Kim Sang-hyun, vice chairman of Lotte's distribution division, said, "We are continuing to strengthen global competitiveness under the vision of being 'the first shopping destination for customers' and building a differentiated distribution platform centered on customer experience."
On 3rd, Vice Chairman Kim attended the 'NRF Big Show APAC 2025' held in Singapore, where he spoke with Vipul Chaula, representative of Singapore's largest retail company FairPrice Group. During this event, he shared examples of innovation and global expansion from Lotte's distribution division. In particular, he introduced the growth strategy and innovation achievements in the global market on the international stage, informing overseas investors and top executives in the global retail industry of Lotte's competitive edge.
He mentioned the case of 'Lotte Mall Westlake Hanoi,' emphasizing, "Efforts to continuously enhance customer experience show that the distribution industry is evolving into a platform that connects customers and culture, going beyond simple sales."
Lotte Mall Westlake Hanoi, mentioned by Vice Chairman Kim, has established itself as a representative landmark in Hanoi, achieving accumulated sales of 200 billion won in just 9 months after its opening in 2023 and surpassing 10 million visitors in 354 days. It is evaluated as a successful overseas business model that embodies synergy among Lotte Group affiliates, featuring a complex mall that combines shopping, culture, experience, and premium elements.
Vice Chairman Kim explained that while the Korean retail market faces structural challenges such as economic uncertainty and aging, they are seeking new opportunities in global business expansion and AI-based innovation. He stated, "As Korean content like K-food, K-beauty, and K-fashion gains global attention, we are collaborating with Singapore's largest retailer 'FairPrice' to open 'Lotte Mart Express' and actively introduce private brand products locally."
He also revealed, "We are currently building an AI-based customer fulfillment center (CFC) in Busan in collaboration with Ocado, through which we aim to further enhance our AI-based hyper-personalized recommendations and logistics automation capabilities."
Regarding the most important factors for the retail industry over the next 3 to 5 years, Vice Chairman Kim emphasized, "The retail industry must provide value to customers' time and experiences," adding, "Creating the environment that customers desire and making shopping an enjoyable experience is the most important task."
He concluded the discussion by telling the attendees from the retail industry at the exhibition, "It is important to visit the site to hear directly from employees and customers and to maintain a constant learning attitude," stating, "We will continue to strengthen customer-centric management and ongoing innovation based on technology and data to enhance Lotte's distribution division's competitiveness in the global market."