[비즈한국] On the morning of the 23rd, at a Homeplus Express store in Mapo-gu, Seoul. A notice regarding normalization in June was posted at the entrance, stating, 'Products are scheduled to be stocked sequentially. We will continue to strive for better service.' Right next to it, a separate notice was posted informing customers that the use of Homeplus gift certificates would be discontinued.
Inside the store, the fresh food shelves, which had been empty for some time, were once again filled with products. The vegetable section was packed with items like lettuce, perilla leaves, and cucumbers, and Harim's antibiotic-free chicken for spicy stew was placed in the refrigerated meat section. As Harim Group, which has undertaken the acquisition of Homeplus Express, supports the supply of goods, the previously depleted stock appears to be gradually recovering.
NS Home Shopping, an affiliate of Harim Group, fully paid the acquisition price for the Homeplus Express business division on the 22nd, finalizing the business transfer transaction. Having suffered from supply disruptions and customer attrition since Homeplus entered corporate rehabilitation proceedings last year, Homeplus Express is expected to accelerate its operational normalization under its new owner.
At another Homeplus Express store in Mapo-gu, Seoul, visited on this day, eggs, which had recently faced shortages, were available, and the instant food section for items like curry or stew was also filled without empty spaces. The atmosphere felt different from when the supply was unstable, forcing staff to crowd certain items on one side or repeat the same product to cover up empty spaces.
However, some processed food sections, such as snacks and coffee capsules, still had visible gaps. There were shelves that were either empty with only price tags attached or contained only sparse products. While stock levels are recovering quickly, especially for fresh food, there seems to be a variation in the restocking speed across different categories.
A woman in her 50s who was shopping said, "The shelves had been quite empty for a while, but recently I can feel the goods being restocked little by little. Although some items are still missing, it doesn't seem to be a major inconvenience for buying simple necessities."
Since signing the business transfer agreement, NS Home Shopping has made preparations for normalization, including on-site inspections of all stores and payment guarantees to suppliers. The company plans to leverage its product management expertise and partner network, accumulated while operating a food-specialized home shopping service, to strengthen its fresh food competitiveness and upgrade its online ordering and delivery services.
The resumption of supply is actually leading to a recovery in sales. From the 8th to the 17th of this month, Homeplus Express sales increased by 48% compared to the same period last month. This is interpreted as an increase in customer visits and purchases as the previously missing inventory has been replenished.
However, some confusion has occurred during the store operation process. Cigarette sales were halted starting this day at all stores following the completion of the business transfer, and the future supply of 'Simple-us', Homeplus's private brand, had not been clearly communicated.
An employee, B, working there said, "We were selling cigarettes until yesterday, but with the change in company, we can no longer sell them." Another employee, C, also explained, "As the company has separated from Homeplus, I'm not sure if Simple-us products will continue to arrive."
As the product lineup and store management system change due to the separation from the large hypermarket chain Homeplus, the task remains to provide sufficient guidance to customers and employees regarding the relevant policies. In particular, how to replace the vacant spots left by Simple-us products and when to normalize items like cigarettes and liquor that were suspended or delayed will be key factors for future store competitiveness.
In response, NS Home Shopping added, "Although Homeplus Express has been separated from Homeplus, the private brand product Simple-us will continue to be stocked. Liquors, which faced major supply disruptions, are scheduled to be stocked sequentially by branch starting from the 24th (tomorrow), and we plan to fill all empty stock within this week."