South Korea’s Homeplus joins EMD

Pfäffikon, Switzerland: The European Marketing Distribution AG (EMD) welcomes a new partner: Homeplus Co. Ltd, Korea’s second largest retailer, is from now on closely cooperating in the sourcing of private label products with the leading European associated group. The agreement signed on Wednesday 23 January in Zürich by Homeplus’ CEO Lim Il-Soon provides also for the option of cooperation in other areas of intercontinental cooperation.

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Homeplus, founded in 1997, is the second largest company in the South Korean retailer market with a turnover of 9.7 billion US dollars (2017). The Homeplus Group owned by the Asian private equity firm MBK Partners operates currently 752 retail outlets and eight logistics centres. More specifically, the branch network comprises 351 supermarkets, 140 hypermarkets, 261 convenience shops, various shopping malls and bakeries operated in the checkout areas. The Homeplus Group offers its food and non-food assortments also online and owns a delivery company.

Homeplus CEO Lim Il-Soon about the partnership with EMD: “We cannot imagine a better cooperation partner than the successful and worldwide well-connected EMD. The close cooperation in the private label business opens for us new and interesting purchasing channels in Europe with an immediate benefit for our customers. Additional growth opportunities will also result for our South Korean suppliers, for which new sales channels in the large distribution area of the EMD members will be made available.”

EMD managing director Philippe Gruyters also points out the considerable advantages of a transnational trading business: “The integration of procurement volumes in high demand brings to all distributors and industrial partners involved higher marketing dynamics and therefore a more secure turnover. In addition, a better and more competitive assortment offer will be created, a result that is in the interest of our retail customers.”

Through this now beginning partnership, EMD deepens its commitment in the Asia-Pacific area, after Woolworths Australia and New Zealand joined in early 2016.

About EMD

European Marketing Distribution AG, with headquarters in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, has been acknowledged since 1989 as an efficient and high-performing partner for Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) by the consumer goods industries. The associated group operates now together with its member companies in 20 countries in the continents of Europe, Oceania and Asia.

These are the member companies of European Marketing Distribution (EMD):

Netherlands: Superunie                          Sweden: Axfood

Germany: MARKANT AG                         Denmark: Dagrofa

Switzerland: MARKANT Syntrade             Czech Republic: MARKANT

Spain: Euromadi Iberica                         Slovakia: MARKANT

Portugal: EuromadiPort                           Poland: Kaufland

Austria: MARKANT Österreich                  Croatia: Kaufland

Italy: ESD Italia                                     Romania: Kaufland

Norway: Unil/Norges Gruppen                  Bulgaria: Kaufland

Australia: Woolworths Ltd                        Russia: Lenta

South Korea: Homeplus Co. Ltd               New Zealand: Progressive Enterprises Ltd

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