New Gongbei mall seeks to win Macau hearts

jun26

Revamped Gongbei mall draws 100,000 in first six hours, one-third from Macau and Hong Kong

By Newsdesk

The redeveloped retail complex in Gongbei drew more than 100,000 visitors during its first six hours of trial operation, with Hong Kong and Macau shoppers making up around one-third of the initial foot traffic

Anchored by Zhuhai’s largest Freshippo supermarket, the development signals intensifying competition for Macau’s northern district retailers while offering a new platform for local brands entering the mainland market

Parkside Mall, a redeveloped retail complex at the heart of the Gongbei border area in Zhuhai, drew more than 100,000 visitors in its first six hours of trial operation on Sunday (31 May), according to Nanfang daily. Hong Kong and Macau shoppers made up about one-third of the early foot traffic.

Gongbei is China’s busiest land crossing, ranked first nationally for passenger flow for 13 consecutive years and the first port to pass 100 million crossings in a year. More than 300,000 people move through it each day.

The crowds also follow the cross-border vehicle schemes that let Hong Kong and Macau cars drive into Guangdong. Lower mainland prices and wider product ranges have made cross-border spending a habit for many Macau households.

The complex, formally the Zhuguang International Building · Parkside, was developed by Zhuhai Zhuguang Group Holdings, a Zhuhai state-owned enterprise. It covers about 180,000 square metres of gross floor area and combines retail, hotel and office space. The site once housed Gongbei’s main shopping district, including Wanjia Department Store and Gongbei Market.

Parkside houses more than 120 tenants, of which over 70 are debut outlets. First stores account for more than 60 per cent of the line-up. The mall has also opened a Hong Kong and Macau service centre offering Cantonese-language help, customs guidance and policy advice, and its cross-border membership scheme now covers more than six million people across Zhuhai, Macau and Hong Kong.

Freshippo draws the crowds

Several media outlets reported that the largest Freshippo supermarket in Zhuhai anchored the opening and pulled the biggest crowds. The chain, Alibaba’s grocery brand known in Chinese as Hema, reported sales above RMB400,000 (about US$55,000) in its first five hours. Liao Bangpeng, its general manager for southern China, said the outlet was a port flagship store built for cross-border customers. It processes fresh produce on site, accepts major Macau payment methods and offers 30-minute delivery within the city.

A Macau-based blogger who shared a visit on social media estimated that around a thousand shoppers were queuing to enter the store. The blogger said the line ran from the ground floor up the escalator to the entrance on the first floor, and that the crowd made it impossible to get inside.

What it means for Macau

Cheung Kin Chung, chairman of the Macau Hoteliers and Innkeepers Association and of Macau China Travel Service, said Gongbei was an important link between Macau and the mainland. He said the mall gave Macau’s local industries a platform to enter the mainland market and supported Macau’s drive to diversify its economy.

The development also adds pressure on retailers and restaurants in Macau’s northern districts, which already compete with mainland operators, Macao Daily News reported.

Wang Yusheng, chairman of Zhuhai Zhuguang Group Holdings, said the company would use the building to deepen its cross-border services and build up the border economy. Parkside has reserved space for Hong Kong and Macau brands and plans to add more Macau food, cultural and retail tenants.

https://macaubusiness.com/revamped-gongbei-mall-draws-100000-in-first-six-hours-one-third-from-macau-and-hong-kong/

jun26

O sector de retalho local está preocupado com o impacto da inauguração de um novo centro comercial perto do posto fronteiriço de Gongbei, o que poderá vir agravar a quebra do negócio no território, nomeadamente nos supermercados. A Associação Industrial e Comercial da Zona Norte de Macau defende a diversificação da fonte de produtos, do Sudeste Asiático ou dos países lusófonos, para a retenção de clientes.

 

Abriu este domingo um novo centro comercial na zona fronteiriça de Gongbei, em Zhuhai. O espaço comercial composto por 120 lojas, incluindo um hipermercado concebido para o público transfronteiriço, causou grandes filas de clientes não só do Continente, mas também de Macau. A inauguração do complexo comercial suscita preocupações no sector do retalho de Macau, especialmente perante a concorrência em termos de preços e dimensão de negócio.

A Associação Industrial e Comercial da Zona Norte de Macau admitiu que o novo centro comercial poderá prejudicar ainda mais o negócio das tradicionais zonas comerciais de Macau e as pequenas e médias empresas locais, uma vez que há cada vez mais residentes que optam por consumir no interior da China.

A associação prevê que os sectores da restauração e do retalho da Zona Norte, que já se encontravam em baixa, venham a sofrer ainda mais pressão nas suas operações. “Estamos muito preocupados. Este novo centro comercial é suficientemente grande e os preços são baixos, como na China continental a mão-de-obra é barata, as rendas são baixas e a oferta de produtos é grande”, frisou Wong Kin Chong, presidente da Associação Industrial e Comercial da Zona Norte de Macau, em declarações ao Canal Macau em língua chinesa.

