China: Beijing City Tobacco Company Meets on Marketing Network Development

Beijing City Tobacco Company, which doubles as Beijing City Tobacco Monopoly Administration, held an exclusive report-back meeting on the development of marketing networks on May 7, in efforts to practically promote the development of its cigarette marketing networks across China in 2012. Attending the meeting were top leaders and departmental chiefs of Beijing City Tobacco Company. Speaking at the meeting, the chief of the marketing center of the tobacco company delivered reports on the development of cigarette marketing networks, including the Measures for Construction of Modern Cigarette Retail Functional Terminals of the Tobacco Industry of Beijing. After hearing the reports, leaders of the tobacco company, in light of the contents of the relevant documentation submitted to them, put forward many specific opinions on the development of functional stores, management of big retailers, supplies, etc. Meanwhile, the various sections and offices including the logistics center put forward specific suggestions in light of the realities of their work. In an address delivered at the meeting, General Manager Zhou Zuizeng put forward a package of four specific requirements for the work of developing cigarette marketing networks across China in 2012: Firstly, efforts should be made to solicit opinions from all the parties concerned, and revise and improve documentation on the establishment of marketing networks. In making reports at meetings on the development of marketing networks, all units need to formulate specific rules for implementation, specify the timing requirement, and make appropriate changes and revisions to the documentation. Secondly, priority should be given to fulfilling the most essential task of research for serving retail terminals and managing the development of retail terminals. The relevant departments of the tobacco company should conduct research on how to integrate legislation, regulation, accounting, cultural development, etc into the work of developing retail terminals, in order to provide retailers with high-quality and convenient services. Thirdly, efforts should be made to conduct research on the development of retail terminals, set standards for the establishment of credible shops, make incentive and promotional policies on the basis of research, promote the activism and enthusiasm of retailers, and increase the dependence, faithfulness and unity of retailers, in order that they will become the most closest strategic partners to the tobacco company. And fourthly, efforts should be made to do a good job of managing big retailers. In particular, on the basis of the principle of seeking truth from reality, the tobacco company needs to exercise unified guidance over all retailers across the city, regulate their business operation, and strengthen management of key tobacco and liquor stores, in order to ensure their compliance with law in business operation, create a favorable marketing environment and promote the development of marketing networks to higher levels. Enditem