Lotte Mart
A South Korean hypermarket and discount-retail chain owned by Lotte Shopping and operating under the Lotte Group.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Lotte Mart is a South Korean hypermarket and discount-retail chain that sells groceries, household necessities, clothing, toys, consumer electronics and other general merchandise. It is part of Lotte Shopping within the broader Lotte Group, a diversified Korean business group with interests in retail, food, chemicals, tourism and other sectors. The chain opened its first store in Guui-dong, near Gangbyeon in Seoul, on April 1, 1998, entering a Korean retail market increasingly shaped by large-format stores and one-stop shopping. The brand's domestic proposition combines supermarket staples with general merchandise in large stores. Its assortment has included fresh and packaged food, beverages, personal-care products, home supplies, apparel, toys and electronics. Lotte Mart has also used private-label and store-brand names including Herbon, Wiselect, Withone, Basicicon, Tasse Tasse and Gerard Darel. The chain has periodically incorporated specialist or licensed retail concepts, including Toys "R" Us stores operated through a licensing arrangement in South Korea. Lotte Mart began overseas expansion in 2006. Its most consequential international move came in December 2007, when Lotte acquired the Makro business in China. The transaction gave Lotte Mart an immediate store network and represented the first entry into China by a Korean retailer, according to the cited reference material. Lotte subsequently expanded through the Makro Indonesia business in October 2008 and opened its first Vietnamese store, Lotte Mart South Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, in December 2008. The overseas business later became more concentrated. Lotte Mart confirmed the sale of 21 Beijing stores to Chinese operator Wumei Holdings in April 2018 and ultimately exited China in 2022. The withdrawal followed a broader refocusing of international retail activity on Southeast Asia. Indonesia remains an important market, with the business operating both wholesale-format marts and retail stores. Vietnam has developed a network serving major urban areas including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Can Tho, Bien Hoa, Thu Dau Mot-area municipalities, Vinh, Vung Tau, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet. The Lotte Mart West Lake store forms part of Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi, a larger integrated retail and leisure complex. Lotte Mart therefore combines a Korean hypermarket heritage with an international operating model that has shifted over time. Its history includes rapid domestic development, acquisitions used to enter foreign markets, licensed specialty retail, and retrenchment from China in favor of Southeast Asian operations. The brand's core identity remains that of a broad-assortment discount retailer serving routine household shopping rather than a narrowly specialized grocery chain.
History
Lotte Mart was established as Lotte Group's large-format discount retail operation in South Korea. Its first branch opened in Guui-dong, Seoul, on April 1, 1998. The store concept brought together supermarket goods and general merchandise, including groceries, clothing, toys, electronics and household products. This broad assortment positioned the chain as a one-stop shopping destination within Korea's expanding hypermarket sector. The brand began international expansion in 2006. In December 2007, Lotte Mart acquired the Makro business in China. The deal provided access to an established store network and was described in the reference material as the first entry into the Chinese market by a Korean retailer. By August 2011, the chain had 199 branches: 92 in Korea, 82 in China, 23 in Indonesia and 13 in Vietnam. These figures illustrate the scale of the company's early international expansion, although the network later changed substantially. Lotte Mart's Chinese operations were followed by an Indonesian acquisition. In October 2008, Lotte bought PT Makro Indonesia, which operated 19 Makro stores. The transaction gave the Korean retailer an entry into Indonesia and extended the wholesale-format model beyond Korea. The Indonesian business subsequently operated both wholesale marts and retail stores. The cited material records 50 stores in Indonesia in 2019 and, by 2024, 36 wholesale marts and 12 retail stores. Vietnam became another core Southeast Asian market. Lotte Mart opened its first Vietnamese branch, Lotte Mart South Saigon, in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City on December 18, 2008. The Vietnamese network later expanded across several major cities. By 2025, the cited material reported 15 Vietnamese stores, including locations in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Can Tho, Bien Hoa, Thu Dau Mot-area municipalities, Vinh, Vung Tau, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet. Lotte Mart West Lake is part of Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi, linking the hypermarket format with a broader mall development. The company eventually reversed its Chinese expansion. In April 2018, Lotte Mart confirmed the sale of 21 Beijing stores to Wumei Holdings. It exited the Chinese market in 2022, with the business focusing more heavily on Southeast Asia. The withdrawal marked a significant change from the period when China represented the largest part of the chain's overseas footprint. Lotte Mart has also extended its retail offer through private-label brands and licensed concepts. Store brands identified in the reference material include Herbon, Wiselect, Withone, Basicicon, Tasse Tasse and Gerard Darel. In December 2007, Lotte Mart entered a licensing arrangement with Toys "R" Us, opening the first Korean store at its Guro branch and planning additional locations. These initiatives show how the chain has used both owned merchandise labels and specialist retail partnerships to broaden its customer proposition. The brand's development can therefore be understood in three phases: domestic hypermarket formation after 1998, aggressive overseas growth through acquisitions and new stores during the 2000s, and later international rationalization. While China was ultimately abandoned, Indonesia and Vietnam remained central to Lotte Mart's overseas presence. Its enduring business model is a broad-assortment, value-oriented retail format operating within the Lotte Group's wider shopping and food ecosystem.
