Yomart offers more than 3,000 products ranging from fresh food and meal kits to household goods. (image: Delivery Hero Stores Korea)
SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — As so-called ‘untact’ or contactless consumption is on the increase amid the coronavirus pandemic, the lines that once stood between the retail and delivery sectors are disappearing as market players are jumping into each other’s territories.
Delivery Hero Stores Korea, a subsidiary of Germany-based online delivery service provider Delivery Hero, recently launched a new delivery service Yomart.
Yomart offers more than 3,000 products ranging from fresh food and meal kits to household goods, with a particular focus on quick delivery service that guarantees delivery to the customer’s doorsteps in 30 minutes.
The nation’s biggest food-delivery app Baedal Minjok launched its B Mart, a similar instant delivery service last year for certain regions in Seoul, and the service continues to expand.
Online shopping malls like Coupang Inc. and Wemakeprice also jumped into the delivery business.
Coupang Eats, operated by Coupang, is continuing to expand across all parts of Seoul.
Wemakeprice’s food delivery service WeMepO introduced a new commission-free, 8,800 won (US$7.56) monthly subscription plan last month.
Some businesses are raising concerns over this new trend, calling on the need to shut down B Mart and Yomart since they may kill off local businesses and traditional markets.
“There is a chance that they could become the next Tada versus the taxi business,” sources said.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
