Focus Taiwan
Date: 05/16/2020
By: Wu Po-wei and Frances Huang

Taipei, May 16 (CNA) Convenience stores in Taiwan saw their sales rise in the first quarter despite an overall decline in activity in the retail sector because of higher online demand and more outlets, according to Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) figures.

Though overall retail sales were down 0.6 percent in the first quarter, convenience store sales grew 5 percent year-on-year to NT$84.7 billion (US$2.83 billion), data compiled by the MOEA showed.

The chains catered to consumers who preferred to shop at home during the COVID-19 outbreak by expanding their e-commerce operations, leading to 25 percent growth in first quarter online sales, far outpacing the 4.7 percent sales growth at their physical outlets.

Online sales still only accounted for 1.1 percent of total convenience store sales in Taiwan in the first quarter, but that was up from 0.9 percent during the same period of 2019.    [FULL  STORY]