The Indonesian outlets of South Korean retail chain GS Supermarket have been acquired by PT Swalayan Sukses Abadi (The Foodhall ID), a subsidiary of PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk. GS Supermarket, which launched its first store in Indonesia in 2016, officially ended its operations in the country as of May 2025. The GS The Fresh stores have now been rebranded under the Daily Supermarket.
We first covered GS Supermarket in 2017 after visiting its third outlet in Cipondoh, Tangerang, where we produced a detailed feature story on the store.
At the time, we observed that the store’s ambiance felt distinctly local and lacked the sophisticated atmosphere typically associated with South Korean supermarkets. Although we have not revisited the store since, our initial impression highlighted the importance of preserving a strong Korean identity, something consumers clearly expect and value from South Korean retailers.
The Indonesian retail landscape is increasingly shifting toward smaller minimarket formats, posing a challenge for larger-scale retailers like GS Supermarket.
South Korean retailers are using the convenience store model to expand abroad and have found success in markets like Vietnam, Mongolia and Malaysia.
In Indonesia, the dominance of minimarkets in has hindered the expansion of convenience stores, as evidenced by the exit of 7-Eleven from the local market. However, Korean convenience stores still have a window of opportunity. If they can position themselves as the go-to destination for trendy Korean food and lifestyle products, they could carve out a unique niche. The essential winning factor is creating a store experience that authentically captures the atmosphere and excitement of a Korean convenience store.
