25.01.2019 – 12:05

EMD - European Marketing Distribution

South Korea's Homeplus joins EMD

Switzerland (ots)

- Cooperation will start in the private label business 
- Global supply chains offer increased opportunities for growth to 
the distributors and industrial partners involved - retail customers 
benefit from a larger assortment variety 

The European Marketing Distribution AG (EMD) welcomes a new partner: Homeplus Co. Ltd, Korea's second largest retailer, is from now on closely cooperating in the sourcing of private label products with the leading European associated group. The agreement signed on Wednesday 23 January in Zürich by Homeplus' CEO Lim Il-Soon provides also for the option of cooperation in other areas of intercontinental cooperation.

- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

Homeplus, founded in 1997, is the second largest company in the South Korean retailer market with a turnover of 9.7 billion US dollars (2017). The Homeplus Group owned by the Asian private equity firm MBK Partners operates currently 752 retail outlets and eight logistics centres. More specifically, the branch network comprises 351 supermarkets, 140 hypermarkets, 261 convenience shops, various shopping malls and bakeries operated in the checkout areas. The Homeplus Group offers its food and non-food assortments also online and owns a delivery company.

Homeplus CEO Lim Il-Soon about the partnership with EMD: "We cannot imagine a better cooperation partner than the successful and worldwide well-connected EMD. The close cooperation in the private label business opens for us new and interesting purchasing channels in Europe with an immediate benefit for our customers. Additional growth opportunities will also result for our South Korean suppliers, for which new sales channels in the large distribution area of the EMD members will be made available."

EMD managing director Philippe Gruyters also points out the considerable advantages of a transnational trading business: "The integration of procurement volumes in high demand brings to all distributors and industrial partners involved higher marketing dynamics and therefore a more secure turnover. In addition, a better and more competitive assortment offer will be created, a result that is in the interest of our retail customers."

Through this now beginning partnership, EMD deepens its commitment in the Asia-Pacific area, after Woolworths Australia and New Zealand joined in early 2016.

About EMD

European Marketing Distribution AG, with headquarters in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, has been acknowledged since 1989 as an efficient and high-performing partner for Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) by the consumer goods industries. The associated group operates now together with its member companies in 20 countries in the continents of Europe, Oceania and Asia.

These are the member companies of European Marketing Distribution 
(EMD):

Netherlands: Superunie          Sweden: Axfood
Germany: MARKANT AG             Denmark: Dagrofa
Switzerland: MARKANT Syntrade   Czech Republic: MARKANT
Spain: Euromadi Iberica         Slovakia: MARKANT
Portugal: EuromadiPort          Poland: Kaufland
Austria: MARKANT Österreich     Croatia: Kaufland
Italy: ESD Italia               Romania: Kaufland
Norway: Unil/Norges Gruppen     Bulgaria: Kaufland
Australia: Woolworths Ltd       Russia: Lenta
South Korea: Homeplus Co. Ltd   New Zealand: Progressive Enterprises 
                                Ltd

Contact:

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The Art of Communication
Uwe Rosmanith
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Phone: + 49/611/716 547 920
uwe@rosmanith.de