"It's not just the fresh vegetables. We don't know when other products will arrive either. I'm sorry."
On the morning of the 10th, a deep sense of regret seeped out between bowing employees and customers turning away at the fresh food corner of Homeplus Gangseo branch, the company's flagship store. In the section selling dressings, salads, and convenient fruits, the corresponding products were barely visible. Only canned fruits and boxed fruits were displayed in their place.
The scene was quite different from when the store reopened after receiving an emergency operating fund (DIP) of 200 billion won on August 13. Customer foot traffic had thinned over three months, and empty shelves were noticeable throughout the store. The seafood corner selling sashimi was in a similar situation. The top shelves of the aquariums and frozen showcases, which should have held yellowtail and king crab, were empty. Some shelves were filled with out-of-place dishes and cutting boards.
Customers who came to shop could not hide their disappointment. Two middle-aged women shopping together said, "We come to Homeplus to buy simple items, but we go to other marts for proper grocery shopping," adding, "The meat available in the morning is gone by evening."
The situation at the Homeplus Gangseok branch visited the previous evening was more serious. This store is one of Homeplus's key locations, having recorded top sales when it first opened. However, even during peak evening shopping hours, not a single product remained in the deli corner. The seafood corner was in a similar state. Nuts were displayed where salads should have been. Even a top-tier sales store was unable to meet evening shopping demand due to product shortages. A woman in her 30s who came to buy dinner said, "Can there really be so little stock at this time of day?" and added, "I am trying not to visit anymore."
According to industry sources, Homeplus's sales last week were approximately 18.5 billion won, falling short of an average of 3 billion won per day. Homeplus had originally planned to use funds secured through business activities to normalize its marts and repay debts, but continued sluggish sales have made it difficult to secure products. It is also known that the volume of deliveries has decreased by about 30% compared to normal levels.
Since entering rehabilitation proceedings, Homeplus had been procuring goods through cash payments and prepayments, but disruptions in supply have occurred as cash payments stopped and prepayment funds ran out. Recently, some partners in the livestock products and deli sectors are known to have halted additional supplies for these reasons.
An official from the Homeplus General Labor Union said, "Payments were not processed smoothly on the payment day for fresh food," adding, "Order volumes have decreased compared to usual as sales have declined." A Homeplus official also stated, "Since reopening, partners have been demanding prepayments, so we have not been able to purchase sufficient goods," and acknowledged, "It is true that our financial situation is not good."
in LIVING
