Lotte Mart Simultaneously Renovates Danang and Nha Trang Branches... Enhanced Food Offerings and Experiential Store Transformation

Reflecting the Unique Commercial Districts Where Tourist and Local Demand Coexist

Lotte Mart announced on January 7 that it has simultaneously reopened its Danang and Nha Trang branches in Vietnam’s leading tourist cities after renovations.

This renewal focused on strengthening the grocery (food) section. The Danang branch expanded its food store area by about 30% compared to before, while the Nha Trang branch reorganized its sales floor and shopping flow, and enhanced its product lineup centered on key food items.

Local customers are waiting in line to check out at Lotte Mart Danang. Provided by Lotte Mart

The fresh food section differentiated itself by emphasizing quality and a premium assortment. It also introduced a ‘Global Fresh Zone’ that brings together premium imported fresh foods. This includes more than 10 types of imported fruits such as Korean strawberries and New Zealand cherries, as well as a special salmon zone and dedicated sections for Wagyu and Australian beef. The Nha Trang branch newly established a hydroponic produce zone in partnership with local partners, laying the foundation for mutual growth with regional farmers.

The deli section upgraded its store layout and menu to meet local demand for K-food. The ‘Yorihada Kitchen,’ a store specializing in ready-to-eat meals, offers over 350 deli menu items per branch. The proportion of K-food items such as Gimbap and Tteokbokki was increased to around 20%. The Danang branch introduced new items like sauce mix Gimbap sets, while the Nha Trang branch added local wraps using Nha Trang specialties, further enhancing regionally tailored food options.

The bakery section was converted to Lotte Mart’s private brand ‘Pungmiso.’ Reflecting the influence of French food culture and the daily bread consumption habits of Vietnamese consumers, the product lineup ranges from the popular local Banh Mi to authentic French baguettes and K-bakery desserts. The Danang branch also introduced its own pizza brand ‘Cheese & Dough,’ offering Korean-style pizza and hot dogs. A 43-meter-long multi-food zone called ‘Long Deli Road’ was created, allowing customers to enjoy meals and snacks in one space.

Tourism-specialized zones were also diversified to suit the flagship stores in these tourist cities. Notably, the stores expanded offerings of the Dalat specialty brand ‘L’angfarm’ and the popular local chocolate brand ‘Legendary,’ and strengthened the lineup of Vietnamese processed foods such as coffee, tea, and semi-dried fruits. A ‘Halal Zone’ with over 200 products was also established.

Lotte Mart Danang Branch 'Yorihada Kitchen' Display. Provided by Lotte Mart

The Health & Beauty section was reorganized into a curated store featuring K-beauty alongside Vietnamese local brands. The number of Korean brands was increased, and the cosmetics product lineup was expanded by 30% to a total of about 1,200 items. Reflecting Korea’s low-cost cosmetics trend in the Vietnamese market, a 99,000 VND (about 5,400 KRW) zone was newly established in the store. An additional 170 low-cost cosmetic items are planned to be launched within the year.

The Danang branch replaced half of its leased stores, completely revamping its tenant lineup. New kids’ cafes and VR (virtual reality) game stores were introduced, and the dining options were diversified beyond Korean cuisine to include Japanese ramen and steak, broadening meal choices. The Nha Trang branch streamlined its directly operated space to focus on groceries, while doubling the area dedicated to tenants compared to before.

Starting with the Hanoi Center branch in 2023, Lotte Mart has been remodeling its major stores in Vietnam to focus on groceries, and in Indonesia, it introduced a hybrid store combining wholesale and retail in August last year. In the second half of this year, Lotte Mart plans to open two more new stores in Vietnam and expand the transition to hybrid stores in Indonesia.

Shin Jubaek, Head of Lotte Mart and Super Vietnam, said, "The Danang and Nha Trang branches have been transformed into next-generation stores that combine grocery competitiveness with experiential content, reflecting the unique characteristics of commercial areas where tourism demand and local residents’ daily consumption coexist. Based on operational expertise accumulated in Korea, we will leverage the strengths of K-retail and adapt them to the local consumer environment, establishing ourselves as a leading shopping landmark in the region."