Alibaba has entered the convenience store market to further broaden its customer data collection efforts. The company launched a pilot store, Lawson , in China earlier this year and opened a second location in earlier this year , with a second planned. Alibaba's fresh food-focused supermarket chain, Hema Xiansheng, had to close one of its stores recently after its staffing levels could not keep pace with its rapid expansion. Bailian Group , which has invested over $9bn in the retail industry, uses the market primarily to gather valuable data on consumer demand.
Alibaba has entered the convenience store market to further broaden its customer data collection efforts. The company launched a pilot store, Lawson , in China earlier this year and opened a second location in earlier this year , with a second planned. Bailian Group , which has invested over $9bn in the retail industry, uses the market primarily to gather valuable data on consumer demand.