WASHINGTON -- The future of retailing in the Pacific Rim is bright, according to a new report "Supermarket Operations in the Pacific Rim 1994" from the Food Marketing Institute here and the Australian Supermarket Institute.
FMI and ASI surveyed four areas: Australia and New Zealand; Japan; Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan; and the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.
The report found that supermarket sales increased 37.1% over 1993 in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Sales increased 25.4% in the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand and 13% in Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, the number of stores increased 25.8%, 14.3% and 6.7% in those regions, respectively.
In all countries but the Hong Kong group, consumers were very interested in fresh prepared foods or frozen foods, probably owing to the entrance of greater numbers of women into the workforce, the report concluded.
Fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood and meats were the fastest growing categories in the group of countries including Hong Kong.
In Australia and New Zealand, perishables accounted for 41% of sales; in Japan, 65% of sales; in the Hong Kong group, 39% of sales; and in the Philippines group, 15% of sales.
Among the other findings:
Thirty-eight percent of Australia's volume came from direct-store delivery; 11% of Japan's; 22% of Hong Kong's; and 60% of the Philippines'.
During the year, inventory turned 19 times in Australia; 47 times in Japan; 37 times in Hong Kong; and 13 times in the Philippines.
The selling area of stores averaged 1,558 square meters in the Australia group; 3,652 in Japan; 1,205 in Hong Kong; and 4,155 in the Philippines.
Australia's and New Zealand's stores averaged 13,837 transactions per week; the Japan group averaged 7,599; the Hong Kong group averaged 15,218; and the Philippines group averaged 18,930.
