Grocery retailers in Asia are of two kinds, grocery stores that sell packaged foods and then retailers who sell fresh foods in markets. Of note are international Asian food retailers that sell food, clothes and household goods in hypermarkets. Food retailers in Asia now include food retail conglomerates from the West.

International grocery retailers in Asia have found market opportunities in China and Korea but success in Japan eludes them. Asian food grocery retailers in Japan market to a sophisticated, individualized population who are willing to spend money on high quality food.

1. Asian grocery stores usually sell packaged foods, while meats, vegetables and other fresh foods are sold in separately in outdoor markets.

2. Asian grocers compete with hypermarkets: groceries, clothes, home goods are sold under one roof.

3. Asian grocery stores are not the same: each country has its own cultural ideas with regard to food and service.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about Asian food retailers and their markets

Grocery companies in Asia, driven by globalization, are being transformed by the foreign food retailers who see Asia as an emerging market. How these companies become a success in Asian companies depends on their ability to meet the requirements of the food and cultures of Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan and others.

I recommend: Eurofoods, an article from Bnet, discusses at length the European food retailers who see Asia as an emerging market. It discusses culture and food likes and dislikes of several Asian countries and how Western food retailers should market there. The Canadian government reports on Korea's private branding of international food retailers products. Among the leading Asian grocer retailers are Thailand's CP Group and Malaysia's Giant.

Search for Asian grocery stores

Grocery shopping in Asia is by no means all about Westernized supermarkets. Asian grocers are in ample supply.

I recommend: Grocery shopping in Korea is written by a English language instructor living in Korea. The article does a good job of showing the how East meets West in terms of grocery shopping. The Emart mentioned is a Western-owned food retailer. Eguide publishes a directory of Singapore groceries. Phone numbers are listed; unfortunately these Asian groceries do not use websites.

Investigate the globalized food retailers in Asia

International food retailers from France, Great Britain and the US, to name a few, are investing in China's retail food market. However, Chinese grocery retailers considerably outnumber international conglomerates.

I recommend: Tesco is one of the largest grocery retailers in the world. It entered the Chinese market in 2004. It's website does not give its stores locations in China but will give you a good idea of its reach. Wal-Mart's stores in China sell groceries and household goods. Germany's Metro Cash & Carry is in Southeast Asia, including Viet Nam, and France's Carrefour has made a big push into China.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Asian grocery retailers differ from country to country; grocers in Japan are very different from grocers in Korea. Cultural differences in grocery shopping are different in every Asian country.