Recently, the 'heat index' of Chengdu's consumer market has risen significantly. Multiple supermarkets and retail chains have intensified efforts to strengthen supply chains and secure fresh products, ranging from the launch of hot pot seasons and direct sourcing of Norwegian salmon to the rapid expansion of affordable community stores. Meanwhile, a Swiss haute horlogerie brand chose Chengdu for the debut of its key annual new release. The resonance between the vibrant 'everyday life' atmosphere of livelihood consumption and the 'international flair' of premium consumption highlights the diverse vitality of Chengdu's consumer market and the strong appeal of its debut economy.

From Hot Pot Ingredients to Norwegian Salmon: Supermarkets Strengthen Supply Chains via Direct Sourcing

As temperatures drop, numerous supermarkets in Chengdu have launched hot pot and nourishment season campaigns to meet residents' one-stop shopping needs for family hot pot dinners and camping excursions.

On Oct. 23, Yonghui Superstores kicked off its 2026 Hot Pot Season at its Wenhua Plaza store in Chengdu. This year, Yonghui is tackling competition during the winter hot pot peak season with 'verifiable freshness', turning 'freshness' into a measurable standard: beef tallow base content must be no less than 60%; Kaili red sour soup must account for at least 80% of the Guizhou red sour soup base; and total tomato content in tomato broth bases must reach at least 75%. Seven major hot pot scenarios are fully stocked for one-stop shopping, with a 'try before you buy' policy lowering the barrier to trying new products.

Chengdu retail industry observers noted that this year, hypermarkets have reorganized scattered hot pot products into comprehensive 'what you need for a hot pot meal' consumption solutions. Competition now hinges not merely on price and specifications, but on supply chain organizational capabilities.

A representative from Yonghui Superstores stated that this year's Hot Pot Season relies on a 'direct-from-source' supply chain network centered on three major production regions: Hunan, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang, covering categories including poultry, mutton, and beef.

On Oct. 23, Chaohe Suan NB opened one new store each in Chenghua District, Wenjiang District, and Pengzhou City. By the end of October, its first store in Jianyang City is set to open, bringing its total store count in Chengdu to 21, covering 13 districts, cities, and counties. A regional executive for Chaohe Suan NB in Sichuan explained, 'We follow Chengdu's weather patterns; as temperatures drop, we launch our nourishment and hot pot seasons ahead of schedule'.

On Oct. 25, at the Ito Yokado Gaoxin store in Chengdu, Ito Yokado signed a tripartite strategic cooperation agreement with Norway's Leroy Group and Chengdu Meiyan Yuanyang, establishing a closed-loop supply chain spanning 'source origin - professional processing - dining table'. An Ito Yokado executive stated this marks a significant milestone in supply chain upgrading: direct sourcing eliminates multiple distribution layers, and the reduced channel costs will deliver tangible benefits to consumers.

China has become the world's second-largest salmon consumption market. Ito Yokado supplies over 28,000 kilograms of salmon to Sichuan annually, with sales of derivative products growing by approximately 15% year-on-year. Under the cooperation arrangement, Leroy Group enforces strict source control, with salmon sourced from deep-sea farms in Norwegian fjords and transported via an unbroken 0-4°C chilled cold chain to ensure consistent temperature control. Meiyan Yuanyang's raw-consumption-grade processing center, which meets national standards, handles mid-stream processing with full traceability, delivering portioned products directly to stores. This represents a precise 'supply chain reinforcement' in Ito Yokado's push for 'high quality plus high cost-performance' supply chain reform, bringing premium Atlantic salmon directly to more Chengdu households.

Frequent 'Chengdu Debuts': International Brands and Chengdu Embrace Each Other

Chengdu's premium consumption sector is equally dynamic. On Oct. 24, following its Beijing stop, Roger Dubuis' Movement of the Sky Haute Horlogerie Tour made its appearance at the brand's boutique in Chengdu IFS. Coinciding with a boutique renovation, the refreshed space features a deep black color scheme integrated with the brand's iconic five-pointed star motif and geometric lines, creating an appreciation atmosphere that blends modern architectural aesthetics with artistic elegance, further elevating the retail consumer experience in Chengdu.

'Movement of the Sky' serves as Roger Dubuis' annual theme for this year. The brand launched its global haute horlogerie tour at the 2026 Watches and Wonders Geneva exhibition under this theme, upholding Geneva's haute horlogerie traditions while channeling boundless curiosity about the cosmos into the mechanical artistry of its latest timepieces. At the Chengdu stop of the tour, multiple watches making their 'Chengdu debut' garnered significant attention from haute horlogerie enthusiasts.

'All the impressive limited-edition new releases are here,' said Mr. Lin, a resident of Chengdu High-tech Zone, who arrived early on the opening day for a first look.

Reporters visiting the exhibition noted the display of the brand-new 13th-generation Excalibur Knights of the Round Table watch, 'Metamorph Merlin'. This piece marks the final chapter of the brand's 'Legend of Merlin' trilogy launched in 2024. Limited to 28 pieces worldwide, it features a three-dimensional dial constructed from 57 pillars, combining four materials: green CVD coating, polished rose gold, transparent glass, and ruthenium crystals to evoke the profound ambiance of an enchanted forest. Twelve rose gold knight micro-sculptures, each just 6 millimeters tall, encircle the dial.

New releases including the Excalibur Biretrograde Perpetual Calendar, limited to 188 pieces globally, were also showcased at the Chengdu exhibition. Roger Dubuis' choice underscores Chengdu's appeal as a premier destination for international brand debuts.

According to Roger Dubuis, Chengdu combines profound cultural heritage with modern vitality. Its open and inclusive urban character and unique lifestyle aesthetics align perfectly with the brand's philosophy of bold creativity and convention-breaking innovation. Bringing this tour to Chengdu not only continues the brand's exploration of temporal mysteries and mechanical artistry but also builds a bridge for communication and resonance with watch collectors.

【本篇文字部分内容由 AI 辅助写作，特此声明。Please note: the text in this article was created with the help of AI.】