Wong Kin Chong apontou que os moradores de Macau, particularmente os da Zona Norte, começaram a habituar-se a ir ao interior da China para fazer compras. “Gostam de conduzir até ao Continente e trazer de volta produtos de consumo diário, como arroz, óleo, sal e detergente para a roupa. Portanto, isso tem grande impacto no mercado de Macau”, salientou.

 

CEM MIL VISITANTES EM SEIS HORAS

 

O Parkside Mall, o novo complexo comercial em Zhuhai com seis pisos, fica a menos de 300 metros do posto fronteiriço de Gongbei. De acordo com o jornal Nanfang Daily, o espaço atraiu mais de 100.000 visitantes nas primeiras seis horas de funcionamento experimental no domingo, enquanto os clientes de Hong Kong e Macau representaram um terço do fluxo.

Segundo noticiou o jornal, o centro comercial abriu às 10h de domingo, mas já se encontrava uma grande multidão de residentes de Zhuhai e Macau reunida à porta à espera, o que obrigou o centro comercial a tomar medidas de controlo de fluxo de pessoas.

Entre as lojas instaladas neste centro comercial, o supermercado da marca chinesa Freshippo inaugurou a sua maior loja de Zhuhai. À imprensa, o representante da região do Sul da China da Freshippo afirmou que a loja foi concebida especificamente para consumidores transfronteiriços, oferecendo serviços de processamento de produtos frescos no local, resolvendo assim o problema do transporte deste tipo de mercadorias entre fronteiras. Além disso, a loja aceita todos os principais canais de pagamento de Macau. Segundo o representante, em apenas cinco horas de funcionamento, o supermercado atingiu um volume de negócios de 400 mil renminbis.

Já a empresa gestora do Parkside Mall, Zhuhai Zhuguang Group Holdings, garantiu que vai aproveitar o projecto para aprofundar os seus serviços transfronteiriços e fortalecer a economia na fronteira”, tendo reservado espaços para marcas de Hong Kong e Macau, e planeia acrescentar mais lojas, restaurantes e estabelecimentos culturais de Macau.

 

PRODUTOS IMPORTADOS COMO RESPOSTA

 

Em resposta aos desafios de negócios colocados pela abertura do centro comercial em Zhuhai, o sector de Macau defende que é necessário seguir a estratégia de “diferenciação de produtos” e melhorar a qualidade do serviço para atrair clientes, em vez de entrar numa “guerra de preços” com as lojas do Continente.

Wong Kin Chong considera que a indústria local deve aproveitar a vantagem de Macau em termos de controlo de qualidade dos produtos importados e dos alimentos, procurando introduzir e vender produtos do Sudeste Asiático ou dos países de língua portuguesa, atraindo assim os consumidores com fontes de abastecimento únicas. “Os residentes de Macau podem ter mais confiança na qualidade dos produtos importados, o que cria uma diferenciação do mercado do interior da China. Ao mesmo tempo, os supermercados em Macau precisam também de expandir o serviço online e até o serviço de entrega, para facilitar ainda mais a vida aos consumidores”, observou.

Ao Jornal Ou Mun, um porta-voz do sector de supermercados, que não revelou a sua identidade, além de concordar com a importação de produtos de qualidade do exterior, disse esperar que o Governo reforce a fiscalização da entrada de produtos frescos em Macau. “Alguns produtos frescos que não foram submetidos a uma inspecção rigorosa estão a entrar em Macau através de diversos canais, alguns supermercados do Continente utilizam a entrega ao domicílio como estratégia de promoção, oferecendo serviços de entrega directa de produtos frescos em Macau, o que representa um grande impacto negativo para os negócios dos supermercados locais”, indicou.

https://pontofinal-macau.com/2026/06/01/abertura-de-novo-centro-comercial-em-zhuhai-deixa-sector-comercial-de-macau-preocupado/

may26

Alibaba’s new Gongbei outlet ramps up pressure on Macau supermarkets, differentiation is a must

By Newsdesk

Opening just 300 metres from the Gongbei checkpoint, a new Freshippo outlet is actively targeting Macau shoppers, intensifying pressure on already struggling local supermarkets 

A local business scholar stresses that the sector’s lifeline hinges on embracing differentiation and digital transformation to avoid being squeezed out 

Macau’s supermarkets — the only retail segment to contract in the first quarter — risk being squeezed out unless they embrace differentiation and digital transformation, a business scholar warns, with cross-border shopping and a soon-to-open Freshippo outlet at Gongbei tightening the pressure.

Freshippo, a supermarket brand under China’s retail giant Alibaba, will open its second Zhuhai outlet on 31 May inside Parkside Mall, about 300 metres from the Gongbei checkpoint. The outlet is openly positioned to draw Macau shoppers across the border, with promotional material for the project featuring a Macau resident pitching the mall to local consumers.

