Exclusive | US supermarket chain Sam’s Club to launch online shopping in Hong Kong; one industry expert warns of ‘retail crisis’
- The Post learns the megastore will roll out an e-commerce service for Hongkongers soon, with free delivery service available for purchases of 599 yuan
- ‘Supermarkets and online platform HKTVmall will be hard hit … I am afraid this will cause a retail crisis in Hong Kong,’ economist Simon Lee says
US supermarket chain Sam’s Club is planning to launch online shopping and delivery services in Hong Kong, an expansion one industry observer has warned will spark a “retail crisis”.
Two staff members based at the retailer’s Shenzhen office told the Post the megastore would roll out the e-commerce service for Hongkongers soon, with one employee adding that free delivery service was available with purchases of 599 yuan (US$83).
“So far there has not been online shopping for Hong Kong people. There will be a roll-out of such service with direct delivery within two months. But customers need to be a member … and memberships can’t be shared with others,” one employee said.
Hongkongers have flocked to the warehouse-style stores in mainland China amid a growing trend of heading north to spend, with many residents bulk-buying everything from tissue paper to snacks and electrical appliances at Sam’s Club.
The membership-only chain of warehouse stores, which is owned by United States supermarket giant Walmart, opened its first outlets in Shenzhen in 1996. The brand now has 44 shops in 25 cities across the country.
“Sam’s Club will continue to build its omnichannel platform, enhance its business model and develop differentiated and quality merchandise for Chinese families,” it said on its website.
