Yonghui Superstores profit soared 39.47 per cent during the first financial quarter as the Chinese supermarket business boosted sales during the coronavirus pandemic.

The firm, which is partly owned by online giants JD and Tencent, reported RMB1.57 billion (US$222.47 million) in net profits as part of its financial report filed with Shanghai’s stock exchange.

Sales were RMB29.26 billion ($4.13 million), up by 31.57 per cent year on year.

Yonghui Superstores profit during the global pandemic may be attributable to moves to accelerate the integration of its online and offline retail channels throughout the period, during which the firm saw a 239-per-cent increase in direct deliveries to customers.