Tesco Homeplus expands trial of virtual stores in South Korea
Tesco is expanding the trial of its virtual stores in South Korea by installing them at a further 20 bus stops in the country.
Using virtual displays, the stores enable shoppers to scan the relevant barcode or QR code with an App to order products and arrange a time for same-day home delivery.
The supermarket giant which trades as Tesco Homeplus in Korea said the smartphone App used to shop at the virtual stores is now the number one shopping App in Korea, with over 900,000 downloads since it launched in April last year.
Homeplus said that the majority of orders on the App are placed at 10am and 4pm, while people are on their way to and from work.
SH Lee, CEO at Tesco Homeplus commented: “The growing trend in smartphones in South Korea means that virtual grocery shopping is even more accessible and convenient than ever before. The first virtual store in the Seoul Subway was a great success with customers and has paved the way for the opening of these new stores at bus stops. We’ve found it most popular amongst 20 to 30 year olds, so the new stores will be opening close to a local university and other pedestrian areas.”
Tesco Homeplus’ Virtual Store has been nominated by London’s Design Museum for ‘Design of the Year’. A mock up of the virtual store will be on display at the Design Museum from 8 Feb to 15 July
