The Vitamin Shoppe expands e-commerce reach to South Korea

03 Aug 2021 --- US-based The Vitamin Shoppe, an omnichannel specialty retailer of nutritional items, has revealed its latest strategic move to e-commerce in South Korea.

This global expansion will mean that hundreds of health and wellness solutions will be available to Korean consumers through its brands, which are shipped directly from the US to South Korea within three days.

“South Korea is one of the largest e-commerce markets in the world serving a digitally-savvy population, which aligns perfectly with our online launch strategy. Korean consumers are highly health-conscious, and many customers have first discovered The Vitamin Shoppe while visiting the US,” says Sharon Leite, CEO of the company.

“They now have the ease and convenience of ordering directly from our South Korea website, as well as via our online marketplace partners. We look forward to adding brands, products, and services in South Korea as The Vitamin Shoppe continues to grow its international footprint in new growth markets.”

The Vitamin Shoppe has also opened branded digital storefronts on 20 of South Korea’s most popular online marketplaces, including Auction, Coupang, Domeggook, G9 and Gmarket. These websites give South Korean customers access to The Vitamin Shoppe’s selection of wellness products.

Expansion in focus
The Vitamin Shoppe’s entry into the South Korean market marks its second within Asia. The first store was opened in Vietnam under a country license deal in January 2021.

Country license agreements are also in place in Panama, Guatemala and Paraguay.The Vitamin Shoppe continues to grow its international footprint with its brand launches in South Korea.

Additionally, it has formed expansion collaborations with health and wellness companies like WW International and The Ironman Group.

Vitamins, minerals, specialist supplements, proteins and sports nutrition, herbs and natural treatments, probiotics and healthy weight control solutions are among the products available in South Korea.

Exclusive brands include BodyTech, BodyTech Elite, fitfactor Weight Management System, fitfactor KETO, ProBioCare and True Athlete. These undergo a series of stringent quality control checks, and third-party labs independently validate ingredient purity and potency.

In a subsequent phase of the South Korea development, third-party brands from The Vitamin Shoppe’s extensive vendor network will be included in the online assortments.

By Nicole Kerr