Big C Vietnam closes Cdiscount
Big C Vietnam says it will close its eCommerce site Cdiscount by the end of December.
The closure appears to be part of a policy change from Thailand’s Central Group after it bought the supermarket chain in April in a US$1.14 billion deal. The company will soon change the chain’s name and it has other eCommerce brands and established sites it could expand into Vietnam.
Post-December, after sales service will be transferred to original retailers who used the portal.
The e-tailer specialises in cell phones, household goods, beauty products and groceries and has been operating since the beginning of 2014. Originally it aimed to become the leading online retailer in Vietnam. However, after two years, Cdiscount has had little impact on the market.
Vietnam is considered one of the two Southeast Asian nations with the most potential for eCommerce along with Indonesia. Korean retail giant Lotte recently announced plans to launch its first online shopping website Lotte.vn in Vietnam this month.