"What about the PB product supply contract"... Retail industry 'embarrassed'

When the dairy company Purmil decided to close its business on the 30th of next month, the retail industry, which signed a contract with Purmil to supply its own brand, so-called PB products, is not hiding its embarrassment.

According to the industry today (18th), Purmil has a product supply contract remaining until the end of December with a number of distributors that have existing PB product supply contracts.

However, the related companies did not receive a separate notice regarding the termination of Purmil's business.

Homeplus sells a total of 15 products, including milk, processed milk, and yogurt, of which 5 are PB products, and the proportion of 15 products manufactured by Homeplus is about 5% of the total sales of these products.

A Homeplus official said, "As Purmil announced that it will continue to operate until the end of next month, we are in the process of discovering alternative partners due to business suspension."

E-Mart is cooperating with Purmil to produce and sell nine PB products, including 'No Brand Good Morning Good Milk'.

E-Mart has no immediate impact as there are alternative producers for some of the PB products manufactured by E-Mart, but plans to actively respond such as discovering new companies.

The convenience store industry, which manufactured and sold PB products in Purmil, is looking for other manufacturers.

CU is selling two types of PB products manufactured by Purmeal, such as 'Heiru Choco Friends Milk'.

A CU official said, "(Purmil) has been informed of the unilateral termination of the business."

E-Mart 24 also produces and sells 'Haru e One Cup Milk' through Purmil, and is looking for other partners to minimize damage to franchisees.

Purmil has accumulated losses, such as recording an operating loss of 11.3 billion won in 2020 and 12.4 billion won last year, but it is known that it has decided to close the business because it could not come up with measures to solve this situation. E-mails were sent to 400 people notifying them that the business was shutting down and notifying them of layoffs.

(Photo=Purmil Facebook screen capture, Yonhap News)