The Vitamin Shoppe launches website, online marketplaces in South Korea

Wellness retailer The Vitamin Shoppe expanded into South Korea on Aug. 2 with the launch of www.vitaminshoppe.kr, a directly-owned and operated e-commerce business.

South Korean consumers can now shop products delivered on average in three days directly from the United States.

The Vitamin Shoppe also launched branded digital storefronts on 20 leading online marketplaces in South Korea, including 11st, Auction, Coupang, Domeggook, G9, Gmarket, Interpark, Lotte, Naver, Qoo10, Shinsegae and Smelchi.

“South Korea is one of the largest e-commerce markets in the world serving a digitally-savvy population, which aligns perfectly with our online launch strategy,” said Chief Executive Officer Sharon Leite.

“Korean consumers are highly health conscious and many customers have first discovered The Vitamin Shoppe while visiting the United States. They now have the ease and convenience of ordering directly from our South Korea website, as well as via our online marketplace partners,” Leite said. “We look forward to adding brands, products, and services in South Korea as The Vitamin Shoppe continues to grow its international footprint in new growth markets.”

South Korean consumers can purchase nearly 300 health and wellness products from The Vitamin Shoppe’s portfolio of owned brands, in addition to hundreds of bundle packages that target specific wellness needs, health states, and individual lifestyles.

Third-party brands sold at The Vitamin Shoppe in the United States will be added to the online assortments in a second phase of the South Korea expansion in the future.

This is The Vitamin Shoppe’s second foray into the Asia market after opening two stores in Vietnam with a local partner under a country license agreement in January.

Additionally, the company operates country license agreements in Panama (eight stores), Guatemala (10 stores), and Paraguay (three stores).