CR Vanguard, a flagship business operating a supermarket network under CR Enterprise, is one of the largest supermarket chains in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, managing approximately 476 stores in Hong Kong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Tianjin and Beijing. By the end of 2004, CR Enterprise expanded its retail business by acquiring an 85% stake in Suguo Supermarket Co., Ltd, the largest chain supermarket retailer in Jiangsu. Moreover, in order to enhance its supply chain supermarket network efficiency, CR Vanguard built and put in operation two logistics centers in Shenzhen and Suzhou, which will support the further development of its retail business.

China Resources entered the retail industry in 1958 by investing in China Products Company (Hong Kong) Limited (“China Products”), which was established in 1939 to preserve ethnic Chinese industries. In 1964, through China Products, the company joined force with other local companies to raise HK$5 million and set up The Chinese Merchandise Emporium Limited in Hong Kong.

In 1966, China Resources began involved in the management of Chinese Arts & Crafts (H.K.) Limited (“Chinese Arts & Crafts”), a retail chain specialising in Chinese objet d’art and fully acquired it in 1984, adding to the company’s rapidly expanding three-chain retail business.
In 1993, China Resources integrated China Products and The Chinese Merchandise Emporium Limited to form CRC Department Store Limited (“CRC Department Store”). China Resources Retail (Group) Company Limited. (“CR Retail”) was also established in the same year.

In 1997, China Resources’ retail business was restructured. Both CRC Department Store and Chinese Arts & Crafts were placed under CR Retail. In 1999, CR Retail formed CRC Medichall Limited (now known as CR Care Company Limited), a chain of Chinese and Western medicine stores, out of the Chinese medicine department in its retail outlets. Through rebranding and instituting a new business model, CR Care opened its first new modular health superstore in January 2003, initiating a new stage of development for the company.

In 1984, China Resources Supermarket (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. (CR Supermarket) was found. Today, CR Supermarket is the third largest supermarket chain in Hong Kong with 80 stores throughout the territory.

CR Supermarket opened its first Mainland store in 1991, marking China Resources’ entry in Mainland China’ s retail sector. In 2001, China Resources National Corporation acquired a 72% stake in Shenzhen Vanguard Super Department Store and subsequently fully acquired it in 2002. This acquisition provides a broader platform for China Resources to develop its business in the Mainland.