J Sainsbury is looking at targeting China’s growing middle class for a possible expansion into the country.
While the grocery chain has already acknowledged it is studying the potential of the Chinese market, new details of its plans indicate it has a particular interest in seeing whether the market could support an alternative to the hypermarket model – so far the dominant format for foreign-owned retailers seeking a presence in the country.
Sainsbury acknowledges that it is a latecomer to China compared with western retailers such as Walmart, Carrefour, Auchan, Tesco and South Korea’s Lotte – all of which have established businesses in the country.