Unofficial statistics show that Ho Chi Minh City has nearly 800 convenience stores (c-stores) as of May with the increasing attendance of both local and foreign businesses.
Of local firms, Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives owns 89 c-stores and hundreds of other shops selling non-food products.
Saigon Trading Group has developed 60 c-stores for the last four years. Vietnam Meat Industries Limited Company’s c-store number has exceeded 100.
Saigon Agriculture Food Processing and Animal Breeding Company and Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company have opened a lot of c-stores introducing their products.
Besides, the market has seen the appearance of outlets under VietGap quality standard.
Foreign firms have also quickly developed their c-stores in HCMC. The two leading chains comprise Shop & Go with 100 stores and Circle K with the same number, followed by Family Mart and 7-Eleven.
Recently, the health and beauty retail chain Guardian has been present in the city and become a rival of MediaCare.
Japanese retailer Ministop belonging to Aeon Group has also established its c-store chain in Vietnam.
According to businesses, c-stores are divided into two types in Vietnam comprising food and fast moving consumer goods.
The number of c-stores is still few compared to the city’s population density, they added. HCMC population approximated eight million people last year.
