Hi-Life (convenience store)

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Hi-Life International Co., Ltd.
Hi-Life International Co., Ltd.
Company type Private limited company
Industry Grocery stores, convenience stores, retail
Founded1988;37 years ago (1988) in Taipei
HeadquartersNo.502, Ruiguang Road, 3rd Floor, Neihu District, ,
Number of locations
1590 (2025)
Area served
Taiwan
Website www.hilife.com.tw/language_en1980.aspx

Hi-Life International, doing business as Hi-Life, is a Taiwanese convenience store chain established in 1988. As of 2023, the company has 1550 stores across Taiwan.

Contents

History

Early Growth and Expansion (1991–2000)

Established in 1988, the company was established on Dihua Street in Taipei. [1] In the following year, nine stores were opened simultaneously and its distribution centre was established on Xinhai Road in Banqiao District, New Taipei. Hi-Life introduced the Electronic Order System (EOS) in 1991 to improve inventory management and launched invoice redemption and recycling programs. It expanded rapidly, reaching 100 stores in 1994, 200 in 1995, and 300 in 1996. To support growth, it established multiple regional offices and distribution centers, including the Wugu Distribution Centre located in Wugu District in 1994 and Southern Distribution Centre in 1996. In 1997, Hi-Life moved its headquarters to Bade Road in Taipei and received Good Store Practices (GSP) certification. [2]

Diversification and Technological Advancements (2001–2010)

Hi-Life expanded into Taiwan Railway stations in 2001 and introduced credit card payments. It gained popularity with the NT$38 meal box in 2002 and became the exclusive distributor of Taiwan draught beer. In 2004, it launched the interactive kiosk and surpassed 1,000 stores. The company embraced digital innovation by introducing online shopping (Life-ET) in 2006, an electronic invoice system in 2008, and an employee e-learning platform. Hi-Life also expanded its fresh food offerings, opening its first Baking Room in 2007. By continuously enhancing its logistics, technology, and product range, Hi-Life solidified its position in Taiwan’s convenience store industry. Hi-Life introduced fresh tea in collaboration with Tai Shan Enterprise (2010) and launched EasyCard micro-payments. [3]

2010–2020: Expansion and Digital Growth

In 2011, it expanded ticketing services and opened stores in high-speed rail stations and Taoyuan Airport in 2012. The company also entered e-learning in 2013, ventured into food production, and opened its first offshore store in Kinmen. In 2014, Hi-Life introduced laundry services and partnered with iPASS and Ponta in 2015, marking its entry into e-commerce and mobile payment solutions like Alipay.

In 2016, Hi-Life won a service excellence award (and expanded its loyalty program with Ponta. It launched its private-label brand "Hi-Life Original", paused operations for Lunar New Year (2017), and expanded its green initiatives. The company pioneered barcode payments (2018) and invested in logistics and food R&D centers. By 2019, it launched Hipay mobile payments, introduced SIM card activation, and became the first convenience store to offer app-based ATM withdrawals. In 2020, Hi-Life enabled all four major e-payment systems, participated in mask rationing programs, and introduced online retail platforms. [4]

2021–2024: Digital Transformation & Sustainability

In 2021, Hi-Life launched smart retail stores, including a 5G gaming store, and introduced the "Hi-Life x Shopee" online flagship store. It debuted electric vehicle charging stations (2022), expanded its Mr. Hi supermarket chain, and entered the metaverse with "Hi-Life Virtual Kitchen". By 2023, membership had reached 6 million, and the company introduced luxury service offerings, such as yacht and RV rentals. In 2024, Hi-Life celebrated its 35th anniversary, upgraded its Hi-Café coffee, and donated over NT$4.46 million for 2024 Hualien earthquake relief. [5]

Controversy

References

  1. "企業簡介 / 歷史沿革". Hi-Life 萊爾富 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2016-08-22.
  2. {{cite news|title=萊爾富易主面臨關鍵五年!為何零售高層不看好新老闆擴大展店?|url=https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/107437%7Cwork=Global Views Monthly|author=吳婉瑜|date=2023-11-08}|language=zh-tw}
  3. 曾智怡 (2023-11-03). "萊爾富創辦人光泉汪家撤出經營權 公司稱不影響營運". Central News Agency (Taiwan) (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  4. 張庭暄 (2023-11-10). "萊爾富屹立不搖?行家揭「3關鍵」成領頭羊 1品項超頂". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  5. 勵心如 (2023-11-04). "唯一台灣超商品牌「萊爾富」大老闆換人!光泉汪家全面退出經營層...34年來如何在統一全家夾擊下生存?". Business Today (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
  6. "光泉內鬨再起?萊爾富傳破產 純屬子虛烏有 公司派將追究造謠者法律責任" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taiwan Television. 2003-08-23. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  7. "萊爾富麻辣湯頭包中了餿油 近3萬包恐已下肚". ETtoday (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2014-09-08. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  8. "超商首例 除夕夜萊爾富休息2小時". China Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2017-01-24. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  9. "規勸顧客戴口罩起口角 超商店員遭爆打緊急送醫". Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  10. "全國三級警戒!萊爾富緊急關閉20門市名單一次看". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2021-05-23.