'New Retail' becomes reality as Sun Art outlets go smart

Sun Art Retail, which operates leading supermarket chain RT-Mart and Auchan in China, is on course to digitalize its offerings and services, five months after being acquired by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, an example of the push into New Retail.

The retail conglomerate said last month that it aimed to go to the extra mile by combining its supply chain with Alibaba's technology and online traffic, in a country where pure physical presence has failed to sustain growth.

Core strategies for its new retail transformation - for example, the merger of online and offline sales using technologies - include a digital transformation of the company's storefronts, development of a variety of retail formats and distribution channels, and redefining the hypermarket model, said Daniel Zhang, chairman of Sun Art and chief executive officer of Alibaba.