Convenience Store Kimchi-Making Preparation Complete... Kimchi-Making Kit for Single-Person Households Released

Last Year's Pickled Napa Cabbage Sales Up 62% Year-on-Year
Spread of Convenient Kimchi-Making Trend

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As consumer trends increasingly favor convenience, convenience stores have started offering kimchi-making kits for single-person households.

GS25, a convenience store operated by GS Retail, announced on the 4th that starting from the 5th, it will sell kimchi-making kits, seven types of salted napa cabbage, and kimchi fillings, reflecting the trend of easy kimchi preparation. This is because sales of salted napa cabbage for kimchi-making have significantly increased by 37% in 2018 and 62% in 2019 compared to the previous year.

The kimchi-making kit is a 3.2kg product designed for single-person households to easily make small portions of kimchi themselves. It includes 2kg of salted napa cabbage from the production area in Goesan, Chungbuk, and 1.2kg of central-style kimchi filling made from domestic ingredients to replicate the most popular kimchi flavor. Even beginners can complete kimchi-making within 30 minutes. The price is 24,800 KRW.

The seven types of salted napa cabbage are prepared in HACCP-certified facilities, salted for over 16 hours at low salt levels to ensure even flavor penetration and maintain crispness for a long time. Considering consumers' preferences for napa cabbage from different production areas, products from various regions such as Haenam, Jeonnam, and Goesan, Chungbuk, are available in different sizes. Prices range from 27,800 to 35,800 KRW for 10kg products and 38,800 to 49,800 KRW for 20kg products, comparable to large discount stores.

GS25 has also prepared an 8kg kimchi filling product as sales of kimchi fillings for kimchi-making have increased by more than 150% annually. The 8kg kimchi filling is made with central-style kimchi seasoning and is paired with 20kg of salted napa cabbage. The price is 72,800 KRW. Consumers can order and pay for kimchi-related products at their nearest GS25 and receive them at their desired location after the 4th. Starting from the 11th, customers purchasing these products can receive agricultural product discount coupons issued in the second round by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, allowing a 20% discount per 10,000 KRW spent, up to a maximum discount of 10,000 KRW.

Jeon Ik-jae, MD (purchasing manager) of the vegetable team at GS Retail, said, “This year, as the trend of cooking at home increases, demand for easy kimchi-making by one- or two-person families is expected to grow. Through over 15,000 nearby retail platforms such as GS25 and GS The Fresh, we aim to provide consumers with the most convenient and hygienic way to make kimchi, delivering great satisfaction.”

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