A super franchisee in the snack discount store industry reveals that in northern China's county markets, a single store can generate daily revenue of 20,000-30,000 yuan and monthly profits of 60,000-80,000 yuan, with top performers reaching 100,000-150,000 yuan. He shares insights on investment returns, risks, and the industry's future, emphasizing the current dividend period and the importance of location and experience.
任文青AndyNationwide Stores Exceed 3,300: Wanchen's Four Snack Retail Brands Merge Under 'Haoxianglai'
On September 12, 2023, Wanchen held a media conference in Beijing to announce the merger of its four snack chain brands—Haoxianglai, Laiyoupin, Luxiaochuan, and Yadiyadi—under the unified name 'Haoxianglai'. This move aims to accelerate synergy and integration in brand image, market expansion, operations, digitalization, and culture, further consolidating Wanchen's leading position in the snack hard-discount industry.
任文青AndyInstead of Letting Others Steal 30% of Their Business, Why Don't Distributors Open Their Own Snack Stores?
A distributor once asked me if he should open his own snack store after seeing snack stores cause 30-40% sales declines in their vicinity. Rather than letting others take the business, why not do it themselves? They already have supply chain advantages. This article explains three concepts—hard discount, chain franchising, and distribution-retail integration—to help distributors understand the industry transformation and decide whether to open stores.
任文青AndySnack Stores Take Away 30% of Business, 200,000 Distributors Face a 'Life-or-Death Race'!
In June, a friend added me on WeChat and said that distributors, especially those handling big brands, are struggling to survive. He is a distributor in a county-level city in Hubei, mainly supplying leisure food to supermarkets, but his business has been hit hard by the rise of snack discount stores, which have opened about 50 stores in his area and caused a 50% decline in his main client's sales. This article analyzes the phenomenon of snack hard discount stores, their impact on traditional distribution, and offers strategic advice for distributors.
任文青AndySnack Stores Are Busy, FMCG Manufacturers Are Panicking!
“Now many are proactively coming to discuss cooperation, including top-tier brands, and they bring their CFOs—sales directors are useless, as it ultimately involves cost accounting,” said a founder of a snack discount store brand about upstream manufacturers. In 2017, Snack Busy appeared on the streets of some Hunan cities. “Selling snacks at low prices—can that be a good business?” “Just a passing fad!” Many were pessimistic, including upstream FMCG brands. But the market is like this: consumers are the real players with the final say...
任文青AndyNew Distribution Study Tour: Traditional Distributors Transforming into B2b Supply Chains, A Practical Path from 0 to 1
Distributors cannot delay or retreat; they must move forward and secure their own survival space. This article shares the practical experience of Yu Xiuwei, founder of Tangshan Yihe, who transformed from a traditional distributor to a local B2b supply chain platform, covering 2000+ small stores, and also ventured into snack discount retail.
任文青AndyAilingshi Takes Control of Local Chengdu Brand, Snack Retail Industry Enters Merger and Integration Mode
On August 9, 2023, Ailingshi, a snack retail chain based in Changsha, announced it had taken control of the local Chengdu snack retail chain Konglongheteddy, bringing its store count in Chengdu to over 300 and in Sichuan to over 350, making it the second-largest local snack retail brand in Sichuan. On the same day, Snacks Busy announced a strategic investment of tens of millions of yuan in Qiahuopuzi, and the two will jointly consolidate advantageous regions and develop the national market. This signals that the snack retail industry has entered a phase of merger and integration as competition intensifies.
任文青AndyThe True Battlefield of Snack Hard Discount
The article analyzes the landscape and trends of the snack hard discount industry, highlighting three key trends: southern core cities are saturated and now in a cross-attack phase, top players are accelerating into northern markets, and the validation of northern store models by year-end will determine expansion. It argues that the real competition lies not in visible storefront battles but in systemic capabilities: front-end operations, back-end supply chain efficiency, and product selection, emphasizing that scale equals efficiency and that the industry is a true efficiency revolution.
任文青AndyBulk Snack Stores: Exploding!
Hard discount is not a new model. Bulk snack stores, a fast-growing retail format, are expanding rapidly, driven by capital and changing consumer habits. This article explains the logic behind their rise, their impact on brands, distributors, and other retail formats, and their future development cycle.
任文青AndyDistributors, Earn Money Standing Up!
Whoever holds scarce resources holds the power of choice. This article explores why distributors are losing control over their destiny, how to shift from serving brands to serving customers, and how to become a truly independent enterprise to earn money with dignity.
任文青AndyDeep Dive | From 800 Million to 8.5 Billion: The Digital Code Behind Dongpeng Beverage's Surge and Industry Insights
Dongpeng Beverage's digital transformation, starting from a simple QR code promotion, evolved into a comprehensive F2B2b2C channel integration, driving sales from 800 million to 8.5 billion yuan. This article explores the key steps, challenges, and industry implications of Dongpeng's digital journey.
任文青AndyBulk Snack Stores Expand Rapidly, Distributors Caught in a Dilemma, Price War Imminent?
The emergence of bulk snack stores represents a channel transformation opportunity, but as competition intensifies, industry consolidation is inevitable. Distributors face challenges as these stores disrupt brand pricing, yet they also present new opportunities for collaboration.
任文青AndyThe Rise of the Post-80s and Post-90s Distributors!
The environment has changed, and only distributors who adapt can survive and thrive. This article explores the rise of a new generation of distributors, characterized by their youth, data-driven approach, and openness to innovation, and argues that their success stems from their ability to adapt to the changing market.
任文青AndyNon-traditional distributors rise: representing Genki Forest, Yili, Arawana, and Fortune, reaching 70 million in 3 years
Distributors should not simply calculate profits when representing a brand, but consider what it can bring in the long term. Zhou Jing, a Beijing distributor, entered the FMCG distribution industry in 2021 by representing Genki Forest, and within just three years, his sales scale reached 70 million yuan.
任文青Andy