Nongfu Spring founder urges limits on e-commerce platforms – Chinadaily.com.cn
Nongfu Spring founder urges limits on e-commerce platforms
Chinese beverage giant Nongfu Spring founder Zhong Shanshan has criticized the growing influence of e-commerce platforms, arguing that algorithm-driven pricing and traffic allocation are disrupting traditional retail networks and intensifying price competition.
Speaking on CCTV Finance’s interview program Dialogue on Saturday, Aug 8, Zhong said traditional distributors and middlemen operated under more transparent and predictable fee structures, while online platforms use algorithms to adjust commissions on individual transactions and determine merchants’ visibility.
Zhong argued that platform companies have effectively become a new form of intermediary, replacing traditional distributors and reshaping the retail ecosystem. He said the expansion of digital marketplaces has placed significant pressure on offline retailers and contributed to the disappearance of many city-based distributors.
Zhong also criticized the effect of e-commerce on consumer behavior, saying online platforms have reduced the spontaneous, experience-driven purchases once common in physical stores.
“Many stores in cities relied on emotional and impulse-based consumption. People would walk through a shopping area, see something they liked and decide to buy it,” Zhong said. “That kind of emotional and spontaneous consumption has been eliminated.”
He added that excessive reliance on smartphones has reduced people’s engagement with their physical surroundings and could affect creativity among younger generations.
“People spend their days absorbed in phone screens, with their thoughts confined there,” Zhong said. “Where are creativity and emotional experiences? I believe the power of platforms must be limited.”
Shining 3D: Revolutionizing scanning with AI precision
A coffee bean’s journey at the CIIE
In numbers: China’s AI and digital economy achievements
In Photos: 2026 WIC Digital Silk Road Development Forum opens in Xi’an
Wuhan air conditioner shipments to Europe soar 88% in June
Round-up of 2026 China Storyteller Partnerships tour in Henan
Most Viewed in 24 Hours
‘);
/*]]>*/
Policies concerning expats, foreign enterprises in July 2026Top 10
Top 10 countries attracting Chinese tourists
Business focus
Guangdong to scale up future industry drive
Hainan Free Trade Port a global launchpad
China Data
China’s CPI up 0.5% in July
SOEs
SOEs return more profits to State
China’s central SOEs invest 1.1t yuan in Xinjiang during 14th Five-Year Plan period
Special
China International Supply Chain Expo
2026 Summer Davos
BACK TO THE TOP
English
中文
Copyright 1994 – . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
About China Daily
Advertise on Site
Contact Us
Job Offer
Expat Employment
FOLLOW US