The opening lands at a moment when Macau supermarkets are already losing ground. Local operators — ranging from small neighbourhood stores to larger chains — face a shrinking competitive space as residents head north for daily goods and turn to mainland e-commerce platforms that now ship directly to Macau homes.

Supermarkets the lone losers in Q1

Data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) showed retail sales reached MOP21.64 billion (US$2.68 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, up 23.0 per cent year-on-year and 11.9 per cent quarter-on-quarter.

Read also: New Gongbei mall seeks to win Macau hearts

Communication equipment sales jumped 91.5 per cent year-on-year, while watches, clocks and jewellery climbed 52.1 per cent. Cosmetics and sanitary articles rose 27.9 per cent, adults’ clothing 25.7 per cent and leather goods 20.1 per cent. Supermarket sales, however, fell 5.2 per cent — the only category to decline. Adjusted for prices, the supermarket sales volume index also dropped 5.4 per cent, against an overall volume gain of 16.5 per cent.

Matthew Liu, professor at the University of Macau’s Faculty of Business Administration, said the supermarket sector’s divergence from broader retail is structural, as quoted by Macao Daily News. Tourism recovery and luxury demand lifted most categories, but supermarkets serve daily necessities and draw little benefit from visitor spending. Local shoppers are price-sensitive, he added, and increasingly turn to alternatives across the border, where mainland e-commerce platforms offer a wider variety at competitive prices.

Weekend trips to Zhuhai and Zhongshan for groceries have become routine, Liu said, and a government consumption rewards scheme in the second quarter may offer only temporary relief if traditional operators stand still.

Differentiation as the way out

Mainland supermarkets routinely offer tasting counters, hot food sections, in-store dining and self-checkout. Liu said Macau operators cannot fully replicate the model because of local constraints, making differentiation a more realistic path.

‘Traditional retail, especially supermarkets, must accelerate digital transformation, strengthen community positioning, and offer specialty or healthy products,’ he said.

He recommended four steps: identify clear strengths, build consumer confidence through transparent pricing, optimise supply chains to source quality goods at a reasonable cost, and digitise services to improve the shopping experience.

DSEC’s own survey of retailers points to a cautious outlook. Compared with the first quarter, 45.2 per cent of retailers expected business to slow in the second quarter, 37.1 per cent anticipated stable performance and 17.7 per cent forecast improvement. Year-on-year, 40.3 per cent expected sales volume to decline in the second quarter, while 47.2 per cent saw it remaining stable.

https://macaubusiness.com/alibabas-new-gongbei-outlet-ramps-up-pressure-on-macau-supermarkets-differentiation-is-a-must/

 may26

Macau’s retail sector is facing a new challenge as Zhuhai’s second Freshippo is set to open for business at the end of this month – inside Parkside Mall, a forthcoming shopping centre offering highly family-friendly products.

Both Alibaba Group’s flagship grocery chain and Zhukuan Group’s shopping centre are scheduled to open on 31 May, according to promotional content.

Alibaba is one of the country’s e-commerce giants best known for its Taobao and Tmall marketplaces. Its sprawling business empire also covers dominant cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Mobile payment platform Alipay is also part of Alibaba, evolving into a financial giant called Ant Group.

Ant Group launched Ant Bank (Macau) in 2019 — a digital first commercial bank whose core banking system is built on the cloud.

Zhukuan Group is a state-owned enterprise founded in Macau in 1980 to attract foreign investment during the country’s early reform era.

It prides itself on a dual-headquarters structure involving both Zhuhai and Macau, with its early businesses tied to land reclamation endeavours in Macau.

It is understood that this mall underwent about six years of renovation that began in 2020, to evolve into its current state – a multi-purpose block that houses not only offices but also a hotel.

According to mainland media, construction of its predecessor started in 1993 but was forced to halt in 1997 for financial reasons, with only six floors completed at that time.

It was later considered to be a failed project before being redeveloped into a department store and acquired by China Resources Vanguard.

In 2026, this 135-metre building boasts close proximity to the Gongbei border – about 300 metres from the immigration checkpoint.

An interview posted to a social media account for the commercial project shows that Hyatt Regency will provide accommodation in this block.

Moreover, the promotional video also features a Cantonese-speaking businessperson from Macau speaking highly of the project in an apparent bid to win support from local consumers.

Jason told the camera, ‘I am a Macau resident myself and relatively understand the culinary culture there and the tastes of Macau people.’

‘We are looking to introduce this culture to mainland China so that people on both sides can gain a deeper understanding of Macau’s food traditions. For the people of Macau, we want to ensure they feel as though they are still in Macau, even after crossing the border,’ he added.

https://macaubusiness.com/new-gongbei-mall-seeks-to-win-macau-hearts/