Cotti Coffee Enters the Convenience Store Sector

Cotti Coffee recently announced the upgrade of its "Within Reach" plan, officially stepping into the convenience store industry and launching three business formats: coffee shops, convenience stores, and in - store shops. The goal is to open 50,000 stores by the end of 2025. As of February 2024, the number of Cotti stores had reached 10,045, and it is expected to add 40,000 new stores this year.

Cotti has certain advantages in entering the convenience store sector. Firstly, Cotti has some retail experience, having previously tried to sell stationery and office supplies through its coffee shops. Secondly, Cotti has strong digital management capabilities, which can help optimize its retail business. Facing the highly competitive coffee market, Cotti is seeking new growth points by expanding product categories and increasing SKU layout. Especially in third - tier cities and below, the convenience store business can effectively meet market demand.

This strategy of Cotti will help reduce store rental costs and improve profitability. However, whether it can successfully balance the catering and retail businesses still needs further verification.

(Source: Waitusi)

Sales of Key Retail and Catering Enterprises Increased by 4.1% Year - on - Year

It is reported that during the Spring Festival in 2025, the sales of key retail and catering enterprises increased year - on - year, indicating a recovery in the consumer market.

(Source: Foodaily)

Saudi Arabia Announces: Postponement of Compliance Requirements for Type - C Charging Port Testing

The Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) has postponed the compliance of test reports for Type - C charging port/power transmission requirements of products in the first phase in the following standards until January 1st, 2026.

- SASO IEC 62680 - 1 - 2:2023

- SASO IEC 62680 - 1 - 3:2023

The first phase covers the following products: mobile phones, digital cameras, earbuds, e - readers, portable game consoles, headphones, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, tablets, and routers.

(Source: Logistics Baba)

Indian Government: Considering Imposing a So - called "Safeguard Duty" of 15% to 25% on China!

According to a Reuters report on February 12th, Indian Minister of Steel, Kumaraswamy, said that India plans to impose a temporary tax on steel imports from China within the next six months. The tax rate is likely to be between 15% and 25%. This move aims to address what it calls a "significant threat" posed to domestic Indian producers by the surge in Chinese steel exports. Kumaraswamy emphasized that the growth in China's steel exports is often accompanied by unfair trade practices, which create unfair competition in the Indian market. In order to create a more level playing field, the Indian government is considering imposing a so - called "safeguard duty".

(Source: Waitusi)