SHANGHAI, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Freshippo, Alibaba Group's grocery arm, on Thursday announced plans to open about 100 new stores in the fiscal year ending March 2026, which would raise its total store count to over 500.

The expansion aims to reach more consumers and provide more convenient services and better shopping experiences through technological innovation, said Freshippo CEO Yan Xiaolei, citing innovation-driven product strength, a solid supply chain foundation and clear core formats as the bases for the company's rapid growth.

Between 2024 and the fiscal year ending March 2025, Freshippo opened nearly 70 new stores and entered 27 new cities. In the first half of this year, it launched in cities such as Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Tangshan and Taizhou. ■