NEW DISTRIBUTION RESEARCH TOPIC
How can supply chains and digital systems improve real operations?
Research on B2B, supply-chain efficiency, operating data, and digital transformation across China’s FMCG market.
QUESTIONS THIS TOPIC ANSWERS
Supply Chain & Digitalization
- Where does supply-chain growth come from?
- How can digitalization move from dashboards to operating action?
- How can B2B platforms create durable service value?
Related research and analysis
713 articles · Page 1 of 30
Pinduoduo Launches 'Fastest Delivery by Tomorrow'
On August 10, Pinduoduo launched a core entry point on its homepage for "Fastest Delivery by Tomorrow," covering categories such as fresh fruits, groceries, and daily necessities. Previously, this label mainly appeared on product pages or in search results; now upgraded to a first-level entry, it signifies that the platform is elevating fulfillment speed from a product selling point to a traffic entry. Customer service stated that for items bearing a "Delivery by Tomorrow / Day After Tomorrow" commitment, if not delivered on time, consumers can receive at least a 3-yuan no-threshold voucher, except under special circumstances. In January this year, Pinduoduo had already teamed up with large warehouse and distribution service providers to launch shared warehouses, using a "storage + fulfillment" solution to support nationwide next-day and day-after-tomorrow delivery. This entry upgrade is a concentrated presentation of its warehousing and distribution capabilities on the consumer side. However, "Fastest Delivery by Tomorrow" still means fulfillment by the next day, which differs from the minute-level delivery championed by Meituan Flash Shopping, JD Seconds, and Taobao Flash Shopping. The platform has not confirmed any food delivery plans either. In the short term, Pinduoduo is more likely to compete for incremental market between traditional e-commerce and instant retail by leveraging low-price supply and reliable delivery windows. #Pinduoduo #InstantRetail
New DistributionSnow King Goes Global: Winning by Selling Ingredients, Struggling to Go Too Far
According to Mixue Group's latest financial report, as of December 31, 2025, Mixue Bingcheng had 59,823 stores globally, including 55,356 in mainland China and 4,467 overseas, covering 13 countries. By store count, it surpasses Starbucks and McDonald's to become the world's largest freshly made beverage chain. Stores are the carrier, but the supply chain is the real business. Understanding Mixue's overseas expansion requires a key premise: Mixue is not a company that makes money by selling milk tea; over 90% of its revenue comes from selling ingredients, packaging, and equipment to franchisees.
王军FMCG AI: A Severely Underrated Sector
The FMCG industry is often perceived as traditional, low-tech, and digitally lagging, but this impression is only partially correct. While many distribution channels remain analog, giants like P&G and Coca-Cola have invested billions in digitalization, and the sector's complex decision chains and high trial-and-error costs present a massive, underappreciated opportunity for AI.
戚特Why 2026 Is Poised to Be the 'Year of Special Channels' for the Beverage Industry
2026 may mark the beginning of the 'Year of Special Channels' for beverages. As consumption diversifies and channels fragment, the beverage industry is shifting from traditional supermarkets and distribution to new channel models characterized by segmented audiences, scenario-based marketing, and refined management. For instance, in 2023, the reopening of consumption scenarios drove the 'dining channel' to become a key growth market, with Dayao soda seeing over 30% sales growth and many beverage companies entering the fray.
擎苍Flash Warehouses Must Compete on Supply Chain, Not Traffic
China's instant-retail flash warehouses are moving beyond subsidy-led expansion. Sustainable operators need differentiated assortments, reliable long-tail supply, efficient product onboarding, and stronger store-level economics.
New DistributionFMCG Industry Increasingly Fails to Retain Talent
As we enter 2026, the FMCG market remains one of the most dynamic and competitive industries. However, after years of digital transformation, changing consumption patterns, and supply chain restructuring, a severe challenge has emerged and increasingly become a bottleneck for FMCG companies' growth: talent shortage. More and more brand manufacturers are realizing that without solving the talent problem, many growth targets will remain on paper. This article offers some thoughts on this topic, hoping to inspire FMCG manufacturers.
邢仁宝Supply Chain Companies Want to Build C-end Brands: A Tough Road Ahead
In recent years, with the rapid development of tea, coffee, and bakery chain formats, as well as the acceleration of private label strategies by leading supermarkets like Sam's Club, Hema, and Pangdonglai, a large number of supporting supply chain raw material and ODM companies have emerged, preparing to move from behind the scenes to the forefront. Unlike the B2B large-customer model that relies on orders and is constrained by others, every supply chain company boss harbors a dream of owning a brand—truly mastering market discourse and securing a place in the C-end market. However, transitioning from a supply chain company to a C-end brand is not just a step away; it's essentially starting a new race on a different track.
