Lotte Mart to Launch 'Rice Specialty Store' at Cheongnyangni Branch

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Lotte Mart is launching a specialty rice store.

Lotte Mart will open a 'specialized rice store' at its Cheongnyangni branch on the 26th to offer customers a variety of high-quality rice.

The newly introduced 'specialized rice store' spans approximately 66㎡ (20 pyeong) and features not only existing rice varieties such as Koshihikari and Samgwang but also 18 new varieties that are less common but of excellent quality, including Kawaji No.1, Oryun, Saeilmi, and Miho.

Considering that purchasing large quantities at once can be burdensome, the newly handled rice varieties are vacuum-packed in small portions (450g), allowing customers who are trying these products for the first time to enjoy them without hesitation.

Additionally, a specialized instant milling service is provided. Eight types of rice and eight types of mixed grains are offered in bulk (displayed without packaging), and customers can have rice milled in quantities ranging from 1kg to 10kg according to their preference.

To ensure trust in quality, the varieties and origins of domestic mixed grains have been standardized and clearly labeled. Generally, mixed grains are sourced from multiple regions, making it difficult to verify specific origins and varieties beyond being domestic. However, Lotte Mart has upgraded quality by standardizing the origin and variety of mixed grains to offer customers trustworthy food products.

Unique services have also been prepared. These include an 'instant cooked rice sales service,' where rice milled that morning is cooked and sold immediately upon customer order, and a 'rice sommelier' operated 'rice preference consulting booth.' The 'instant cooked rice sales service' is available on weekdays from 5 PM to 7 PM and on weekends from 3 PM to 7 PM, while the consulting booth is staffed by a rice sommelier three times a month to introduce customized products.

Furthermore, the rice specialty store sells not only rice and mixed grains but also processed products that pair well with rice, as well as vacuum rice containers and bowls related to rice.

The reason Lotte Mart is launching a rice specialty store is due to increased customer interest in rice as the number of 'home meal enthusiasts' has grown amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Lotte Mart's rice product sales from November 1 to 22 increased by 5% compared to the same period last year, which is unusual given the annual decline in per capita rice consumption.

Kim Miran, MD (Merchandiser) of Lotte Mart's dry food team, said, “As COVID-19 prolongs, eating habits are also changing. In response to this trend, we are providing rice and related services that customers can trust, and we plan to expand this by store in the future.”

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