Homeplus Strengthens Freshness Quality... CEO Lee Jae-hoon Leads 'On-site Management'

Strengthening On-site Communication with Partners
Emphasizing Partnership Based on Trust
Site Visits to Eumseong, Chungju, Sangju, and Others

Lee Je-hoon, President of Homeplus (second from the left), is listening to Jo Young-ho, CEO of Saebom Networks (first from the left), explain the tomato harvesting process and the environment control system using information and communication technology (ICT) at Saebom Networks' smart farm greenhouse in Sangju, Gyeongbuk, on the 16th.
[Photo by Homeplus].

Homeplus has put its life on strengthening the quality of fresh food. The strategy is to enhance the competitiveness of fresh food, which large marts can do best, to overcome the crisis in the offline distribution industry and gain an advantage in competition with the e-commerce industry. CEO Lee Je-hoon's on-site management for this purpose has also been strengthened.

Homeplus announced on the 20th that on the 16th, CEO Lee visited production areas and partners in Eumseong-gun and Chungju-si in Chungbuk, and Sangju-si in Gyeongbuk as his first on-site visit of the Year of the Rabbit to check the fresh food supply process and supply status. It was explained that he met with employees and partner representatives on that day to listen to on-site opinions and reaffirm the long-standing partnership.

The smart farm greenhouse of Saebom Networks in Sangju-si, Gyeongbuk, visited by CEO Lee, is equipped with an information and communication technology (ICT)-based environmental control system that remotely and automatically creates the optimal growth environment to produce and supply tomatoes. It is relatively easy to manage against climate and pests, so the supply impact is minimal. Homeplus is promoting collaboration to strengthen fresh food quality by introducing 'urban smart farms' within large marts to cultivate and sell salad vegetables.

At the beginning of this year, Homeplus set the 'Four Major Goals for Strengthening Fresh Quality' as raising internal inspection standards, managing appropriate sales periods, optimizing processes, packaging, and logistics movement, and diversifying production areas. In 2018, the 'Fresh A/S System' was also introduced so that customers who purchase fresh food can be satisfied with quality and service. Since 2021, Homeplus has designated 'Fresh Farms,' a direct management farm certification system, to directly manage from cultivation to harvest. Homeplus Fresh Farms number about 700 based on representative fruit items.

CEO Lee said, "Based on the fresh operation experience accumulated over the past 26 years and an optimized system, Homeplus will secure competitiveness in fresh food and provide products at reasonable prices to solidify its position as a 'mart trusted by customers.'"

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