Suning plans to expand retail footprint

Suning Appliance, a major Chinese white goods and appliance retailer, announced plans yesterday that it will open 200 new stores and five new logistics centers in China next year, state media reported. The aggressive move in the current economic climate is perceived as an effort to attack Suning rival Gome, whose founder Huang Guangyu is now under investigation by China’s securities regulator for share manipulation. Suning says it plans to expand into 70 new cities and employ 36,000 next year. Suning currently has 784 retail outlets nationwide. Gome has 1,300 outlets, thanks in part to its successful bid for Dazhong Electrical Appliances last December.