GS25

{{short description|South Korean convenience store chain}}

{{Infobox company

|name = GS25

|native_name = {{Infobox Korean|child=yes

|hangul = 지에스25

|hanja =

|rr =Jieseu25

|mr =Chiesŭ25

}}

|logo = GS25 bi (2019).svg

|logo_size = 250px

|former_name = LG25 (1990–2005)

|type = Subsidiary

|industry = Convenience stores

|founded = {{Start date and age|1990|p=yes}}

|hq_location = GS Tower, 508 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu

|hq_location_city = Seoul

|hq_location_country = South Korea, 06141

|num_locations = 14,688 (as of end of 2020)

|areas_served = {{unbulleted list|South Korea|Vietnam|Mongolia}}

|key_people = Yeon-soo Huh {{small|(NED)}}{{Cite web|date=September 3, 2020|title=Board of Directors|url=http://www.gs.co.kr/en/bod|url-status=live|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=gs.co.kr|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922172202/http://gs.co.kr/en/bod}}

|parent = GS Retail

|website =

}}

GS25 ({{Korean|hangul=지에스25}}) is a South Korean chain of convenience stores operated and owned by GS Retail, a subsidiary company of the GS Group. The headquarters of the company are located at the GS Tower in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.{{Cite web|date=September 3, 2020|title=Location|url=http://www.gs.co.kr/en/roadmap/page?title_selective=3765|url-status=live|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=gs.co.kr|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922172252/http://gs.co.kr/en/roadmap/page?title_selective=3765}} As of June 9, 2020, GS25 operates 13,899 stores.{{Cite web|last=Oh|first=Sang-yong|date=June 9, 2020|title=South Korea: Retail Foods|url=https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Retail%20Foods_Seoul%20ATO_Korea%20-%20Republic%20of_06-30-2020#page=6|url-status=live|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=USDA.gov|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|page=06|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028212034/https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Retail%20Foods_Seoul%20ATO_Korea%20-%20Republic%20of_06-30-2020#page=6}}

GS25 is known for having hundreds of locations all over South Korea. They are also known for their large variety of drinks such as different flavored milks and iced beverages. They also carry a variety of Korean snacks as well as ramen, fish cakes, and kimbabs.

History

File:GS25 BI (2005).svg

GS25, then known as LG25, opened their first store in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, in 1990.{{Cite web |title=GS25, a local convenience store that celebrates its 30th anniversary. "This year's message is 'Sincere' |url=https://www.hankyung.com/economy/article/202001027021Y |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=gs25.gsretail.com |date=2 January 2020 |language=ko |archive-date=2022-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920174502/https://www.hankyung.com/economy/article/202001027021Y |url-status=live }} However, in 2005, GS Group split from the LG Corporation, the name of LG25 was correspondingly changed to GS25.{{Cite web|last=Kim|first=Ji-soo|date=January 27, 2005|title=GS formally splits from LG|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2522921#:~:text=Legal%20work%20for%20the%20spin,LG%20affiliates%20to%20GS%20Group.|url-status=live|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|publisher=JoongAng Ilbo|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317233643/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2522921#:~:text=Legal%20work%20for%20the%20spin,LG%20affiliates%20to%20GS%20Group.}} In March 2019, GS25 changed their brand identity for the first time since changing their name to GS25. With the new identity, a new slogan of "Lifestyle Platform" began to be applied to all new store signage.{{Cite web|last=Jeon|first=Young-sun|date=March 27, 2019|title=GS25 14년 사용 브랜드 이미지 교체|url=https://news.joins.com/article/23424104|url-status=live|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=JoongAng Ilbo|language=ko|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327092944/https://news.joins.com/article/23424104}} However, as of August 2019, most stores still use the former identity.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Foreign operations

= Vietnam =

In January 2018, GS25 ventured outside of South Korea for the first time in its history by launching a store in Ho Chi Minh City. As of April 2023, GS25 operates 213 stores throughout Vietnam.{{Cite magazine |date=2022-06-01 |title=GS25, 베트남 본격 공략…올 260개 매장 목표 - 베트남 교민잡지 ! 씬짜오 베트남 |url=http://www.chaovietnam.co.kr/archives/46923 |access-date=September 20, 2022 |language=ko |trans-title=GS25, full-fledged invasion of Vietnam... Goal of opening 260 stores this year |url-status=live |magazine=Xin Caho Vietnam |archive-date=2022-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920193116/http://www.chaovietnam.co.kr/archives/46923 }}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-04 |title=GS25, 베트남 출점 가속도…현지 평가 '긍정적' - 베트남 교민잡지 ! 씬짜오 베트남 |url=http://www.chaovietnam.co.kr/archives/62409 |trans-title=GS25, Vietnamese store opening acceleration... Local evaluation 'Positive' |access-date=2023-05-08 |magazine=Xin Caho Vietnam |language=ko |archive-date=2023-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312094306/http://www.chaovietnam.co.kr/archives/62409 |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine|date=2023-04-11 |title=GS25, 베트남사업 공격적 확장에 손실도 심각 - 베트남 교민잡지 ! 씬짜오 베트남 |trans-title= GS25 has serious losses due to the aggressive expansion of its business in Vietnam |url=http://www.chaovietnam.co.kr/archives/64822 |access-date=2023-05-08 |magazine =Xin Caho Vietnam |language=ko}}

= Mongolia =

Through a collaborative investment between the Shunkhlai Group and GS Retail, Digital Concept was established, securing the master franchise rights for the renowned GS25 brand. On May 18, 2021, GS25 officially opened in Mongolia with three stores in Ulaanbaatar. As of December 18, 2022, GS25 has opened 124 stores throughout Ulaanbaatar. As of April 27, 2023, the company has opened 2 stores in Darkhan, the second-largest city in Mongolia. Two years after its establishment, Digital Concept LLC achieved a prominent position as one of Mongolia's "TOP 100 Companies" and expanded its retail presence from over 200 stores, with plans to reach 300.

= Malaysia =

Malaysia-based KK Super Mart has announced to partnered with GS Retail to launch GS25 in Malaysia following the trend of Korean convenience stores, which both CU and e-mart24 has already arrived in the country. The first outlet was set to be launched in 2023 while targeting to launch 500 outlets within five years.{{cite web|last=Tae-Hee|first=Lee|title=GS25 heads to Malaysia with plans to open next year|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/07/11/business/industry/korea-gs25-conveniencestore/20220711153940429.html|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=July 11, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2022|archive-date=August 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819140208/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/07/11/business/industry/korea-gs25-conveniencestore/20220711153940429.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Chuan|first=Rachel|title=South Korean Convenience Chain Store GS25 To Open In Malaysia|url=https://hype.my/2022/283094/convenience-chain-store-gs25-malaysia/|website=Hype Malaysia|date=July 13, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2022|archive-date=August 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811085854/https://hype.my/2022/283094/convenience-chain-store-gs25-malaysia/|url-status=live}}

However, it failed to sign a contract in early 2023 due to frequent conflicts with KK group, who then terminated the contract.{{Cite web |last=Suk-yee |first=Jung |date=2023-07-10 |title=GS25 Fails to Enter Malaysian Market due to Disagreement with Local Company |url=https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=118065 |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Businesskorea |language=ko}}

See also

  • {{ill|GS The Fresh|ko|GS수퍼마켓}}

References