Lotte Shopping has demonstrated the success of its "quality growth" strategy by achieving remarkable first-quarter results amidst a challenging economic environment characterized by domestic and international slowdowns and sluggish consumption. According to a public filing on May 9th, the retail giant reported consolidated revenues of KRW 3.4568 trillion and an operating profit of KRW 148.2 billion. While revenue saw a slight year-on-year decrease of 1.6%, operating profit surged by an impressive 29%.

The stellar performance was largely attributed to Lotte Shopping's proactive efforts to enhance profitability and the robust growth of its overseas operations. Notably, the exceptional performance of its Vietnam business significantly boosted overall results. Lotte Mall Westlake Hanoi saw its first-quarter sales increase by 21.9%, leading the growth, while total department store sales in Vietnam soared by 33.8%. This underscores the successful establishment of Lotte Shopping's Southeast Asian market penetration strategy.

Overseas discount stores also contributed to the overall international growth, with Vietnam recording an 8.2% increase in sales and Indonesia showing a 10.0% rise. Consequently, Lotte Shopping's total overseas revenue grew by 9.5% year-on-year, effectively offsetting the challenges in the domestic market.

Domestically, Lotte Shopping's efficiency improvements and store renovation strategies have yielded positive outcomes. The department store division benefited from the full-fledged effects of renovations at key locations such as Time Villas Suwon, Lotte Department Store Main Branch, and Jamsil branch, contributing to improved profitability. Time Villas Suwon, transformed into an urban-style outlet, has been particularly well-received by younger consumers, driving sales growth.

The hypermarket division also saw positive results from its store renewal strategy, centered around the premium food specialty store concept, "Grand Grocer." Lotte Mart Cheonho, which reopened in January, has attracted customers with its fresh and differentiated product offerings, contributing to improved performance. These store renovations are seen as more than just cosmetic changes, providing customers with new shopping experiences and enhancing loyalty.

In its overseas ventures, Lotte Mall Westlake Hanoi achieved profitability within six quarters of its opening, marking a significant milestone for Lotte Shopping's long-term overseas investment strategy. Furthermore, overseas discount stores also saw a 20.6% increase in operating profit, demonstrating stable growth in the Vietnamese and Indonesian markets and bolstering Lotte Shopping's global competitiveness.

Meanwhile, Lotte Himart showed a positive turnaround, with sales growing by 0.7% after a 3-year and 7-month slump. Its operating loss also narrowed, indicating potential for improved profitability. Lotte Home Shopping also reported outstanding results, with operating profit increasing by 22.9% due to expanded sales of high-margin products and cost efficiency efforts. This demonstrates a balanced growth across Lotte Shopping Group's business portfolio and the effectiveness of efficiency enhancement efforts in each business unit.

Kim Won-jae, Head of Lotte Shopping's Finance Division, emphasized the significance of the results, stating, "Despite the challenging domestic and international conditions, we were able to achieve nearly a 30% increase in operating profit thanks to the growth of our overseas business and the consistent efforts to improve profitability across all business units." He further outlined the company's future growth strategy and aspirations, saying, "We will continue to expand our overseas business, focusing on Southeast Asia, and actively pursue the renewal of major domestic stores and new business initiatives to become the top shopping destination for customers."

Lotte Shopping's first-quarter performance serves as a compelling example of how a "selective and focused" quality growth strategy can be effective even amidst macroeconomic headwinds. The proactive targeting of high-growth potential overseas markets and continuous investment in strengthening the competitiveness of key domestic stores have been key factors in this success. The retail industry will be closely watching whether Lotte Shopping can build on its successful experience in Southeast Asia to further expand its global presence and continue to provide differentiated shopping experiences in the domestic market, thus maintaining its growth trajectory. The sustainability of Himart's sales growth turnaround and Home Shopping's profitability improvement will also be important points of observation. The future moves of Lotte Shopping are drawing keen attention from both domestic and international retail sectors.