GS Retail to Withdraw Lalavla Business by End of November... "Focusing on Future Growth"

Temporary Suspension of Online Mall Operations in Early Next Month

Lalavla store exterior.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] GS Retail will completely withdraw from the Health & Beauty (H&B) Lalavla business by the end of November.

According to GS Retail on the 10th, Lalavla plans to cease operating its online shopping mall early next month. This marks 17 years since the launch of Watsons Korea in 2005.

Lalavla expanded to over 200 stores by 2018 and had been operated as GS Retail's independent brand. However, it faced growth limitations due to declining demand caused by the spread of COVID-19 and difficulties in expanding the number of stores.

A GS Retail official explained, "In the rapidly changing consumer distribution business, we decided to discontinue the Lalavla business to focus more on future growth through selection and concentration."