Fear of COVID-19 Infection... "Using Disposable Tableware and Buying Bulk Food"

Increase in Disposable Cup Use at Coffee Shops Amid COVID-19 Spread
Surge in Disposable Tableware Due to Food Delivery Boom
Reduced Dining Out and Bulk Food Purchases via Early Morning Delivery

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Saeng-hye, Lee Seung-jin] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) surged to 893, more people are avoiding going out and refraining from sharing items. The use of disposable products has increased instead of shared items like mugs used by many, and consumers purchasing bulk food instead of dining out are also on the rise.

According to the related industry on the 25th, although regulations on disposable tableware such as disposable cups had been tightening recently due to the eco-friendly trend, consumers using disposable products are rapidly increasing again due to concerns about COVID-19 infection. The food service sector where the use of disposable products has noticeably increased is coffee shops. Currently, the use of synthetic resin cups is prohibited in all food service businesses, including coffee shops. Paper cups can be used until the end of this year, but many coffee franchises are voluntarily refraining from using them through agreements with the Ministry of Environment.

However, since last month when the spread of COVID-19 infection intensified, the Ministry of Environment has temporarily allowed disposable products in food service businesses located in places with frequent domestic and international access (airports, train stations, terminals, etc.) under the judgment of local government heads. In general restaurants and cafes, disposable products can be used inside the store if the local government head decides to expand the 'regulation relaxation target.' From the 24th, Seoul city has temporarily permitted the use of disposable products in multi-customer establishments.

A Starbucks representative stated, "At the store located in Seocho-gu, Seoul, requests from customers to use disposable cups during lunchtime have slightly increased." Coffee shop A in Gangnam-gu announced, "Customers not wearing masks will be restricted from entering, and sales will be takeout only for the time being." A representative from coffee shop B in Jung-gu said, "As the situation worsens, even if cups are cleaned thoroughly, consumers express distrust," appealing that the use of disposable cups is inevitable.

According to the delivery industry, as food delivery orders surge, the use of disposable tableware is increasing. The use of disposable cups and other items is also rising in companies and private gatherings instead of reusable containers. On 11th Street, sales of disposable tableware increased by 268% compared to the same period last month (January 24 to February 23). Sales of paper cups also rose by 227%. On Gmarket, sales of paper cups increased by 88% and disposable containers by 64% during the same recent one-month period (January 24 to February 23) compared to the previous year.

An Emart employee is displaying freshly prepared Dakgangjeong products. The Jinmichae and Spicy Anchovy Dakgangjeong, launched on the 13th, sold over 2 tons by weight within just one week of release. (Photo by Emart)

More people are enjoying home-cooked meals instead of dining out. According to SSG.com, the number of consumers ordering bulk food through dawn delivery increased from the 20th of last month to the 23rd of this month. Water, eggs, and fruits, popular items in dawn delivery, consistently ranked high in order volume, while 20kg rice products newly entered the top 5. This is due to the increase in home cooking as dining out has decreased because of COVID-19.

During the same period, 2.3L bulk milk products entered the top 50 in dawn delivery. Previously, 1L milk products were popular, but consumer interest has grown since the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, home meal replacement (HMR) products such as instant rice and beef bone soup also ranked within the top 50 popular dawn delivery items. Ready-to-eat products at large supermarkets are also gaining popularity. Jinmichae and spicy anchovy chicken gangjeong, launched by E-Mart on the 13th, sold over 2 tons by weight within just one week of release. Five types of California rolls, released on the 1st, sold more than 220,000 units within 20 days of launch.

In particular, although the number of customers visiting marts has decreased and overall mart sales have declined since the spread of COVID-19, sales of ready-to-eat products such as chicken gangjeong and sushi increased by 10-15% compared to last year. This is analyzed as a result of more consumers reducing dining out and opting to quickly prepare meals at home due to the impact of COVID-19.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.