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Philippines: DALI Enters Next Growth Phase in the Philippines with Infrastructure and Store Expansion in Cebu
Discount Retail Chain DALI Everyday Grocery Accelerates Philippine Footprint with Major Expansion in Cebu Hard-discount chain DALI has officially launched its next growth phase in the Philippines, opening a state-of-the-art warehouse and several new stores across Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Cities, alongside a broader nationwide rollout. Beyond expanding footprint to bring unbeatable everyday value to more Filipino families, the Cebu launch delivers tangible regional economic impac
Jul 251 min read


Germany: Aldi Nord and Süd push back on Loyalty Apps
Discount Retail Chain Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd have announced they will focus on offering the best price for everyone, a move that differs from competitors that offer app-based discounts. The German discounters believe that loyalty programmes and bonus apps increase the complexity of shopping, such as collecting coupons or activating discounts. They added that those who do not use a smartphone, or do not want to use an app, often end up paying more for the same product. Shopper
Jul 212 min read


China: German Hard-Discount Principles vs. Local Scaling
Discount Retail Chain ALDI China, 7 years after introducing hard discount to mainland China in June 2019, faces a fundamental strategic question: Has the original German "teacher" of hard discount been surpassed by local digital-first competitors like Freshippo Ultra NB (盒马超盒算NB)? While fast-scaling local players have surged ahead in door counts and regional coverage, ALDI’s core moat — uncompromising cost discipline, private label dominance, and high-yielding single-store ec
Jul 213 min read


Philippines: DALI narrows 2025 losses as revenue surges past $840m despite cost pressures
Discount Retail Chain DALI Everyday Grocery reduced its losses in 2025 after a sharp jump in revenue, though rising merchandise costs and operating expenses continued to weigh on the bottom line. Regulatory filings with the Philippine SEC show the company’s net loss narrowed to 1.83 billion pesos ($30 million) in 2025 from 1.97 billion pesos ($32 million) the previous year. Loss before tax reached 1.71 billion pesos ($28 million). DALI, backed by Creador, Venturi Partners, an
Jul 212 min read


China: Discounter Leerle and Gome Supermarket start cooperation
Discount Retail Chain Leerle in Changsha, Hunan, was not long ago visited by, Gome Group founder Huang Guangyu paid a night visit to this retail chain company in Changsha, Hunan, and was personally received by founder Chen Zhengguo and his senior management team. After the visit, the two parties held closed-door talks and signed a cooperation agreement. Not only is Leerle actively promoting its cooperation with the former richest man, but from May 1 to now, Gome Supermarket,
Jun 154 min read


Poland: Lulu Retail & Y International organise a Discounter Buyer Pitch Event for the CEE region in Łódź, Poland
Lulu Retail Holding PLC (Lulu Retail) and DRC Discount Retail Consulting GmbH cordially invite Polish and other CEE FMCG manufacturers to present their product portfolios (private labels and factory brands) for international export business. The Opportunity Lulu Retail — the market leader in the GCC grocery format—is actively expanding. In addition to their core hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores, Lulu Retail is launching a new hard discount store format in the
Jun 131 min read


Uzbekistan: Korzinka launches Afzal Market
Discount Retail Chain Afzal Market format reflects the Korzinka’s strategy of developing affordable retail and contributing to an improved quality of life by expanding opportunities for convenient and value-driven shopping close to home. The Korzinka supermarket chain announces the launch of a new discount proximity retail format under the Afzal Market brand. The first stores have already opened in the Tashkent region, in Dostobod, Chinaz and Yangiyul. The company plans to ex
Jun 112 min read


Research: The Rise of the "Kakashi School": How Chinese Meituan’s Happy Monkey is Upending Brick-and-Mortar Retail
As the traditional, one-size-fits-all Carrefour model continues to decline, brick-and-mortar retailers are aggressively seeking new paths to survival. The latest disruptive strategy gaining traction is the "Kakashi School." Created by Meituan’s crossover venture, Happy Monkey (开心猴子), this model bridges the gap between e-commerce and physical retail. Named after the "Copy Ninja" Kakashi Hatake from the anime Naruto, this school does not waste resources inventing its own moves
Jun 43 min read


China: Harddiscount Chaohé Suàn NB Strikes Gold in Hefei: Full Yangtze Delta Coverage Achieved
Discount Retail Chain Chaohé Suàn NB and the retail powerhouse of Alibaba recently marked a major milestone by opening three stores simultaneously in Hefei, officially locking in complete coverage across the entire Yangtze River Delta region. To see how the grand opening fared, DRC paid a visit to the brand-new location at Hefei Manle City. Spanning nearly 1,000 square meters—exceptionally large for the brand's standard layout—the store proves that a compact neighborhood foot
Jun 33 min read


