SSG.com's Baro Quick delivery service sees 7-fold order surge in first year

SSG.com's Baro Quick, a delivery service that brings E-mart products to nearby customers within about an hour, is marking its first anniversary with strong growth.

Daily average orders in August were roughly seven times the average recorded during the service's first three months — September through November last year. Orders per store per day also doubled over the same period. The number of customers placing orders in August surged fivefold compared with the launch month of September last year, and 51 percent of them made a repeat purchase within six months. About 10 percent of all customers placed three or more orders.

The product range has tripled, growing from around 6,000 items at launch to roughly 18,000 now. The lineup has expanded beyond fresh and processed foods to include ready-to-eat meals and household goods. The number of delivery hubs is set to grow from 19 at launch to 90 by the end of this month.

Baro Quick is strongly oriented toward on-demand grocery shopping. Food items — fresh and processed — accounted for 93 percent of sales from January through August this year. In August, customers bought an average of 6.7 items per order, and fresh produce was included in 76 percent of all orders.

SSG.com is running a promotional campaign through Sept. 30. New users will receive a free-delivery coupon and a 20 percent discount coupon, both valid on purchases of 20,000 won ($15) or more. Members of the SSG7 Club qualify for free delivery on purchases of 20,000 won or more, while general customers must spend at least 30,000 won.

"Over the past year, we expanded our delivery network and product selection, and growing customer usage has confirmed Baro Quick's potential," said Han Geon-su, head of supply chain management at SSG.com. "We will analyze regional demand and operational efficiency to sharpen our competitiveness in instant delivery."