China Resources Vanguard
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (supermarkets) |
| Predecessor | China Resources Supermarket |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , China |
Area served | Hong Kong, Mainland China (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing) |
| Products | Supermarkets, convenience stores, boutique supermarkets, wine cellars |
| Parent | China Resources Enterprise |
China Resources Vanguard, also known as China Resources Vanguard Shop or simply Vanguard (), is the supermarket division of China Resources and holds the position of the third-largest retail chain in Hong Kong. By 31 December 2014, the company operated a total of 4,866 outlets spanning Hong Kong as well as multiple provinces on the Chinese mainland, including Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Beijing.
On 18 August 2013, China Resources Enterprise's Vanguard entered into a memorandum of understanding with the British retailer Tesco to create a joint venture covering operations in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This partnership encompasses hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, liquor outlets, and cash-and-carry businesses, with China Resources owning an 80% share and Tesco holding 20%.
History
- 1984: Established under the name China Resources Supermarket (CR Supermarket).
- 1991: Launched its inaugural store in Mainland China.
- 2001: Acquired a 72% stake in Shenzhen Vanguard Super Department Store and merged it with CR Supermarket.
- 2002: Completed full acquisition of Shenzhen Vanguard and rebranded as China Resources Vanguard Shop.
- 2005: Rolled out a new sunflower-themed logo.
- 2007: Took over Tianjin-based China Resources Supermarket Chain.
- 2010: Debuted the first blt boutique supermarket concept.
- 2012: Launched "V+ urban boutique supermarkets" brand targeting city consumers.
- 2013: Formed joint venture agreement with Tesco.
- 2015: Divested supermarket operations to improve China Resources Enterprise’s overall business performance; inaugurated the first U Select by Tesco outlet in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong
- Vanguard – conventional supermarkets
- VanGO – convenience store format
- U Select – retail outlets stocking a minimum of one-third products from Tesco
- Voi_la! – specialized wine cellar
Mainland China
- Vanguard – conventional supermarkets
- VanGO – convenience store format
- V+ – upscale urban boutique supermarkets catering to China’s expanding middle class
- blt – premium supermarkets emphasizing fresh produce, styled similarly to a farm market
- blt Express – compact versions of blt stores
- Ole' – high-end supermarkets focusing on imported goods
- 乐购express – former Tesco Express locations
- Voi_la! – specialized wine cellar