China: How Freshippo Turned the Tide: From Years of Losses to Record Profits
Discount Retail Chain's Chaohé Suàn NB (超盒算NB) mother company Freshippo (Hema) pulled off a massive financial turnaround in fiscal year 2026. The retail giant generated ¥107 billion in sales, marking its second consecutive year of profitability. To put its rapid expansion into perspective, Freshippo's growth over the past year alone was 1.36 times the entire GMV of the iconic retail format Pang Dong Lai from Henan (see our blog: China: Pangdonglai store visit in Xuchang). How
Jun 32 min read


China: Changzhou's Rising Supermarket Star: Third Store Opening — Is the Hard Discount Model Really That Popular?
Discount Retail Chain ALDI China's third Changzhou store officially opened on May 30th at the Tianyu Shopping Plaza in Xinbei District — marking ALDI's first location in that district. Together with the previously opened first store at Zhonglou Wuyue Plaza and the second store at Qingfenghui which opened on May 1st, ALDI has rolled out three stores in Changzhou in less than a year. With additional locations at Wujin Maoye Tiandi, Kai'er LOMO Plaza, Liyang Jineagle, and the ne
Jun 34 min read


China: DRC Consulting presented The Chinese Discount Retail Evolution & Private Label Trajectory
Discount Retail Consulting Management was invited by Qiri-E to open and attend the second 2026 Longshang and Qiyang Zhengzhou Expos. The event was held from May 8th to 10th in Zhengzhou, a city recognized as China's food production capital. The expo served as a major venue for retail transformation, connecting global manufacturers and buyers, with a strong focus on private label brands and modern retail strategy. Key Insights from DRC's Expertise DRC presented presentations t
May 152 min read


China: DRC Consulting and Luohe Platform Seal Food Supply Deal at Zhengzhou’s Qiri-E Event
A Bridge Across Continents: Zhengzhou, May 10th, 2026 — The hum of international commerce filled the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center last May 10th as industry leaders from across the globe gathered for the annual Qiri-E Event, a premier cross-border trade and supply chain forum. Amid the bustling exhibition halls and bilingual negotiations, a quiet yet significant handshake marked the beginning of what many hope will be a transformative partnership fo
May 152 min read


China: The Expansion of Chaohesuan NB & China’s Hard Discount "Street Warfare"
Discount Retail Chain Chaohesuan NB, the hard discount banner under Alibaba’s Freshippo (Hema), officially entered Anhui province by opening three stores simultaneously in Hefei. The flagship Hefei Manle City store highlights the brand’s localized rollout strategy: Footprint: Spans approximately 800 square meters with a high-density, minimalist industrial layout. Demographics: Placed in the core Huizhou Avenue commercial district, capturing a dense residential base of over
May 153 min read


China: How HotMaxx turned China's surplus goods problem into a billion-dollar treasure hunt
Discount Retail Chain HotMaxx's store is a bright, buzzing retail floor stocked with around 3,500 products — A-branded snacks, beauty serums, household staples — all at prices that feel almost illegal. Now imagine that same store also holds a B Corp certification. That's the HotMaxx paradox, and it's more interesting than it sounds. The Origin Story: An Accidental Empire Built on Leftovers In early 2020, two entrepreneurs stared down a nightmare: a warehouse full of surplus i
May 16 min read


Research: Discount Channels Emerge as Primary Drivers of Private Label Growth
Data from Circana signals a structural shift in global retail: private label growth is no longer just incremental — it is being propelled by value-driven channels like discounters and club stores. As inflation and squeezed purchasing power persist, own brands have evolved from "budget alternatives" into core strategic assets that drive loyalty and margin. The US Market: The Rise of the Club Format In the United States, private labels have reached a massive $330 billion valuat
Apr 272 min read


USA: The "ALDI" Revolution - From Store Brand to Global Power Brand
Discount Retail Chain ALDI USA has just announced its largest packaging refresh to date, marking a historic shift in its global strategy. The lines between "retailer" and "brand" are officially blurring. While many retailers hide behind dozens of "phantom" private labels, ALDI is doing the opposite: It is putting its own name front and center. ALDI US: The Bold "Namesake" Move In the US, ALDI is launching its first-ever namesake brand. The "ALDI" Stamp: Thousands of products
Apr 242 min read


Poland: MR. DIY in Poland targets 1,000 stores?
Discount Variety Retail Chain MR. DIY is growing in Poland, but instead of spectacular declarations, it focuses on cold calculation and selection of locations. In an interview, Łukasz Dobrowolski, country head MR. DIY in Poland reveals why the chain does not want to copy the Malaysian model, how it approaches acquisitions and whether it really sees the potential for hundreds of stores. This is an interview about a strategy that can change the balance of power in the non-food
Apr 225 min read
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