When Baemin B Mart's Sales Increase Tenfold, Convenience Store Delivery Sales Halve

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Since Baedal Minjok launched its B Mart service, which involves bulk direct purchasing of products and delivering them to consumers, its sales have increased nearly tenfold, while convenience store delivery service sales have halved.

On the 7th, Hong Seong-guk, a member of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, revealed based on data submitted by Woowa Brothers that Baemin B Mart's monthly sales have increased since the official launch of the service in the Seoul area in November last year, with sales in August this year rising 963.3% compared to the launch period.

Hong added that Woowa Brothers did not disclose specific sales figures or transaction counts.

During the period when Baemin B Mart sales increased, delivery sales of convenience store companies in the Seoul area sharply declined.

According to Hong's analysis of data from the Korea Convenience Store Association, convenience store chain A increased the number of stores operating delivery services from 582 in November last year to 942 in August this year, yet the average order amount decreased by 48%.

Following Baemin B Mart's success, Yogiyo also launched a similar service called Y Mart last month.

The convenience store industry claims that Baemin unfairly refuses convenience stores' entry into its delivery app because of B Mart's presence, and that Yogiyo grants preferential treatment by displaying Y Mart at the top of the convenience store category, constituting unfair practices.

Hong stated, "Existing large marts and convenience stores are regulated in terms of product categories, business days, and store locations, but platform companies face no such regulations," and urged, "The Fair Trade Commission should investigate unfair practices arising from delivery platform companies entering the distribution industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.