Vietnam most important overseas market for Japanese retail giant Aeon

Vietnam is the most important overseas market in Japanese retail giant Aeon Group's growth strategy, so it will continue to invest in the country, says Furusawa Yasuyuki, general director of Aeon Vietnam.

Yasuyuki was speaking Thursday at the inauguration of a new Aeon supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 8.

Located at the Parc Mall shopping center on Ta Quang Buu street, the 7,000 square meter supermarket is the retail giant’s first supermarket located outside an Aeon shopping center in Vietnam.

The two-story supermarket offers a wide range of products, including food, fashion, household goods, and private brands.

The first floor has fresh food and local specialties, with Aeon Delica offering international cuisine from Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Europe. Aeon Bakery and Barista Beans serves tea and an array of sweet treats, while the Glam Beautique offers a variety of organic beauty products from Japan.

The second floor presents diverse fashion brands and an electronics area displaying smart technology to meet family needs. There’s also a section for mother and baby products.

Aeon Ta Quang Buu delivers “Aeon quality” in its services with private brands like Topvalu, Hóme Cóordy, and My Closet, Yasuyuki said.

With a multi-channel sales strategy, customers can shop in-store, by phone, or online through Aeon Eshop with flexible delivery options.

The supermarket incorporates technology at every step, including cashier counters, self-service kiosks and smart lockers.

Some convenience enhancing special services include free Japanese-style gift wrapping and ice makers for preserving fresh food.

Yasuyuki said that the “new model” at Aeon Ta Quang Buu was part of the group's strategy to expand and diversify its business model to meet evolving needs of Vietnamese consumers.

“We will continue to develop large-scale shopping centers. To address changing shopping preferences post-pandemic, we will offer various retail formats that align with the needs of local communities,” he said.

In the long term, Vietnam was the second key market after Japan for the Aeon Group, which will increase investments in the country to expand its network and enhance customer engagement, he added.