陆兴元Traditional Retailer-Supplier Relationships Are Failing; Supply Chains Must Learn to Sell 'Solutions'
This article is adapted from a keynote speech by Wang Xiaomian, CEO of Shaanxi Fubixing Liquor, at the CFC2026 11th FMCG Conference's forum on 'Retailer-Supplier Relationship Transformation under Supermarket Adjustments.' Fubixing, a production-oriented supply chain company focused on the new alcoholic beverage segment, has been exploring a shift from single-product supply to category operations. The article argues that traditional retailer-supplier relationships are failing and proposes a shift to category solution operations, illustrated with practical examples.
王小面Hangzhou Debut! 2026 CHINASHOP Reshapes Retail Innovation with 'Service Quality Enhancement'
2026 marks the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, signaling the end of the era where distributors and retailers could rely on scale expansion for easy wins, making deep competition in the existing market a required course. The core contradiction is that consumer demands have changed—have our services kept up? From April 15-17, 2026, the 26th China Retail Industry Expo (2026 CHINASHOP) will debut in Hangzhou, themed 'Service Quality Enhancement,' responding to the industry's shift from 'transaction-driven' to 'experience-driven'.
New Distribution2026 Southeast Asia FMCG Trade Show Overview
In 2026, Southeast Asia remains a key destination for Chinese FMCG brands expanding overseas. For companies looking to explore markets, meet local distributors, and expand distribution channels, offline B2B trade shows offer a low-cost, high-efficiency entry point. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the 11 most influential FMCG and supply chain trade shows in Southeast Asia for 2026.
戚特As Traffic Peaks, FMCG's Winning Move Shifts to 'Efficient Fulfillment'
When supply persistently exceeds demand, shelves become increasingly crowded, and consumer attention is extremely fragmented, a practical question confronts every FMCG professional: in an era of surplus, where can growth still be found? On March 16, the CFC2026 11th China FMCG Conference, co-hosted by New Distribution, Innovation Retail Society, and CFC Going Global, with Anneng Supply Chain as a joint organizer, was held in Chengdu. With the theme 'Advance Toward the C-End,' the conference explored pathways for the FMCG industry. Shi Kunliang, General Manager of Anneng Supply Chain's Marketing Center, was invited to attend and deliver a keynote speech. 'Omnichannel low growth is the norm, and offline negative growth is also the norm. The core reason for the slowdown of major brands in the past is that they lost by relying on past successful experience.' This may also be a common sentiment among many FMCG professionals. After the peak of traffic dividends, the 'winning move' in new retail has shifted from traffic competition to efficient fulfillment; supply chain is no longer a backend cost but the key to breaking through retail dilemmas.
安得智联Major Release | Instant Retail Lightning Warehouse Supply Chain (Distributor) Map
At the CFC Conference held in Chengdu from March 16-18, 2026, the Second Instant Retail Supply Summit Forum took place on March 17. During the forum, Yuan Lai, Chief Content Officer of New Distribution, released the "2025-2026 Instant Retail Lightning Warehouse Supply Chain Partner Map." This year's forum focused on answering who should provide controllable supply, and the map categorizes distributors into four types based on coverage and assortment logic.
袁来Ten "Helpers" for Distributor Profit
In 2025, I conducted field research on no fewer than 50 distributor owners and identified many issues in warehouse logistics, team management, and channel management. This article is the first in a series, discussing ten factors that impact distributor profit, focusing on revenue-generating strategies such as execution, store efficiency, and digital transformation.
高级研究员 海游Breaking: How Many B2b Platforms Are There Across China's 293 Prefecture-Level Cities? First Batch of 100+ Platforms Detailed
Over the past decade, brands have relied on national platforms like Alibaba's Lingshoutong and JD's Xintonglu for distribution coverage. But with strategic shifts and Lingshoutong's exit, a huge market gap has emerged. Two years on, the industry no longer debates the giants' fate but asks: in a prefecture-level city, who should brands and channels turn to? We recently launched a call for information on regional B2b platforms for China's FMCG sector in 2026, and received a flood of leads. The first batch includes 100+ platforms...
张雨薇The New Convenience Store Race: Understanding 5 Key Evolution Directions
Convenience stores have become deeply integrated with modern urban life, from morning coffee to late-night snacks. Despite overall retail growth of 4.0% in the first 11 months, convenience stores led all retail formats with a 6.0% year-on-year increase, but face pressure from new formats like instant retail and discount snack stores. This article explores five key evolution directions for convenience stores: fresh food and private brands, instant retail integration, experience upgrades, digital transformation, and expansion into lower-tier markets and overseas.
零售商业评论Beer Supply Chain Battle: One More Minute Faster, One More Chance to Win
The beer industry is undergoing decentralization. With Youbu Lao opening over 2,000 stores through diversified formats, Xinbach establishing quality moats with oak-aged beers, and Jinxing Beer creating 'Chinese-style craft beer,' competition is shifting from scale to supply chain speed and consumer-centric innovation.
