Emart has embarked on an expansion strategy to increase the number of stores for the first time in five years, significantly increasing its investment in facilities. Having opened three new stores in the first half of the year, Emart is also planning to launch new stores, including Trader's, and renew existing locations in the second half.
According to Emart's semiannual report on the 18th, Emart spent 760.8 billion won on new store openings, existing store enhancements, and logistics center investments in the first half of the year. This figure represents an increase of 58.8% compared to the first half of last year (479 billion won). Emart noted, "This year, we plan to continue investments to strengthen business competitiveness through building future infrastructure, developing complex shopping malls, expanding logistics facilities, and improving and constructing systems."
Emart and Trader's opened three stores in the first half of the year, including renovations of existing stores. In February, they opened the warehouse-style discount store "Trader's Wholesale Club Magok" in Gangseo District, Seoul, and in April, they opened "Emart Food Market Goduk" in Gangdong. In June, they renovated the Emart Kintex store in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, into a new type of store called "Starfield Market."
All newly opened stores in the first half aimed to differentiate themselves based on the characteristics of their respective markets. The Trader's Magok store was built as the first warehouse-style discount store in the Gangseo region of Seoul, and considering this, it was established as the largest among domestic Trader's stores at 11,636 square meters.
The Emart Food Market Goduk store allocated 95% of its floor area to groceries, reflecting the characteristics of Goduk as a mixed business district where family residents and young professionals in their 20s and 30s converge. The Starfield Market Kintex store was created as a stay-type store that combines relaxation and culture rather than being a simple mart, reflecting the characteristics of the Ilsan area, where family-oriented customers in their 30s and 40s are the majority.
Thanks to this expansion strategy, Emart recorded a revenue of 4.29 trillion won in the second quarter, an increase of 11.8% compared to the same period last year. Operating profit turned positive at 15.6 billion won.
Emart is continuing its opening strategy in the second half of the year. In July, they showcased the renovated Starfield Market Dongtan store. The existing three floors of Emart were condensed into one floor, while the second and third floors featured 'Book Ground,' Starbucks, and 'Kids Ground.'
In September, the opening of a new Trader's store in Guwol-dong, Incheon, is planned. The Guwol store is being constructed with a total floor area of approximately 50,000 square meters, spanning from one basement level to four above ground levels, making it the largest among Trader's stores nationwide.
In 2020, the number of Emart stores, including Trader's, reached a peak of 160. However, it gradually decreased to 158 in 2021, 157 in 2022, 155 in 2023, and 154 in 2024. During this period, Emart invested a significant amount of expense in acquiring the baseball team SSG Landers, as well as e-commerce platforms W Concept and G Market, while securing funds by selling some stores that had declining profitability.
However, Emart has prioritized "strengthening core business competitiveness" this year and has returned to an expansionary trend. In the first half of the year, the total number of Emart and Trader's stores nationwide was 156, an increase of two compared to last year. Including the new Trader's Guwol store opening planned for the second half, the total is expected to reach 157. This marks the first increase in the number of Emart stores compared to the previous year since 2020.
Emart plans to open two and three new Emart and Trader's stores respectively in 2026 and 2027, while also renewing existing stores. Nam Seong-hyun, a researcher at IBK Securities, stated, "Emart's revenue and profit growth will continue in the second half of the year due to the expansion of value-for-money consumption and the effect of new store openings."