Alibaba's Supermarkets Apologize for Unfair Hiring Practices
In the midst of an aggressive attempt to conquer the Beijing market, Hema Fresh Supermarkets, which is owned by Alibaba, has issued an apology after it was accused of discriminatory hiring practices against Beijing residents.
On its official Weibo micro-blog account last Friday, Hema said it was sorry for its "contemptible" and "stupid behavior," pleading for a second chance from Beijing customers that comprise the bulk of the rapidly-expanding retail supermarket chain.
Hema said that its company did not engage in discriminatory hiring practices, instead of putting the blame on third-party job recruiter called Liwei, with which Hema said it had immediately ended all business dealings.
READ: A Comprehensive List of Beijing Supermarkets and Food Markets
The scandal erupted last Thursday when a text message conversation posted online showed a job recruiter denying an applicant for a cashier job when she said she was a Beijing resident. When the job applicant took offense at the explanation, the job recruiter simply said he was following the orders of his superior. Beijing residents, said to be "too rich" by the recruiter, aren't hired by Hema because it is a "company policy."
Friday's humbling comes after an earlier attempt by Hema to smooth over the scandal. A day prior, Hema made a Weibo post that refuted accusations of discrimination by claiming 22 percent of Hema employees of Beijing-area stores are native Beijingers.
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Hema is currently undergoing an aggressive expansion in Beijing where at least 10 stores have opened since their early 2018 announcement to open 30 Beijing locations within 12 months.
As part of the new wave of staffless stores, Hema has tried to cater to the lucrative Beijing market with imported seafood at competitive prices and a 30-minute delivery service that will stretch city-wide upon market saturation. Through the use of an app, Hema shoppers can search for information for any store item as well as check-out their own purchases by having their faces scanned.
Beijing shoppers have been known to show anger at supermarket chains that have offended their sensibilities.
Lotte boycotts stemming from last year's THAAD controversy ultimately ended China operations for the South Korean-owned supermarket franchise. Beijing Carrefour stores also faced their own boycott when the Chinese objected to Olympic torch protests back in 2008. Meanwhile, a Beijing Wu-Mart courted controversy this past March after it placed Taiwan-made products into its imported goods aisle.
Already China's biggest online spenders, Beijing customers have made Hema's Shilipu location its busiest in the country.
Images: Sootoo.com
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