AEON pursues sustainability and value

AEON has donated to the country’s national vaccine fund in the COVID-19 battle

With a huge volume of goods and a reputation for quality, AEON hypermarkets have long become the favourite shopping destination for millions of Vietnamese customers. But after the pandemic caused Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the southern provinces to be forced into prolonged social distancing, AEON Vietnam’s business activities have suffered negative impacts.

Despite declining revenues and many restrictions from strict regulations, AEON Vietnam’s supermarket system still strives to ensure a smooth supply chain of essential goods with stable prices.

The semi-mobile model is one of the unique initiatives implemented by AEON Vietnam since the early days of social distancing. More than 350 trips with nearly 700 tonnes of essential goods were carried out in many localities in Vietnam, contributing to solving difficulties in food supply for thousands of households in areas with limited transfer.

To reduce crowds and ensure the safety of customers in pandemic hotspots, the brand also offers diverse shopping methods such as ordering by phone, or via the AEON Eshop and app as well as other technology partners to promote contactless shopping and delivery.

In Ho Chi Minh City during the toughest months, AEON Vietnam worked with local authorities to quickly transform grocery shopping models. This was then replicated in many areas across the city, thus saving time and resources for functional forces in pandemic prevention efforts.

In addition to ensuring a smooth supply chain, AEON’s mission is also reflected in a series of activities to accompany local farmers and support the consumption of Vietnamese agricultural products.

Movement of around 42 tonnes of Hai Duong fruit and vegetables, 63 tonnes of Luc Ngan Bac Giang lychees, and 30 tonnes of Dalat fruit and vegetables, among others, were proud efforts that the AEON supermarket chain supported between June and early October.

Understanding that retail is an inseparable business from society, along with its business goals, AEON also aims to work closely with the government in the fight against the pandemic.

AEON Vietnam, AEON Group, and its other member companies have contributed $1 million to the country’s COVID-19 vaccine fund. Last September, the brand also donated nearly 2,000 An Sinh bags in the four cities where AEON is present. Each An Sinh bag contained essential products such as rice, vegetables, spices, bread, and more, and these bags have been directly delivered to vulnerable people such as unemployed workers and elderly people to reduce their difficulties and ensure they are not left behind.

“Sustainable values are not only the guidelines that AEON Vietnam pursues, but these values also play an important role in adapting and recovering from the crisis. Wherever AEON is present, we will continue to strive to fulfil our retail mission and act as corporate citizen. This has been our commitment since we appeared in the Vietnamese market,” said Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hue, strategic human resource manager at AEON.