In Depth: How Suning Fell Into Crisis as JD.com Surged

Zhang Jindong, founder of the retailer Suning.com Co. Ltd. (002024.SZ), is often compared to his rival Liu Qiangdong, founder of e-commerce giant JD.com Inc.

Both are from eastern coastal Chinese province of Jiangsu. Zhang lost his parents by his early teenage years and was brought up by his elder brother. Liu was born in a poor boatman’s family and raised by his grandparents.