RedMart, an online grocery platform, was acquired by Lazada in 2016, but kept it as a separate business until now. It will be integrated into Lazada’s platform in March, allowing shoppers to buy both groceries and other products on Lazada in the same location.

Shoppers will need to download Lazada app

RedMart shoppers can continue using the existing app until 11:59pm on 14^th March, before the migration happens. They will then need to have the Lazada app to continue grocery shopping from 15^th March. Orders will be fulfilled by Lazada while orders with other sellers from the marketplace will be fulfilled separately.

Expansion outside Singapore

Lazada’s online supermarket plans will extend beyond Singapore. RedMart’s co-founder Roger Egan will lead Lazada's entry into online grocery shopping and delivery network across the region. The retailer will launch at least one more supermarket online in another city for the second half of this year.

What do we think?

We know that online grocery has huge growth potential in Asia, but the growth will vary in different countries, so retailers need to choose where they invest wisely. The competition is fluid and partnerships often drive growth into new countries. RedMart’s grocery experience in Singapore, coupled with Lazada’s strong network in Southeast Asia, puts the retailer is in a great position to expand into new markets.

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Tesco-Lotus has launched 45 Thai food products under the Tesco brand.

Tesco Authentic Thai range

The food products include both savoury and sweet items with top quality ingredients from Thailand. These include sweet tamarind from Phetchabun, purple sweet potatoes from Ubon Ratchathani, durian from Chanthaburi, mangoes from Prachuap Khiri Khan and coconut sugar from Samut Songkhram. The ingredients are used in traditional recipes to deliver an authentic taste and at affordable prices.

Commitment to support Thai SME

Tesco Group collaborated with the Ministry of Commerce to develop a range of authentic Thai products that is internationally accepted in terms of safety and quality. The initiative will support Thai SME to expand their reach through Tesco’s distribution network both in Thailand and overseas.

Sompong Rungnirattisai, Tesco Lotus CEO, said, “By working closely with Thai operators, we ensure that they achieve internationally accepted safety and quality standards required by the Tesco Group. We also share know-how in terms of packaging design, branding and marketing. Through this, we help to enhance SME capabilities and give them a competitive edge to succeed not only in Thailand but also in international markets, in line with the Ministry of Commerce’s Local to Global initiative."

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Vietnamese merchants to get on board Amazon’s Global Selling network.

Access to ecommerce base

Merchants in Vietnam will be able to sell to wholesale buyers in US, Japan and Europe. This is Amazon’s first ecommerce operation in the country. Amazon has a partnership with VECOM, Vietnam E-commerce Association, which brings together a consortium of local online sellers.

Increasing reach for local sellers

Vietnam is a key manufacturing hub and one of the top exporters in the world. The international market offers opportunities for local manufacturers as the Vietnamese market is still small.

“Vietnam has more than 700,000 businesses, 98 per cent of which are SMEs. Therefore, in addition to traditional trade promotion initiatives, developing e-commerce is critical,” said Vu Ba Phu, head of the ministry’s trade promotion agency.

Grocery ecommerce still in early development in Vietnam

There are many local ecommerce players, but grocery is not a key focus. We believe it is unlikely for Amazon to enter grocery retail in Vietnam in the near future. Local grocery retailers like Saigon Co.op and VinMart have launched their ecommerce site in the last two to three years. Tiki.vn, which started in 2010 as a bookseller, has started selling dry groceries but no firm plans to enter the fresh category yet.

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