Eco

eco-shop is a Malaysian variety-store and convenience-retail chain built around a low-price, broad-assortment format. The business traces its origins to Kedai Ekonomi Hari-Hari, a shop opened in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, in May 2002 by Dato’ Sri Lee Kar Whatt, relatives, and Pang Kueh Khim. That initial operation was subsequently closed, and Lee Kar Whatt, his brother Lee Tiong Bin, Pang Kueh Khim, and a third-party investor established Eco Shop Marketing in September 2003. The business opened its first RM2 store in Gemas Baru, Johor, later in 2003. The chain’s proposition has been to make everyday products accessible through a tightly controlled low-price model and a wide range of small-ticket merchandise. Its stores serve a role between a convenience outlet, a discount variety shop, and a general household-goods retailer. Merchandise associated with the brand includes home-improvement supplies, household necessities, food, drinks, toys, and other general consumer products. This combination allows customers to make frequent, low-value purchases while also browsing for seasonal, recreational, and practical items in a single location. A prominent element of the brand’s identity has been its uniform-price positioning. eco-shop became particularly well known for selling products at RM2.60 each, a price point that supported simple customer communication and reinforced its value credentials. The business’s format depends on maintaining a broad product assortment, sourcing goods suitable for mass-market demand, and expanding outlets across different Malaysian communities rather than concentrating only in major shopping districts. The company developed its operational base in Johor. In 2010, it established a headquarters and a new warehouse facility in Jementah, a town in Segamat. The warehouse infrastructure supported the distribution requirements of an expanding store network. The chain reached its 100th outlet in 2018, marked by an opening in Gombak, Selangor, and its 300th outlet in 2024 at Nu Sentral in Kuala Lumpur. By financial year 2025, the business operated more than 370 outlets across Malaysia. eco-shop’s growth illustrates the development of organized value retail in Malaysia. Rather than positioning itself as a specialist supermarket, it has emphasized convenience, price accessibility, and assortment breadth. Its stores can attract shoppers looking for inexpensive household products as well as customers seeking snacks, drinks, toys, craft items, and basic home-improvement goods. The company remains an active Malaysian retail business with a nationwide outlet network, although detailed information about its legal ownership, senior management, financial performance, and international operations is not established by the supplied reference material.

eco-shop developed from a sequence of small-format value-retail ventures in Malaysia. In May 2002, Dato’ Sri Lee Kar Whatt, relatives, and Pang Kueh Khim opened Kedai Ekonomi Hari-Hari in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. That first shop was later closed. In September 2003, Lee Kar Whatt and his brother Lee Tiong Bin joined Pang Kueh Khim and a third-party investor to establish Eco Shop Marketing. The same year, the business opened its first RM2 store in Gemas Baru, Johor. The new format focused on selling a wide range of practical and discretionary goods at a low, easy-to-understand price. Its merchandise mix included household products, home-improvement items, food, drinks, toys, and other variety-store goods. The model gave the company a clear value proposition while allowing stores to serve multiple shopping missions, from routine household replenishment to impulse and seasonal purchases. As the store network expanded, logistics became increasingly important. In 2010, eco-shop established its headquarters and a new warehouse facility in Jementah, in Segamat, Johor. The Johor base provided infrastructure for distributing goods to a growing number of outlets. The chain later reached its 100th store in 2018, commemorated by an outlet in Gombak, Selangor. In 2024, it opened its 300th outlet at Nu Sentral in Kuala Lumpur. The brand became closely associated with a uniform low-price proposition, particularly the RM2.60 price point cited in descriptions of the business. This pricing identity helped distinguish eco-shop from conventional supermarkets and supported its reputation as an accessible Malaysian variety retailer. By financial year 2025, the chain operated more than 370 outlets across the country. The available reference material does not establish a foreign-store network, a parent group, public listing details, current executive leadership beyond the named founders, or detailed financial results.

• 2025

  More than 370 outlets reported

  [1]Eco-Shopen.wikipedia.org

  For financial year 2025, eco-shop was reported to operate more than 370 outlets across Malaysia.

• 2024

  300th outlet opens

  [1]Eco-Shopen.wikipedia.org

  The retailer reached 300 outlets with an opening at Nu Sentral in Kuala Lumpur.

• 2018

  100th outlet opens

  [1]Eco-Shopen.wikipedia.org

  eco-shop marked its 100th outlet with an opening in Gombak, Selangor.

• 2010

  Johor headquarters and warehouse established

  [1]Eco-Shopen.wikipedia.org

  The company established its headquarters and a new warehouse facility in Jementah, Segamat.

• 2003

  Eco Shop Marketing is established

  [1]Eco-Shopen.wikipedia.org

  Lee Kar Whatt, Lee Tiong Bin, Pang Kueh Khim, and a third-party investor established Eco Shop Marketing.

• 2003

  First RM2 store opens

  [1]Eco-Shopen.wikipedia.org

  The business opened its first RM2-format store in Gemas Baru, Johor.

• 2002

  Kedai Ekonomi Hari-Hari opens

  [1]Eco-Shopen.wikipedia.org

  Dato’ Sri Lee Kar Whatt, relatives, and Pang Kueh Khim opened the predecessor shop in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Affordable, accessible variety retail with a broad assortment of everyday goods and a recognizable low-price format.

• Household essentials

  Household goods

  The chain sells everyday household merchandise intended for routine use and low-cost replenishment. These products form a central part of the variety-store proposition, helping eco-shop function as a convenient source of practical goods rather than only a destination for snacks or novelty items. Specific individual brands and product ranges are not identified in the supplied sources.

• Home improvement

  Home-improvement items

  eco-shop offers low-priced home-improvement merchandise within its broad store assortment. The category supports customers looking for basic practical items for household maintenance and small projects. The available references do not provide a detailed catalogue or identify particular branded product lines.

• Food and beverages

  Food and drinks

  Food and beverages extend the chain’s offer into convenience retail. Snacks, drinks, and other consumable goods complement the household assortment and encourage frequent, small-value visits. The supplied material confirms the category but does not specify particular products, suppliers, or proprietary food brands.

• Toys and general merchandise

  Toys and variety merchandise

  Toys and other general merchandise contribute to eco-shop’s browse-oriented variety-store format. These products broaden the customer proposition beyond essential household purchases and can include recreational, seasonal, or gift-oriented items. No specific flagship toy range is documented in the supplied references.

• 2010

  Investment in centralized logistics infrastructureStrategy

  Background

  A growing store network required a dedicated operational and distribution base.

  Action taken

  eco-shop established its headquarters and a new warehouse facility in Jementah, Segamat, Johor.

  Aftermath

  The facility supported the distribution needs of the expanding Malaysian outlet network.

  Source

• 2003

  Adoption of the low-price variety-store modelStrategy

  Background

  After the predecessor shop was closed, the founders established Eco Shop Marketing and pursued a dedicated low-price store concept.

  Action taken

  The company opened its first RM2 store in Gemas Baru, Johor, combining a broad assortment with a simple price proposition.

  Aftermath

  The format became the foundation for the subsequent expansion of the eco-shop outlet network.

  Source

1. 1Eco-Shopen.wikipedia.org
2. 2eco-shop official websitewelcome.eco-shop.com.my