CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY IN CHINA'S RETAIL INDUSTRY POST-ZERO COVID RESTRICTION

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly reshaped the global business landscape, with China's retail industry facing both unprecedented challenges and unique opportunities. As China transitions into the post-zero COVID restriction era, understanding the critical success factors (CSFs) that drive corporate sustainability in this sector has become imperative. This article assesses the dynamic interactions among key elements such as supply chain resilience, leadership approaches, digital transformation, shifts in consumer behavior, and regulatory frameworks. Through in-depth literature review and empirical analysis, it identifies stakeholder engagement, innovation capability, and environmental impact management strategies as core determinants of business sustainability. The key finding reveals that embedding sustainability strategies into a firm's daily business operations is essential for gaining competitive advantage, enhancing brand perception among customers, and meeting the evolving demands of consumers and regulators. This exploration contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering practical perspectives and actionable strategies for retail managers, policymakers, and stakeholders to steer China's retail sector toward sustainability. Beyond short-term recovery, this research also serves as a foundation for building future resilience and sustainability to withstand global disruptions.