SK Networks, the trading unit of South Korea’s third-largest conglomerate SK Group, has joined hands with a local startup to employ SK gas stations across the country for logistics service.

The company said Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with IT-based logistics startup Mesh Korea that operates food delivery service brand VROONG to explore logistics platform via gas station base for delivery of food and drinks.

VROONG is the leading company in the Korean food and drink delivery market after it has successfully secured more than 100 retailers as its customers across the country.

The two companies under the agreement will work together to install delivery stations at SK Networks’ gas stations, design a business model to use them as the logistics base and seek for new growth engines through the new logistics platform.

SK Networks hopes it can provide an integrated logistics service through the partnership. It will build a system to provide better working environment for 13,000 delivery drivers who are in contract with Mesh Korea and seek ways to utilize the space of its gas stations for the new logistics business.

Earlier, SK Networks formed a task force team to innovate its logistics business. It has been also offering a maintenance service for the trucks owned by VROONG delivery drivers since April to identify their needs and build a proper infrastructure.

“We’ll provide rest areas, maintenance infrastructure and various discount programs for the drivers,” said an official at SK Networks.

By Hwang Soon-min and Lee Ha-yeon

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]