Homeplus Express, Immediate Delivery Sales Increase 59% After Social Distancing Level 4

A model is purchasing fresh food and convenience meals at Homeplus Express Namseong branch in Dongjak-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Homeplus announced on the 3rd that since the implementation of social distancing level 4 in the metropolitan area, the online 1-hour immediate delivery sales of its corporate supermarket Homeplus Express increased by 59% compared to the previous three weeks. Last month's immediate delivery sales increased by 275% compared to March when the service started, and by 53% compared to the previous month.

The immediate delivery service allows customers living within a 2 to 2.5 km radius of the store to order products through the Homeplus Express immediate delivery section on the mobile application (app) or online site. After picking, a rider picks up and delivers the order. Since the products displayed in the store are delivered as they are, the biggest advantage is that customers can trust and purchase fresh foods or ready meals that require refrigeration or freezing.

Last month, the total sales of Homeplus Express increased by 6% compared to the previous month and by 4% compared to the same period last year. Sales of fresh foods and ready meals increased by 4% and 10%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

Homeplus Express is expanding fresh and ready meal specialty stores by reducing the number of non-food products in stores and increasing the food assortment to up to 90% of that of large marts. Currently, 135 stores nationwide have been remodeled and operated as fresh and ready meal specialty stores, and the number is planned to sequentially increase to 159 within this year.

A Homeplus Express official said, “The great competitiveness of Homeplus Express lies in the ability to quickly deliver fresh products to online order customers based on offline stores,” adding, “We will continue to lead the improvement of customer shopping experiences as an all-line distribution company that crosses online and offline through customer-centered innovation strategies.”