- 2022
China market exit
[1]Lotte Mart exited China and shifted its international focus toward Southeast Asia.
- 2018
Beijing store disposal
[1]Lotte Mart confirmed the sale of 21 Beijing stores to Wumei Holdings.
- 2011
International network reaches 199 branches
[1]The cited August 2011 figures recorded 199 branches across South Korea, China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
- 2008
Makro Indonesia acquisition
[1]Lotte acquired PT Makro Indonesia, which operated 19 stores, establishing the company's Indonesian retail platform.
- 2008
First Vietnamese store opens
[1]Lotte Mart South Saigon opened in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City on December 18.
- 2007
Makro China acquisition
[1]Lotte Mart acquired the Makro business in China, giving it an established Chinese store network.
- 2007
Toys "R" Us licensing launch in South Korea
[1]The first South Korean Toys "R" Us store opened at Lotte Mart Guro in Seoul under a licensing arrangement.
- 2006
International expansion begins
[1]Lotte Mart opened its first overseas branch, beginning its international development.
- 1998
First Lotte Mart store opens in Seoul
[1]Lotte Mart opened its first branch in Guui-dong, near Gangbyeon in Seoul, on April 1, establishing the chain's South Korean hypermarket business.
Products and positioning
Large-format discount hypermarket and one-stop household retailer
Hypermarket retail · 1998
Lotte Mart hypermarkets
The core Lotte Mart format combines supermarket merchandise with general goods in large stores. Typical departments cover fresh and packaged food, beverages, household supplies, personal-care items, clothing, toys, electronics and other everyday products. The format is designed for broad household shopping and value-oriented purchasing rather than a specialist category.
Wholesale retail · 2008
Lotte Mart Indonesia wholesale marts
The Indonesian business grew from Lotte's acquisition of PT Makro Indonesia in 2008. These stores retain a wholesale-oriented role alongside Lotte Mart's retail stores, serving customers seeking larger-volume purchases and general merchandise. The reference material reports 36 wholesale marts and 12 retail stores in Indonesia by 2024.
Specialty toy retail · 2007
Toys "R" Us at Lotte Mart
Lotte Mart operated licensed Toys "R" Us stores in South Korea. The first location opened at the Guro branch in Seoul in December 2007, followed by locations including Guri, Incheon, Samsan and Jamsil. The concept added a dedicated toy-specialty offer within selected Lotte Mart sites.
Private-label merchandise
Lotte Mart private-label brands
The chain has used a range of store and merchandise brands, including Herbon, Wiselect, Withone, Basicicon, Tasse Tasse and Gerard Darel. The cited material identifies these names but does not provide enough detail to establish their individual categories, current availability or geographic scope.
Brand decisions
2022
Exit China and prioritize Southeast AsiaStrategyBackground
After earlier expansion and subsequent store disposals, Lotte Mart reassessed its international retail footprint.
Action taken
It exited the Chinese market and concentrated international operations on Southeast Asian markets, especially Indonesia and Vietnam.
Aftermath
China was removed from the operating-market footprint, while Indonesia and Vietnam remained the principal overseas markets identified in the reference material.
2018
Sell 21 Beijing storesM&ABackground
Lotte Mart began reducing its Chinese footprint after operating a substantial network acquired through Makro.
Action taken
The company confirmed the sale of 21 Beijing stores to Wumei Holdings.
Aftermath
The disposal preceded Lotte Mart's complete withdrawal from China in 2022.
2008
Acquire PT Makro IndonesiaM&ABackground
Lotte Mart continued its international growth by entering Indonesia through an established wholesale operator.
Action taken
Lotte acquired PT Makro Indonesia, which operated 19 stores.
Aftermath
The transaction created Lotte Mart's Indonesian platform, which later included both wholesale and retail formats.
2007
Acquire Makro ChinaM&ABackground
Lotte Mart sought an established route into China's large retail market rather than relying only on greenfield store openings.
Action taken
It acquired the Makro business in China in December 2007, obtaining an existing network of stores.
Aftermath
The acquisition gave Lotte Mart a major Chinese presence, but the company later sold 21 Beijing stores in 2018 and exited China altogether in 2022.
Recent events
- 2022
Lotte Mart exits the Chinese market[1]
Other
Lotte Mart completed its exit from China and redirected international retail attention toward Southeast Asia.
- 2018
Lotte Mart confirms sale of 21 Beijing stores to Wumei Holdings[1]
M&A
Lotte Mart confirmed that its 21 Beijing stores would be sold to Chinese supermarket operator Wumei Holdings as part of its withdrawal from the Beijing operation.
- 2007
Lotte Mart opens its first South Korean Toys "R" Us store[1]
Product launch
Under a licensing agreement, Lotte Mart opened the first Toys "R" Us store in South Korea at its Guro branch in Seoul.
Sources2 sources
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