The concept marries online and offline shopping experiences to create the most improved, efficient service. The idea behind Hema Supermarkets cleverly encourages consumers to join Alibaba’s giant ecosystem, requiring you to have the Hema App and Alipay if you want to shop. Additionally, Hema has introduced facial recognition payment methods, furthering the cashier-less supermarket movement.

Downloading the Hema app is just the start of the Hema experience. Everything in the store has a barcode, which you scan via the app. Not only does the scanning of the barcode add the product to your basket, it also gives information about the products origin, nutritional information, and recommended items. Once you have finished, paying is as easy as a click of a button, through Alipay, which is the only accepted payment method at this cashless supermarket.

Hema stores have a big focus on fresh foods, including meat, seafood, and vegetables. Chinese customers are particularly drawn to the fresh seafood section, where they can pick out their own fresh seafood, and have it cooked by an in-store chef. This is then ready for the customer to eat in the restaurant when they have finished with their shopping. The fresh seafood can also be taken home raw for the customer to prepare as they please.

If customers don’t want to venture into the store, Hema allows people to shop from the comfort of their own homes, by ordering through the app. Seafood is still hand-selected and prepared and cooked in-store and delivered within 30 minutes.

Alibaba’s Hema Supermarkets offer an insight into what the supermarkets of the future will be like, and marries online and offline techniques to create the most convenient, forward-thinking shopping experience. 

Hema Supermarket Locations:

盒马鲜生海鲜吧 Hema Seafood Bar

-1F, Vnake Diamond Square, 10 Jianshe Rd, Chenghua District

成华区建设路10号钻石广场负一楼

盒马鲜生 （西村店）Hema Supermarket (Xicun Courtyard Location)

018-003,-1F, Building 1, 1 Beisen N Rd, Qingyang District

青羊区贝森北路1号1栋负一层018-003号

盒马鲜生 （温江店） Hema Supermarket (Wenjiang Location)

1850, 3rd Section, Guanghua Avenue, Wenjiang District

温江区光华大道三段1850号

盒马鲜生 （莱蒙都会店）Hema Supermarket (Laimengduhui Location)

B1 Laimengduhui, Changcheng Rd, Wuhou District

武侯区长城路莱蒙都会B1层

盒马鲜生 （西村店）Hema Supermarket (Xicun Courtyard Location)

018-003,-1F, Building 1, 1 Beisen N Rd, Qingyang District

盒马鲜生海鲜吧 Hema Seafood Bar

-1F, Vnake Diamond Square, 10 Jianshe Rd, Chenghua District