Trends of integrated retail channels

​Young people buy drinks and fast food at an integrated convenience store on Pham Van Thuan Street, Bien Hoa City.

In addition, many young people also regularly use payment services in the direction of tap & go, online payments, e-wallets, etc. Many stores, retail chains, and services actively deploy these types of payments to attract customers, especially young people.

In addition to the convenience store chains specializing in food and consumer goods as before, convenience store chains and integrated mini supermarkets "2 in 1" are increasingly appearing in Bien Hoa City with new chain stores such as GS 25, AmPm, etc.

The feature of these stores is that they both integrate the features of a regular convenience store, arrange more tables and chairs, and serve coffee, drinks, and fast food on the spot. These stores often choose locations in densely populated areas, especially locations near schools, petrol stations, etc., some stores also apply opening hours for 24/24. These stores are welcomed by many young people with a model similar to many chain stores in big cities with brands such as Circle K, B's mart, Ministop, 7-Eleven, etc.

Mr. Dinh Van Nam, manager of the AmPm convenience store chain in Bien Hoa City, said that the chain has been implementing the "2 in 1" integrated store form for about 2 years. Accordingly, the chain of stores including 2 stores in the area of ​​​​Vuon Mit Intersection and near Suoi Linh Bridge applies the same operating model as the integrated convenience store chains in Ho Chi Minh City. The target audience of this model mainly focuses on young people.

Mr. Bui Bao Long (living in Thong Nhat Ward, Bien Hoa City), currently a student at a college in Bien Hoa City, shared: “I and my friends often go to integrated convenience stores around 3-4 times per week to both shop for fast foods, sit back and chat, review lessons, etc. This is a fairly new model in Bien Hoa City. I realize that this model brings many conveniences, affordable prices, and is suitable for young people.”

In addition to the integrated convenience store chains, with the advantage of large space, many supermarkets and trade centers have arranged separate areas for customers to rest, serving food and fast food services, etc. These areas are usually arranged by supermarkets near shopping areas and are located in separate locations compared to fast food and service brands that are renting space in commercial centers.

Mr. Le Van Hong, Director of Big C Dong Nai, said that the supermarket has developed a separate dining area for customers with many counters serving a variety of fast and convenient foods. These stalls attract many customers to shop, stop and rest, prefer to experience popular and convenient food services.

In addition, after the impacts of the Covid-19 epidemic, many stores have actively combined many suitable business types to take advantage of the location of the facade and business premises. Mr. Nguyen Phuong Bao Trung, owner of Papas' Chicken fast food restaurant located in Vo Thi Sau Street, Bien Hoa City said that, in recent years, the store has actively maintained its food service business and gradually develop more business models of imported fruit at the store to take advantage of the premises located in the main road frontage, flexibly adapt to the risks while the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Mr. Bao Trung said, the store actively deploys various forms of payment and online ordering. This form accounts for 50% of the store's sales recently and is increasingly chosen by customers, especially young people. Similarly, Mr. Dinh Van Nam added, to meet new consumer trends, the AmPm store chain also promotes electronic payment forms, deploys discount codes, promotions, etc. just like the models of many large convenience store.