GS Retail said Tuesday that payments made with "agri-food vouchers" at GS25 and GS The Fresh from January to May this year more than doubled from a year earlier.
Agri-food voucher payments last year increased 14-fold compared with 2023, when the related program first began. The growth is attributed to improved consumer access to agri-food products, supported by the nationwide store network of GS The Fresh, a supermarket-style supersized market (SSM), and the expansion of GS25 stores with enhanced fresh food offerings to 900 locations.
The agri-food voucher is a program operated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) to support stable diets for vulnerable groups and promote consumption of domestic agricultural products. Vouchers are provided to households receiving livelihood benefits and other recipients, who can purchase domestic vegetables, fruits, meat and fresh eggs at designated stores including Hanaro Mart, GS The Fresh and major convenience stores.
"We have focused on improving access and convenience for agri-food voucher customers based on the nationwide store networks of GS25 and GS The Fresh," a GS Retail official said. "We will participate in various ESG projects that support vulnerable groups and local farms."
