DFI Retail Group to keep investing in Hong Kong supermarkets despite cautious consumers

DFI Retail Group will continue investing in new stores in Hong Kong even as consumers remain cautious, according to the Hong Kong-headquartered company.

The group owns and operates the city’s largest supermarket network through its Wellcome, Market Place, 3hreesixty and Oliver’s chains. Together, the chains operate more than 325 stores and serve more than 14 million customers a month.

Focus on demand and long-term returns

Darren Chan, DFI’s managing director for food in Hong Kong and Macau, said the group was “looking for opportunities to strengthen” its network where there was “clear customer demand and attractive long-term returns”.

Chan said the company invests in both new stores and its existing outlets. “We invest in both new stores and our existing stores,” he said.

The approach means DFI is continuing to expand while also reviewing the role of its current network.

Modernising the existing network

Chan said stores are opened in locations where they can better serve local communities. He added that DFI was continuing to modernise its existing network so that its stores remain “attractive, convenient and relevant to evolving customer needs”.

The company’s investment plans therefore cover both expansion and upgrades to current outlets. Its network, which serves more than 14 million customers each month, spans the four supermarket chains operated by the group.

Source: South China Morning Post