RedMart takes online shopping offline with vending machines at Raffles Place MRT

Online supermarket, RedMart, has opened five new vending machines at Raffles Place MRT station that will operate seven days a week, offering commuters an extensive selection of products—including beverages, snacks, and personal care items.

The vending machines are part of Stellar Lifestyle's innovation space at Raffles Place MRT station called Hive Express which opened on 16 September.

The space expands on Stellar Lifestyle’s Hive 2.0 innovation hub to help merchants expedite retail innovations across the transit network faster and at a more cost-efficient manner, it said in a statement.

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The first partner featured at Hive Express is RedMart. Its first physical storefront at Raffles Place MRT station will offer curated daily necessities for busy office workers and commuters at the same competitive prices found online, through vending machines that are accessible via Lazada’s app.

Customers can pay through the app and the vending machine will dispense the chosen product, seamlessly blending the convenience of online shopping with the immediacy of offline access.

The assortment is tailored to the needs of commuters that frequent Raffles Place MRT, who may be looking for quick access to drinks and snacks, workout fuel and protein, or personal care items to tide them through their day.

Commuters will also be able to try RedMart’s private label items such as kombucha, trail mix, drinking water, and trendy new product samples which include the viral MONDAY haircare line—available exclusively on RedMart in Singapore, it said. 

“We understand that consumers on the go are looking for both online and offline touchpoints for greater convenience. We are delighted to partner with Stellar Lifestyle to expand RedMart’s presence beyond the Lazada app to give consumers a taste of the wide range of products that we offer,” said Martin Daney, head of RedMart at Lazada Singapore. “We want to help busy commuters save time by seamlessly integrating grocery shopping into their daily commute, while providing a wide assortment with competitive prices.”

With Hive Express, Stellar Lifestyle has taken another step closer to its vision of high-tech retail through the creation of innovation spaces along Singapore’s rail network, it added.  By reimagining the use of open spaces within SMRT-operated MRT stations, Stellar Lifestyle aims to bring innovative retail experiences such as smart vending machines and self-service checkout stores to more stations across Singapore.

“Building on the success of Hive 2.0, Hive Express creates even more opportunities for SMEs to innovate and test retail concepts within train stations. By harnessing new technologies and SMRT’s vast rail network, we can deliver unique retail experiences in compact spaces, enhancing convenience and enriching the daily journeys of commuters," said Tony Heng, president of Stellar Lifestyle.

"Hive Express reflects Stellar Lifestyle’s commitment to designing dynamic, future-ready environments that serve both commuters and small businesses alike,” he added. 

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