Lotte Mart is accelerating its market penetration in Indonesia by restructuring its retail and wholesale stores around 'K-grocery' (food products).
On August 30, Lotte Mart announced the reopening of its Klapa Gading store after a complete renovation, the first in 15 years. This marks the third store renewal in just two months, following updates at the Pramuka and Serang locations in July.
The wholesale section has been transformed into a 'Wholesale Food Market' that combines K-food content, including the ready-to-eat section 'Cooking Kitchen,' while the retail area has been reconfigured as a grocery-focused store.
Of the total 7,600 square meters (2,300 pyeong) of the store, 90% of the retail space is dedicated to fresh food and groceries. A 843-square-meter (255-pyeong) K-food area called 'K-Mil Solution' has been placed at the center, adjacent to the wholesale section.
The Cooking Kitchen features over 100 types of Korean dishes, including gimbap, tteokbokki, and chicken gangjeong. The retail area has expanded its fresh food section by 30% compared to before. The wholesale section has strengthened its 'Horeca Zone' for large-volume food supplies aimed at food service operators.
The effects of the store renovations are already evident. Since January 2024, Lotte Mart has renovated seven retail and wholesale locations in Indonesia, resulting in an 18% increase in overall sales and a 64% rise in customer visits compared to the same period last year. The wholesale store has seen a 23% increase in sales and a threefold increase in visitors since the transition.
Currently, Lotte Mart operates 36 wholesale and 11 retail stores in Indonesia. The company plans to sequentially convert areas with high demand from small business owners into Wholesale Food Markets, while residential areas will be transformed into grocery-focused stores.
Chau Cheol, CEO of Lotte Mart Super, stated, "We will solidify our retail competitiveness in Indonesia by emphasizing differentiated K-food and a customer-oriented shopping environment, accelerating our growth in Southeast Asia."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.