On March 17th, according to various domestic media reports, amidst rumors of being sold to COFCO by Alibaba, representatives from Hema and RT-Mart responded on their personal social media platform WeChat Moments, stating that the claims were "false."
Today, there are media reports claiming that, according to insiders, Alibaba internally has basically confirmed the sale of RT-Mart and Hema to China Resources. RT-Mart is estimated to be around 10 billion RMB, and Hema around 20 billion RMB. The framework agreement between the two parties has been drafted, and Jack Ma has reportedly given the final approval within Alibaba.
In response to this, a spokesperson from Hema stated, "It's fake news." RT-Mart also mentioned that the rumors regarding the sale are false.
In December 2023, Hema denied rumors of being sold, amid speculation fueled by capital planning actions by Alibaba Group CEO Wu Yongming. Hema clarified that the rumors were unfounded.
Recently, there has been widespread chatter online about Hema closing stores and removing shelves, with reports of unmanned deliveries and reduced product variety. Some netizens even posted images showing emptied shelves, suggesting clearance sales and store closures, sparking heated discussions.
"Thanks for the unexpected traffic; it's a perfect opportunity for some publicity..." responded the official Hema Weibo account, addressing the reports. They explained that the mentioned closures of "Hema stores across various regions" were actually due to reasons such as expiring property leases and downturns in specific shopping malls. They announced plans to close 6-7 stores nationwide in the first half of the year, while actively seeking better properties nearby to meet consumer demand.
Furthermore, Hema emphasized plans to open 70 new stores this year, with over 360 stores currently operating as usual.
"We hope to reach even more people in the future and bring more quality products at good prices to everyone's doorstep."
