Gwangyang City Selects Gangdong Distribution Co., Ltd. as Operator of Seafood Distribution Center

Direct Purchase from Production Sites to Reduce Distribution Costs

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] On the 9th, Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do announced that through the evaluation committee held on the 6th, Gangdong Distribution Co., Ltd. was selected as the operating corporation for the seafood wholesale market within the Gwangyang Seafood Distribution Center.

The Seafood Distribution Center, established to supply affordable and fresh seafood to Gwangyang and the inland areas of eastern Jeollanam-do, is built on a site of 6,303.5㎡ with a total floor area of 6,951.52㎡ (1 basement floor, 4 above-ground floors). It is equipped with various seafood distribution facilities and convenience facilities for citizens and visitors, including a seafood wholesale market, seafood specialty restaurants, cafes, and a rooftop lounge.

Among these, the ‘Seafood Wholesale Market’ consists of a frozen storage facility on the basement floor and live fish, fresh fish, and frozen fish sales areas on the first floor, and is operated by a seafood distribution specialized corporation selected through the evaluation committee.

The city recruited an operating corporation for the ‘Gwangyang Seafood Wholesale Market’ through the fifth public recruitment announcement, and two capable companies nationwide applied.

Although many companies showed interest in operating the Gwangyang Seafood Wholesale Market during the four previous public recruitments and continuous consultations with 14 companies nationwide, since the ‘Market Wholesaler System’ requires the operator’s capability above all, a qualified candidate was carefully sought, and Gangdong Distribution Co., Ltd. was selected through the evaluation committee.

The Market Wholesaler System operates by purchasing directly from production sites without conducting auctions, reducing distribution stages until reaching the consumer, thereby lowering distribution costs.

Once the designation of the wholesale market operating corporation is completed, after a preparation period for sales facility equipment and other business preparations, the market is scheduled to officially open in April. Convenience facilities (restaurants, cafes) on floors 2 to 4 are expected to begin full operation after users are recruited through a public competitive bidding process in January.

To this end, foundational construction such as floor work and electrical work for the wholesale market sales area and convenience facilities, as well as frozen storage installation, is currently underway.

Lee Hyun-sung, Director of the Steel and Port Division, said, “The selected Gangdong Distribution Co., Ltd. will be entrusted with the important task of managing the Gwangyang Seafood Wholesale Market for the next five years.”

He added, “We believe that Gangdong Distribution Co., Ltd. will well perform the public functions of the public wholesale market, such as improving the distribution structure and maintaining appropriate prices, and supply citizens with high-quality seafood at affordable prices.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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