Lotte Department Store Gwangju 'Jeonnam Local Food Direct Store'... Industry First

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Lotte Department Store Gwangju Branch (Manager Na Yeon) is introducing the ‘Jeonnam Local Food Direct Store’ to customers to expand the sales channels for agricultural products from Jeonnam Province.

According to Lotte Department Store Gwangju Branch on the 28th, after about two months of construction, the food store, which will be renovated and unveiled on the 5th of next month as the first phase, will open the ‘Jeonnam Local Food Direct Store’.

It has been established on the basement first floor of Lotte Department Store Gwangju Branch with an area of about 100㎡ and is operated through Hwasun Dogok Nonghyup, selected through the public offering for the operator of Jeonnam Province’s local food direct store business in July.

The store sells fresh agricultural products such as lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and perilla leaves produced by about 700 farms in Hwasun County, as well as about 800 processed food items from Jeonnam region masters, directly traded as a producer-centered local food direct store. All products are operated under a 100% producer real-name system.

This local food direct store is a project initiated through the ‘Agricultural and Marine Specialty Products Sales Channel Expansion Business Agreement’ signed between Jeonnam Province and Lotte Department Store Honam-Chungcheong Region in August last year and is operated in the form of a specialty store.

As it is the first time introduced in the department store industry, it is attracting attention as a new model of regional coexistence.

Since local food has no intermediate distribution stages, producers can expect stable income generation, and consumers have the advantage of purchasing safe and fresh food more conveniently.

Jung Yoon-sung, Head of Lotte Department Store Honam-Chungcheong Region, said, “We are introducing fresh local food produced on the same day in the form of a specialty store for the first time in the industry,” adding, “We will strive to take the lead in regional coexistence and contribute to revitalizing farmers’ income.”

Meanwhile, starting with the first phase of the food hall renovation opening on the 5th of next month, Lotte Department Store Gwangju Branch plans to grand open the food hall featuring ‘Gwangju Kitchen,’ a specialty store for prepared foods, and excellent local restaurants in January next year.