Representatives lay a foundation stone for Freshhema's supply chain center in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, March 20. [Photo/WeChat account of WHDZ]
Construction work on Freshhema's first national supply chain center started in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone (WHDZ) in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, on March 20.
The supermarket, which is owned by Alibaba Group and forms part of its new retail strategy, sells food (mainly fresh products) both online and in physical stores.
The construction project covers an area of around 360 mu (24 hectares) and has received investment of about 1 billion yuan ($149 million). It will include an operations center, an accounting department, a regional processing center, a cold-chain logistics center, and a regional distribution facility.
The center will help ease processes ranging from procurement to sales, and improve the availability of different kinds of fresh products in different places to customers all over the country.
Following completion, the center will significantly improve efficiency in terms of the distribution of goods, especially in the Central China region, said Mei Xiang, general manager of Freshhema's Wuhan company.
Mei said that Freshhema will seek further cooperation with WHDZ due to its airport and port.
Freshhema has already opened 13 stores across Wuhan and the number is expected to hit 50 in the future.
In addition, it will plan logistics centers in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hangzhou, improving its logistics system around the country.
Representatives pose for a group photo during the ceremony in Wuhan, Hubei province, March 20. [Photo/WeChat account of WHDZ]
An artist's impression of Freshhema's supply chain center which is currently being built in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone [Photo/WeChat account of WHDZ]
