Startup 'Beluga' Introduces Drive-Thru Using Online Smart Order
Providing Untact Alcohol Shopping Service Amid Rising Home Drinking Demand
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Since the sale of alcoholic beverages through smart orders such as smartphone apps and online orders has been permitted since April, the country's first offline drive-thru liquor retail store has opened, attracting attention.
According to the industry on the 18th, liquor startup Beluga Brewery opened a retail store called 'Cangoto' that offers pre-ordering of alcoholic beverages via smart order and drive-thru pickup.
Earlier in April, the National Tax Service allowed the sale of alcoholic beverages using smart orders and announced the administrative notice for the revision of the 'Order Delegation Notice on the Telecommunication Sales of Alcoholic Beverages.' The National Tax Service explained that with the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, consumers can now order outside the store, and businesses have improved efficiency through systematic order and sales management.
Cangoto is a liquor specialty retail store utilizing smart orders permitted earlier this year. Through the 'Pickup Order (Smart Order)' service provided by Beluga, consumers can pre-order their desired alcohol. What differentiates it from other services is that the ordered alcohol can be picked up via drive-thru. Beluga added that this was introduced to provide a non-face-to-face liquor purchase service in line with the contactless culture due to COVID-19.
Furthermore, the possibility of minors purchasing alcohol will be strictly managed. Previously, the National Tax Service stated that for liquor smart orders, a first adult verification is required at the time of the initial liquor order and payment, and a second adult verification is conducted by the seller or employee when handing over the liquor in the store to strictly manage this. Cangoto also plans to strictly comply with these regulations.
Starting December this year, Cangoto plans to add premium beer 'Yebisu' and premium wine 'Chateau Mouton Rothschild' to the pickup order lineup and hold various events for visitors, including sales through the drive-thru.
Kim Sangmin, CEO of Beluga, said, "As home drinking demand has increased due to COVID-19, various craft beers and wines are gaining attention rather than easily accessible popular products. This is a challenge to distribute products that were difficult to find due to a lack of purchasing channels and sales resources, and we plan to expand the distribution network by increasing franchises targeting stores struggling due to COVID-19 in the future."
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