Wellcome is looking to open more outlets and needs trainee managers to run them
YOU MAY THINK that with 246 local outlets, Wellcome Hong Kong already has the market covered, but the company has big plans and is gearing up for a new phase of expansion. This will involve opening extra outlets and hiring managers, trainees and retail staff to run them.
At present, the company's portfolio ranges from 2,000 sqft outlets to 50,000 sqft supermarkets. Most of the outlets have a floor space of between 10,000 and 20,000 sqft, which is considered the ideal size for purposes of expansion, but such sites are not easy to find.
'It is difficult to identify the right structure in that intermediate size range,' said Diane Chiu, group marketing manager of Dairy Farm - Wellcome, which operates the Wellcome chain.
'Trying to find locations with the right customer profile, transport links and realistic rents is extremely challenging.'
At times, it can feel like a Catch-22 situation. If a location is available at what seems to be a reasonable rent, the surrounding area may lack the transport infrastructure and potential customer base to support a profitable store. Then, when those key factors are in place, the landlord might ask for a rent that is off the scale.