Discount supermarkets improve quality of life

People shop at a local discount supermarket in Guiyang. [Photo/guiyang.gov.cn]

Since its trial operation began in 2015, the discount supermarket in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, has increase people's quality of life by providing cheaper vegetables, fruit, meat and sea food. There are now 154 such stores in the city, giving most residents access within a 15-minute walk. The distance between discount markets is usually no more than 500 meters.

The supermarket sells three types of vegetables (depending on the season) and sells them at a price of just 1 yuan ($0.15) per 500 grams.

"Most of the fresh food at the supermarket is from Guiyang's agricultural product logistics parks, and some is directly delivered from the plantations," said Ao Yukun, an official in charge of the market.

Staff members are sent local farm produce markets and wholesale markets to observe the prices of 40 types of food, and these foods are then sold at lower prices at the discount supermarkets.

So far, the discount supermarkets have saved residents about 1.14 billion yuan.

The latest discount supermarket work plan issued by the government stated that from 2022 to 2024, Guiyang and Guian New Area will open more than 50 such supermarkets.