Lianhua, the Chinese supermarket, hypermarket and convenience store operator, plans to expand its total store numbers to 5500 this year.

From its humble beginning in 1991, Lianhua now has 5150 stores across the mainland. This year, a total of 350 stores – 180 convenience stores, 160 supermarkets and 12 to 15 hypermarkets – will be opened.

The supermarkets will be concentrated more in cities including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou of Jiangsu Province and Liuzhou of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The convenience store segment will continue to accelerate its development in Beijing, Hangzhou and Ningbo, consolidate its market position and seek business growth by transforming and upgrading outlets in Shanghai and Dalian of Liaoning Province.

Last year, Lianhua opened 390 stores, 204 of them convenience stores, 171 supermarkets and 15 hypermarkets.

Turnover increased 6.23 per cent to US$4.36 billion and gross profit grew to 9.51 per cent to US$2.53 billion.

GB