A Visit to Jingkelong: How a Beijing Supermarket Chain Stabilizes Its Supply and Prices

Tomatoes, 1.98 yuan per kilogram (7 Chinese yuan exchanging for about 1 U.S. dollar); Chinese cabbage, 2.78 yuan per kilogram; potatoes, 3.98 yuan per kilogram; cucumbers, 3.38 yuan per kilogram; onions, 2.56 yuan per kilogram; cabbage, 1.9 yuan per kilogram...These are some of the various fresh vegetables and fruits filling the shelves of the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Beijing’s Chaoyang District when China Pictorial’s photojournalist visited on June 19.

“We supply 15 tons of fresh food products today. This is enough to meet the neighborhood’s demand,” said Guo Dongnian, head of the branch. “There’s no need for hoarding food because supply is stable every single day.”

Since the suspension of the operations of the Xinfadi market, a large wholesale market of fruits, vegetables, and meat in Beijing, following the latest COVID-19 cases, Jingkelong has been pouring more efforts into stabilizing the supply of daily necessities such as grain (especially rice and flour), edible oil, meat, eggs, vegetables and milk. The supermarket chain ensures stable supplies and prices of its products by enhancing the analysis of customer flow and sale figures at its key branches. Since June 13, 2020, Jingkelong has been delivering more than 600 tons of fresh food products each day to its branches across Beijing, two to three times the regular amount.

“To ensure a timely supply of products to all branches and minimize supply shortages, we have 70-plus delivery trucks running around the clock,” said Zhang Liwei, vice general manager of Jingkelong Group. According to Zhang, vegetables and fruits selling at all Jingkelong branches are delivered directly from its purchasing bases across the country, mostly in Gu’an and Xianghe counties of Hebei Province and in Shandong Province.

At the Tianshuiyuan branch, a notice says that the supermarket chain promises not to raise the prices of 10 types of vegetables in one month starting from June 17, which include the potato, cabbage, cucumber, round eggplant, purple onion, choy sum, Chinese onion, white gourd, yellow onion, and chili pepper. All of them are common ingredients for everyday home-cooked dishes.

June 19, 2020: Various fresh vegetables are laid on shelves at the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Chaoyang District, Beijing.

June 19, 2020: A staff member packs and weighs vegetables at the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Chaoyang District, Beijing.

June 19, 2020: Customers shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Chaoyang District, Beijing.

June 19, 2020: A customer shops for frozen food at the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Chaoyang District, Beijing.

June 19, 2020: Customers select fresh vegetables and fruits at the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Chaoyang District, Beijing. Jingkelong promises not to raise the prices of 10 types of vegetables in one month staring from June 17, which include the potato, cabbage, cucumber, round eggplant, purple onion, choy sum, Chinese onion, white gourd, yellow onion, and chili pepper, all common ingredients for everyday home-cooked dishes.

June 19, 2020: Sign boards saying “Fighting against COVID-19 together” are seen at the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Chaoyang District, Beijing. The supermarket chain ensures stable and safe food supply with abundant products, strict inspection and disinfection protocols.

June 19, 2020: Customers check out at the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Chaoyang District, Beijing.

June 19, 2020: A staff member checks the body temperature of a customer at the entrance of the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Chaoyang District, Beijing.

June 19, 2020: A customer walks out of the Tianshuiyuan branch of the Jingkelong supermarket chain in Chaoyang District, Beijing.