Retail in Asia

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Hyundai Department Store Group to take over Doota Duty Free

Hyundai Department Store Group

South Korea’s retail conglomerate Hyundai Department Store Group is seeking to add another duty-free outlet in Seoul by taking over Doota Duty Free from Doosan Group, which announced an exit from the market amid mounting losses.

SEE ALSO : Doota Duty Free exits Korean duty free market

Officials from Hyundai Department Store Duty Free Co. and Doosan met together to discuss ways for Hyundai to assume operation of Doota Duty Free outlet in eastern Seoul, according to industry sources. Doosan Group earlier on the same day announced the shuttering of its downtown outlet in April 2020.

It is reported Hyundai Department Store Duty Free targets to open its second duty-free outlet March next year at where Doota Duty Free has been operating. Industry watchers anticipated the two companies would sign a lease contract as early as next week as Hyundai needs to submit a bid for auction on new downtown duty-free business license by 14 Nov., 2019.

Hyundai Department Store Duty Free entered local travel retail market by opening its first tax-free outlet at Hyundai Department Store’s Trade Center branch in southern Seoul in November last year.

The duty-free business has earned 421.0 billion won (US$362.1 million) in sales by the end of June. Market experts estimate the company has recorded over 200 billion won in sales for the third quarter ended September with its fiscal 2019 figure to top 550 billion won.

Currently, there are 12 duty-free outlets in Seoul. Retail giant Lotte has three duty-free outlets in Seoul, and Shinsegae two in the city. Hotel Shilla runs two outlets including a jointly-run outlet. Doosan, Dongwha, SM, Hyundai Department Store, and Top City each have one duty-free store in Seoul.

SEE ALSO: Hotel Shilla partners with 3Sixty Duty Free

The customs office plans to receive bids for new licenses for duty-free shops next month – three in Seoul, one in Gwangju and one in Incheon, but apart from Hyundai, the response to new openings is lukewarm.

(Source: Pulse News)