[THE INVESTOR] Emart will usher in Walgreens Boots Alliance, the largest drugstore company in the world. It has signed a franchise partnership for the exclusive management of Boots stores in Korea, the nation’s largest discount chain announced on July 18. The first store in Korea will open in the first half of 2017 and will showcase its own lineup including No7 as well as international brands such as Soap & Glory, which will give Boots an edge in competing in the 900 billion won (US$792.04 milli

[THE INVESTOR] Coson has teamed up with Hunan Yujiahui Cosmetics, a leader in mask sheets market in China, to secure the ever-growing market for its cosmetics including mask sheets.The company announced on July 14 that it has signed an agreement to establish a joint venture with the e-commerce firm specializing in cosmetics sales, to sell Coson products in China.  (123rf)They will start with Coson’s sheet masks and in the future will develop products through original development manufacturing, t

[THE INVESTOR] US beef imports increased significantly as South Koreans turned away from their expensive local beef hanwoo, industry data showed on July 14. US beef imports increased by 25.7 percent from January to May this year from the same period last year, to reach 61,062 tons, according to a report by the National Agriculture Cooperative Federation, better known as NongHyup. South Korea became the third largest beef importer in the world during the period, after Japan and Mexico. 123rfIn Ma

[THE INVESTOR] The Supreme Court has ruled against Samsung C&T (formerly Cheil Industries) saying that its trademark for a fashion brand lacks originality, as it is similar to that of Switzerland’s Bally.On July 14, the court reversed the ruling from the original suit filed by Samsung C&T to cancel Korean Intellectual Property Office’s decision not to register its trademark: a black pentagon shaped like a house with a roof in which two different-sized arches on their sides are placed vertically.

[THE INVESTOR] Homeplus, the nation’s No. 2 discount supermarket chain, said on July 14 that it has recently decided to sell five of its stores to Ryukyung PSG Asset Management through a sales-leaseback transaction. The deal price is estimated at over 600 billion won (US$526 million). The company will acquire the stores and lease them back to Homeplus that is owned by MBK Partners, the nation’s largest equity fund. Homeplus said the new cash will be used for the company’s future growth. The deal

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s No. 1 discount store chain E-mart will open its first outlet in Mongolia on July 28, according to local news reports. The retail chain of Shinsegae Group has been in talks with Altai Holdings, a local trading firm, since 2013 to open the franchise and signed a memorandum of understanding the same year. The process, however, was delayed due to the retailer’s internal issues.Altai Holdings will be in charge of running the store while E-mart will have a stake of 10 perc

[THE INVESTOR] Ikea, the Swedish furniture giant, has sold some 100,000 units of dressers that have been blamed for the deaths of at least six toddlers in falling accidents. While the company is extending its recent recall to China, it is still reluctant to do so in Korea, citing local regulations. Ikea’s recalled dressersRep. Kwack Dae-woon of the ruling Saenuri Party on July 13 urged the company to recall the Ikea dressers, saying all the products, about 36 million units, are recalled in the U

[THE INVESTOR] Innisfree, AmorePacific’s nature-oriented line, opened a store in Shanghai Disneyland, the company announced on July 13. This is the first cosmetics store in the Chinese Disney Town where more than 50 brands are vying for visitors’ attention. In line with the company’s spirit, Innisfree will offer a wide range of products based on Jejudo Island’s nature. Customers can take pictures in front of a huge installation piece made of recycled bottles or experience virtual flying over Jej

[THE INVESTOR] Dayou Winia, Korean appliance maker best known for its kimchi refrigerators, said on July 13 that it will supply the first batch of 2,000 rice cookers to Casarte, a premium appliance brand owned by China’s Haier Group. The rice cookers, named the Dimchae Cook, will be sold through Haier’s some 33,600 sales outlets nationwide in China. The Korean firm plans to supply a total of 5,000 rice cookers to Casarte this year and to expand the number to more than 30,000 next year. On July 4