During the five-day May Day holiday, food and daily necessities were in sufficient supply across Beijing as the capital city raced to control the latest resurgence of COVID-19.
According to data from the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, during the holiday, the total revenue of major department stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and e-commerce businesses in Beijing reached 4 billion yuan. A total of 52 major shopping districts across the city received 15.52 million visits during the period.
Major wholesale markets such as Xinfadi worked to ensure that purchases remained smooth, with the daily supply of vegetables kept above 22,000 metric tons. To meet surging public demand, supermarkets and e-commerce platforms were also asked to enhance their capacities to deliver vegetables directly to residents in certain areas that were put under lockdown. In addition, the government made sure that the transportation of goods were in normal operations.
The consumption season launched by the city also promoted online consumer spending. From May 1 to 3, a total of 10 companies sold nearly 50 million yuan worth of green and energy-saving products. The sales of VR glasses, e-book readers, tablets, smart watches, and smart phones on major e-commerce platforms all saw significant increases.
Also, online food delivery platforms in Beijing added delivery staff to provide food for the residents, as the city has banned dining-in at restaurants. Residents were encouraged to order take-outs from restaurants or cook at home. Data shows that on May 1, the sales of pre-cooked dishes on e-commerce platform Hema Fresh rose by five times compared to last month.