[Post-Corona, Convenience Foods Rise] Patties and Buns Both Plant-Based, Truly a 'Miracle Burger'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Lotteria is a native long-standing franchise company that has maintained its presence in the domestic market for 41 years despite the onslaught of multinational fast food brands. Lotteria, which opened its first store in Sogong-dong, Seoul in 1979, currently holds the industry’s top position with about 1,350 stores nationwide. Lotteria continuously strives to grow as a QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) brand by offering a variety of hamburgers, desserts, and beverages tailored to Korean tastes.

Lotteria has steady-seller products that have been loved by customers for over 30 years. In 1992, Lotteria became the first in the industry to launch the Bulgogi Burger, which incorporates the flavor of bulgogi, a representative Korean dish, using Australian beef. The Bulgogi Burger, made with patties seasoned with bulgogi marinade and sauce, has been a flagship long-lasting product that received great attention after its release. The Shrimp Burger, featuring Lotteria’s special sauce that maximizes the shrimp’s flavor, has a strong fan base.

In February, Lotteria launched the 'Miracle Burger,' the first in the domestic franchise industry made with plant-based patties, buns, and sauces. The 'Miracle Burger,' meaning meatless but tasting like meat, uses patties that replicate the texture of meat by optimally combining protein and wheat protein.

The sauce uses soybeans instead of eggs to enhance a savory taste, and the bun is made from plant-based ingredients without any dairy components, making it a completely animal-free burger. As consumers increasingly show interest in ethical consumption in the domestic food service industry, Lotteria plans to continuously expand its range of various plant-based alternative hamburgers that reflect market trends focused on future food and consider the environment and health.

It is also popular overseas. Since its first entry into Vietnam in 1998, Lotteria aggressively expanded stores and operated localized menus alongside Vietnam’s economic growth in 2004, surpassing 100 stores in 2011 and breaking through 200 stores in just over three years. Currently, with about 240 stores operating through local franchise openings, Lotteria maintains the number one market share in Vietnam. It has also entered Southeast Asian markets such as China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, operating about 300 overseas stores and striving to grow as a global food service company.

Meanwhile, Lotte GRS, which operates Lotteria, Angel-in-us, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and TGI Fridays, has introduced the integrated application 'Lotte Eats' that provides its own ordering service to enhance taste, health, and consumer convenience. The main features offered in the Lotte Eats integrated app include 'Home Service (Delivery),' which allows easy ordering of desired menus anytime and anywhere, and 'Eats Order,' which minimizes waiting time by allowing customers to visit stores without queuing.

To increase customer convenience, the app offers five easy login methods considering accessibility (Lotte Members ID, fingerprint, PIN number, mobile phone number, Face ID), a post-accumulation feature for uncollected stamps (CHIP), electronic receipts that eliminate the need for paper receipts, and a drive-thru function that provides fast and accurate service by registering vehicle information when ordering through the Eats Order service.

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