Huitongda Network (9878.HK), a Chinese retail technology company focused on lower-tier markets, reported its 2026 interim results on August 28. Revenue reached RMB23.58 billion, with net profit attributable to shareholders up 10.5% year-on-year to RMB153 million. The company said gross profit margin, net profit margin, and attributable net profit margin all hit historical highs, while operating cash flow remained positive for the eighth consecutive year.
The results reflect Huitongda's push into "FMCG retail chains + AI technology," a strategy aimed at capturing growth in county-level and lower-tier markets. In the first half of 2026, retail sales growth in county-level areas ran 1.3 percentage points higher than urban areas, and nationwide convenience store sales exceeded RMB500 billion in 2025, up 8.7% year-on-year.
Retail chain expansion
Huitongda made strategic investments in regional retail brands including Snack Preferred, Orange Blossom, and Kehoo Convenience during the period. The company said it now operates a multi-format retail chain network spanning convenience stores, bulk-sale snack stores, and community hard-discount supermarkets, with nearly 5,000 stores nationwide.
The partnerships have led to new store formats combining snacks, fresh food, and high-frequency daily consumer products. Huitongda also deepened cooperation with brands including Yili, Wahaha, Eastroc, Nestlé, and Nayuki, with the goal of strengthening its centralized supply chain for stores in lower-tier markets.
AI products across the retail value chain
Huitongda's AI revenue reached RMB78.91 million in the first half of 2026, up 32.3% year-on-year. The company has built a portfolio of AI products targeting different customer groups:
- Qiancheng AI Super Store Manager - integrates 24 scenario-based AI Agents, including AI Marketing, AI Product Selection, and AI Sales, for offline retail operations.
- Dabi AI - launched by Boundary Consulting, an e-commerce AI company Huitongda acquired a 57% stake in. It handles product analysis, competitor research, visual content generation, and task automation for online merchants.
- LeapoAI - a platform with over 100 features for supply chain clients, providing one-stop AI services to connect upstream and downstream customers.
Huitongda's self-developed "Qiancheng Cloud AI" large model has been filed with the Cyberspace Administration of China and selected for the 2026 Nanjing "Joint Key Laboratory for Smart Retail Forecast and Decision-Making."
Supply chain and manufacturing moves
Procurement from TOP brands including Apple and Lenovo remained above 50% of total and continued to increase. The company's liquor and beverage segment sales surged 142.7% year-on-year, driven by partnerships with brands such as WALOVI and Taohuatan Liquor.
Huitongda also acquired a 25% equity interest in Jin Tong Ling, an A-share-listed high-end manufacturer, and became its controlling shareholder. The company said the move pairs Jin Tong Ling's manufacturing technology with Huitongda's supply chain and digital management experience.
Service business revenue reached RMB448 million, up 43.8% year-on-year, which the company attributed to growing adoption of its AI applications.
Why this matters for customer support professionals
Huitongda's AI Agents cover the full retail operating chain - from customer acquisition and order follow-up to marketing planning and customer service. For customer support professionals, the company's approach shows how AI Agents are moving beyond simple chatbots into workflow tools that handle multiple stages of the customer journey. The 24 scenario-based agents in the Super Store Manager product demonstrate that support teams are increasingly expected to work alongside AI systems that manage routine interactions, freeing staff for higher-value problem solving.
The company's focus on lower-tier markets also signals growing demand for AI-supported customer service in regions that have traditionally been underserved by retail technology. As AI for Customer Support tools become standard in retail operations, professionals who understand how to manage and supervise these systems will have an advantage. The integration of AI Agents & Automation into daily retail workflows suggests that customer support roles will increasingly involve overseeing AI performance rather than just handling individual inquiries.
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