KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 — Lotuss Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Lotus’s Malaysia), formerly known as Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd), has launched its second and third flagship stores, Lotus’s Penang E-Gate (Penang) and Lotus’s Desa Tebrau (Johor), yesterday.
Lotus’s Malaysia is a new brand that comes out from the acquisition of Tesco Malaysia by Thailand-based multinational conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand Group Co Ltd (CP Group), last December.
Through the acquisition, Lotus’s Malaysia now assumes Tesco’s existing operations which include employing over 8,600 employees across one head office, two distribution centres, and 62 stores throughout Peninsular Malaysia.
The retailer launched its first flagship store in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur in March this year.
Lotus’s Malaysia president Kenneth Chua said the group will expand its rebranding exercise to all of its stores starting this month.
“Our target is to complete all of our stores by the end of this year and to continue investing in the country to open more stores in the future,” he said in a statement issued in conjunction with the launch of the flagship stores.
He added that the retailer is also expanding its online shopping capacity based on the growing demand of its customers.
“The application that we have and also the webpage will be improved for a smoother and seamless omnichannel customer experience.
“Moving forward, we will expand our capacity to best serve our customers,” Chua said, adding that the retailer has stopped offering single-use plastic bags at its checkout counters.
He noted that this was in line with the government’s Roadmap to Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030 which envisions a cleaner and environmentally sustainable Malaysia by 2030.
“As part of CP Group, we recognise the importance of solving the problem of plastic waste.
“Our initiative to no longer offer single-use plastic bags at our checkout counters compliments the group’s sustainable business principles,” he said.
With the message, “Bring Home Change”, Chua said that the retailer intends to spread awareness by showing that a simple act of reusing one’s shopping bag can bring a big sustainable impact to the environment.
“Together, we are committed to promoting and conserving the quality of the environment, educating and fostering engagement in consumer behavioural change for sustainable development,” he said.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow lauded the no plastic bag initiative by the retailer.
“In our ongoing efforts to achieve a sustainable future for all, we need leaders in the retail industry to lead the way.
“Lotus’s, with its network of 62 stores nationwide, is the largest retailer in the country to embark on this initiative and we hope that other retailers, big or small, will take notice and make a similar change,” he said.
The plastic-free initiative has been implemented at its three flagship stores and eventually to the remaining stores nationwide starting July 1, 2021.
In line with this initiative, customers who use their own reusable bags will earn eight Clubcard reward points for each bag.
These accumulated reward points can then be converted into cash vouchers that can be used for spending at any Lotus’s branch.
Customers can bring their own bags or buy Lotus’s reusable bags which are available in four variations with prices ranging from 50 sen to RM9.90.
Sources: BERNAMA