2024 ChinaShop opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on Wednesday, attracting nearly 27,000 professional visitors from more than 40 countries and regions on the first day. The three-day exhibition closes tomorrow (March 15).
This year is the Year of the Dragon, and on Wednesday morning, 2024 ChinaShop held a ceremony celebrating “adding the finishing touch” to open the event.
Peng Jianzhen, president of China Chain-Store & Franchise Association, the exhibition organiser, said 2024 ChinaShop has assembled the latest and most comprehensive retail technologies, facilities, equipment, and merchandise solutions, with more than 800 retail solution providers participating. All kinds of innovative digital technology, supply chain management, store design, display props, and environmentally friendly and energy-saving equipment are on display.
Many Chinese local specialties and selected imported goods are included in the exhibition, providing retail buyers with one-stop direct sourcing of high-quality products.
Peng hopes more overseas professionals will come to future ChinaShop events and he encouraged Chinese retailers, consumer goods companies, service providers and suppliers to venture abroad to take the cooperation and exchange between Chinese and foreign retailers to a higher level.
Green development is an important development concept in China nowadays. At the opening ceremony, CCFA launched the Initiative of Chinese Chain Enterprises to Carry out ESG Actions. Wang Hongtao, VP and secretary general of the CCFA, explained the initiative, which calls on Chinese chain stores to actively participate in ESG actions. The first batch of ESG demonstration cases was announced.
As the largest retail exhibition in Asia, ChinaShop has always been a bellwether for the retail industry. On the first day of the exhibition, AI, digitalisation, smart retail, ESG green efficiency, digital and intelligent operation, and scene experience were this year’s hottest keywords.
AI-related technology products are prevalent at the event, from intelligent weighing equipment, intelligent payment systems, AI digital people, intelligent shelves, AI store patrol robots, and application systems of digital stores, high-tech products cover the entire retail scene at the front, middle and back end.
In the cold chain, logistics supply chain, lighting display, packaging and other facilities and equipment products, the trend towards green, energy-saving, and low-carbon environmental protection remains. This exhibition showcases green retail products, including energy-saving and environmentally friendly commercial kitchen equipment, green packaging materials, fresh cold chain equipment, and integrated lighting solutions.
As a huge consumer market with more than 1.4 billion people, China is increasingly attractive to international suppliers, with many international brands appearing at this year’s ChinaShop, now the most important platform for them to enter and expand in the Chinese market.
This year, ChinaShop expanded its product categories revealing a more vertical trend, including the display of many global landmark goods and selected imports, such as durian from Malaysia, and ham from Spain.
The organisers have announced that 2025 ChinaShop will be held at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center from May 9 to 11.
