Customers shop at the new Co.op Smile store in HCM City on its opening day on July 27. — Photo courtesy of Saigon Co.op

Saigon Co.op opened six Co.op Smile grocery stores in HCM City’s District 6, Thủ Đức City and District 12 late last week, increasing the size of the chain to 108.

It plans to open another 32 by the end of the year.

Saigon Co.op, which also owns the Co.opmart and Co.opXtra supermarket chains, Co.op Food convenience store network and other retail systems, had opened its first Co.op Smile modern grocery store in 2016 to diversify its retail models.

The upgraded version of traditional grocery stores ranges in size from 20sq.m to 200sq.m and stocks 1,500 to 2,000 daily essential items with clear origins and steady prices.

Customers can also pay phone, water, electricity, and other bills through the stores.

Besides residential areas, Co.op Smile outlets are also situated inside hospitals and schools.

To mark their opening, the stores are offering discounts on many products and reward points to customers. — VNS