Coupang said Wednesday that interim CEO Harold Rogers visited Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, to hear directly from small and medium-sized business owners in the Chungcheong region about their challenges and discuss cooperation measures including sales channel expansion and improved communication.
Rogers visited a grain processing company in Cheongju the previous day, where he met with representatives from five small and medium-sized businesses in the Chungcheong region, including local farmers and prepared food manufacturers, to exchange views on key issues and tour production facilities.
Various opinions were raised at the meeting, including cost burdens and supply stability amid recent changes in the external environment, efficiency improvements in agricultural product operations, expansion of overseas B2B sales channels, and directions for mutual growth.
Rogers said he would seek ways to address difficulties faced by small partner companies due to rising energy and raw material costs caused by recent conflicts in the Middle East. He also said he would actively explore expanding overseas sales channels, including increased exports to Taiwan.
The company also agreed to support measures to enhance competitiveness in new markets. In particular, it decided to establish a direct hotline to management for closer monitoring of field conditions and faster communication.
"I thank our partner companies for their hard work in continuing to produce high-quality products despite the difficult external environment," Rogers said. "Small and medium-sized enterprises are like the blood vessels that drive our industry and local economies, and Coupang can only grow when small businesses grow."
"Following CEO Rogers' recent hands-on experience at dawn delivery operations, this represents an expansion of communication to include production sites of local small businesses," Coupang said. "We plan to continue this field-focused approach going forward."