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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 for regional food distribution.


On one side of the table stood DRC Discount Retail Consulting GmbH, a German firm renowned for its razor-sharp efficiency in discount retail operations. Known for optimizing lean supply chains across Europe, DRC had been scouting for a reliable gateway into Central China’s agricultural heartland. On the other side was the Luohe Integrated Food Supply Platform, representing a city often called the “cradle of Chinese meat processing”, home to industrial giants and a rich network of small-to-mid-sized food producers.


The cooperation agreement, signed in the presence of Sino-German trade delegates, focuses on three core pillars: direct sourcing of processed meats, grain-based snacks, and preserved vegetables from Luohe’s certified producers; application of DRC’s discount retail framework to streamline packaging and logistics; and joint quality control protocols aligned with EU import standards.


“This is not just a supply contract,” said Marc Houppermans, Managing Director of DRC Discount Retail Consulting GmbH, during a brief signing ceremony. “Luohe offers scale and consistency. We offer access to Germany’s hard-discount sector — Aldi, Lidl, and regional chains looking for reliable, cost-effective Chinese suppliers. The Qiri-E Event gave us the neutral ground to build trust, and today we take the first step.”


Representatives from the Luohe platform emphasized that the deal would prioritize small and cooperative-owned food producers, helping them navigate EU labeling and phytosanitary requirements. A pilot shipment of braised pork knuckles and fermented noodles is expected to leave Zhengzhou’s rail hub by Q3 2026, destined for test shelves in North Rhine-Westphalia.


The Qiri-E Event, known for spotlighting “Efficient Economy” initiatives, proved an apt backdrop. As Feldmann noted, “Discount retail is not about cheapness, it’s about removing waste. Luohe’s supply chain, combined with DRC’s retail consulting, could set a new standard for how Chinese food enters European discount markets.”


Outside the hall, the May sun cast long shadows over Zhengzhou’s skyline — a city that, like Luohe, is increasingly positioning itself as a logistics crossroads. For now, the signed agreement remains a piece of paper. But for the farmers, packers, and retail strategists watching closely, it represents a tangible bridge between China’s central plains and Europe’s most price-conscious consumers.


See also our recent interview on Luohe platform with The Grocer magazine UK: China: DRC's The Grocer Interview - Luohe, a global hub for food production


See here the film on the official signing presentation:






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