思考派Building a New Zero-Supply Relationship: ZSM Supply Chain's 2025 Autumn Order Conference Grandly Held, with Same-Day Orders Reaching 30 Million Yuan
On October 10, 2025, ZSM Supply Chain's 2025 Autumn Order Conference was successfully held at the Jinan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Shandong. The bustling scene of 110 brands exhibiting and 30 million yuan in same-day orders at the Jinan autumn conference offers a glimpse into ZSM's rapid rise. This event was not an accidental outburst but a concentrated microcosm of its two-year development journey from 0 to 1, and then toward an annual sales target of 5 billion yuan, encompassing model exploration, capability accumulation, and ecosystem construction. Let's dissect its growth trajectory through the following key milestones.
New DistributionFront-Warehouse Model Enters 'Oligopoly Era', Leaving Little Room for Smaller Players
The front-warehouse model in China's instant retail sector is entering an oligopoly era dominated by platform giants like Meituan, Alibaba, and JD.com, as seen in the 2025 'food delivery war'. While pioneers like Dingdong Maicai and Pumo have achieved profitability through supply chain innovation and strategic focus, smaller players face increasingly slim chances due to the overwhelming advantages of these giants in capital, technology, and ecosystem integration.
楚勿留香The Growth Logic of the FMCG Industry Is Being Completely Rewritten by AI!
In recent years, the FMCG industry has invested in digital transformation, completing the initial stages of 'data online' and 'system integration.' Now, this process is accelerating into a new 'AI-driven' phase—companies are no longer satisfied with 'seeing' data but seek to make data flow in real time and actively empower business. AI is shifting from a tool attribute to a capability attribute, penetrating key links such as supply chain, channel, and marketing, driving enterprises from static analysis to dynamic intelligent decision-making. How to make AI move from 'foreseeing the future' to 'achieving growth' and truly become a business engine has become a key industry issue.
秦亚峰Riders Besiege the City, Supermarkets Rebuild
Instant retail is besieging supermarkets. Wang Peng, a veteran retailer running three chain supermarkets in a third-tier city in Shandong, is increasingly anxious as foot traffic declines, especially among young people. The rise of instant retail platforms like Meituan and Ele.me, with subsidies and fast delivery, is diverting demand away from physical stores, forcing traditional supermarkets to confront a digital divide and seek new growth through digital transformation.
十里On July 13, the 'National Benchmark Daily Chemical Distributor Deep Study Tour' visited Henan Shizhirui Trading, and the event was a complete success!
On July 13, the 'National Benchmark Daily Chemical Distributor Deep Study Tour' visited Henan Shizhirui Trading, and the event was a complete success! From announcement to execution in less than half a month, registrations far exceeded expectations, with over 150 on-site sign-ins and no empty seats, showing the high interest in 'how to do daily chemical whole-store output' well. The study tour focused on four core topics: business development guide for urban daily chemical distributors, breakdown of the daily chemical whole-store operation model, live-streaming operation logic for trading companies, and digital transformation solutions for distributors. More than 150 distributor owners from across the country gathered for in-depth exchanges with New Distribution's Chief Content Officer Yuan Lai, Henan Shizhirui Trading General Manager Zhang Wenhai, Henan Shizhirui Trading Live-streaming Head Yang Ning, Zhengzhou Jiahexin Supply Chain General Manager Zhang Yanjie, and the Zhoupu Data team, with non-stop insights and inspiration.
New DistributionNew Distribution & Tameng Distributor Retail Supply Chain Japan Deep Study Tour Concludes Successfully
From June 22-26, 2025, the 'New Distribution & Tameng Distributor Retail Supply Chain Japan Deep Study Tour' was successfully held. The tour focused on Japan's distribution industry transformation, major distributor (shosha) operations, retail formats, supply chain systems, and product development synergy. It was New Distribution's first Japan distribution industry visit, with over 20 participants from national distributors and the New Distribution team, visiting facilities like Kobe Bussan's third-party logistics ACCESS center and various retail stores.
New Distribution「经销商转型“商贸+B2b供应链”实操大课·洛阳站」圆满结束！
On June 19-21, the practical training course for dealer transformation to 'Commerce + B2b Supply Chain' in Luoyang concluded successfully. The 3-day, 2-night intensive program systematically covered six modules: startup rhythm, sales management, platform operations, warehouse and distribution management, product management, and organizational management, with a visit to the Luoyang Hecai Commerce practical base, providing dealers with a clear transformation blueprint. Over a hundred dealer owners from across the country attended.
New DistributionFMCG CXO Evolution Circle - Corporate Visit Dialogue: BiuTe & ZhenShiMei Supply Chain, a Complete Success!
On June 12-13, the 'New Distribution · FMCG CXO Evolution Circle - Corporate Visit Dialogue' at BiuTe & ZhenShiMei Supply Chain concluded successfully. The visit focused on topics such as FMCG distribution transformation, integrated production-supply-marketing trends, BiuTe's supply chain and store operations, and ZhenShiMei's 2025 brand promotion and co-creation plans. The CXO Evolution Circle, a platform for VP-level and above decision-makers from brand companies, has attracted over 100 enterprises since its establishment on April 10.
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