Early on July 24, before 8 a.m., the queue outside the "Wumart+" store in Beijing's Madian area had already snaked around two corners. In the morning light, the red "Wumart+" sign was particularly striking. Several elderly residents returning from their morning walks, carrying empty shopping bags, stood in line, chatting and peering into the store—a place that had been their familiar Wumart supermarket for years. When it closed for renovations in June, many neighbors had fretted, "I hope it's not really gone." Mr. Wang, at the front of the line, looked up at the new sign, his tone carrying the trust of an old acquaintance: "I don't know what it's like inside, but as long as it's still Wumart, I'm not worried. Last month when it was shut, I kept thinking about where I'd buy my eggs and tofu. Now it's all good." As he spoke, a young person behind him laughed and chimed in: "Uncle, I heard they've got more products now, and they're cheaper, plus there's fresh-made hot food!"

According to Xia Baihui, head of the Wumart+ project team, "Wumart+" is a new supermarket format launched by Wumart for the consumer retail market, emphasizing private-label brands and a regular discount model. "The biggest feature of this store is that it offers over 50% of Wumart's own-brand products, while also bringing in popular items from our previous AI-driven new retail stores. It provides customers with high-quality, affordable goods and meets the diverse needs of shoppers of all ages."

For most customers, their first impression of Wumart+ comes from the visual: building on the Wumart logo's colors, large swaths of red and blue blocks give the entire store a fresh feel that sets it apart from other Wumart supermarkets. Many regular customers found it visually striking. "The decoration is completely different, much younger," one frequent shopper remarked. But as you walk further in, a sense of familiarity returns: the best-selling items that were snatched up at Wumart's AI new retail stores and extreme-value discount stores can almost all be found here again. To the left, the bakery section is steaming hot, with freshly made Portuguese egg tarts selling at 5.9 yuan for a pack of four. A few elderly ladies were comparing prices: "A bakery on the street sells one for 5 or 6 yuan, but here, four are less than 6 yuan. What a steal!" Directly opposite is the flower section, where bouquets at 9.9 yuan or 19.9 yuan emit a sweet fragrance, blending with the milky aroma of the baked goods. Many customers grabbed a bunch casually, saying, "Buying groceries and picking up some flowers adds both warmth and fragrance to daily life."

The bustling refrigerated cooked food and pastry section is the highlight of this upgrade. Behind the glass display case, New Orleans-style roast chickens glisten with oil, priced at 9.9 yuan each, drawing a long line that never seems to shorten. To meet the demand, Wumart made ample preparations. Xia Baihui, the project head, explained: "We have two ovens running non-stop, each baking over 30 chickens per batch. We've prepared over a thousand for the entire day, just so our old neighbors don't miss out." Nearby, a tasting station for freshly made soup dumplings was surrounded by a crowd. An elderly man took a bite and gave a thumbs-up: "Thin skin, delicious filling!" A staff member smiled and handed him a takeaway box. All the cooked food and pastries on site are guaranteed to be "sold fresh the same day, never overnight," with a sign clearly posted. Further ahead, the deli section's "internet-famous" braised beef shank, pork head, crawfish, and Korean-style fried chicken were piled high on trays, looking incredibly appetizing. Several customers skillfully picked up samples of small sweet sausages, muttering, "My kid loves these."

Focusing on the packaged food and daily necessities sections, Wumart's private-label brands take center stage—the "Wumart Super Value" and "Wumart Select" series occupy more than half the shelves. A 5 kg bag of Wumart Super Value "Fortified Flour," sourced from the same factory that produces Jinlongyu's flour, costs just 13.99 yuan, offering excellent value. A pack of 30 Wumart Super Value antibiotic-free fresh eggs is 15.98 yuan, 12 bottles of 550 ml Wumart Super Value drinking water is 5.5 yuan, a 950 ml carton of Wumart Super Value fresh milk is 6.5 yuan, and a 12-roll pack of Wumart Youjia coreless toilet paper is 15.99 yuan. Leveraging 32 years of supply chain experience and direct sourcing from major brand factories, Wumart has cut out the middleman to the fullest. By 11 a.m., the 6.5 yuan Wumart Super Value fresh milk had been completely cleared from the shelves, and staff were rushing in with restocking carts. Ms. Wei had just grabbed the last two cartons, her joy evident: "I've bought this milk before—it tastes great. I trust Wumart's products. Last month during the closure, I had to take a detour to buy groceries. Now that Wumart is back with even better quality and cheaper goods, I feel relieved."

From Mr. Wang's "peace of mind" to Ms. Wei's "relief," from the long line for the 9.9 yuan roast chicken to the careful budgeting in front of the private-label shelves, the deep desire for "high-value daily consumption" among local residents is clear. The launch of the first Wumart+ store represents Wumart's attempt to upgrade its format in the affordable community retail sector. By offering a comprehensive range of products, a high proportion of private-label goods, and a regular discount pricing model, the store is precisely focused on meeting the daily needs of nearby residents. It's not just a new sign; it's a response to the public's expectations for "quality and value" in their daily shopping, showing that the "livelihood feel" of community retail isn't just about hot roast chickens and bread, but also about the reassuring sense that "daily essentials are within easy reach."