Boom in online food sales

TV documentary series whetted the appetite of hungry public

Yang Hui, a 29-year-old white collar worker in Beijing, said her next online purchasing plan is to buy some United States-imported pistachio nuts and Yunnan ham, neither of which are commonly seen in the capital city's supermarkets.

"Although there are abundant and various types of foods available in supermarkets, the number of imported food and regional specialties is limited and sometimes the prices are high," said Yang. "I like to purchase food online because it allows me to buy food without geographical limitation and enables me to enjoy the best prices in the market."