Emart Offers 50% Discount on Premium Tuna 'Jijunghae Chamdarang-eo'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Emart is launching sales of premium tuna, 'Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna.'

From the 26th, Emart will sell 'Bluefin Tuna Assorted Sashimi and Belly' raised in the clean waters of the Mediterranean aquaculture farm for seven days at 16,900 KRW and 24,900 KRW respectively. The Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna featured in this event is the Northern Bluefin Tuna, the largest and most expensive among bluefin tunas, classified as premium.

This is the first time Emart is offering Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna, known as a gourmet delicacy, at a discount across all stores.

Emart mainly sells yellowfin tuna sashimi, a popular fish for sashimi, and Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna imported from Italy and other countries has only been sold in limited quantities at some stores at prices in the mid to high 40,000 KRW range when available.

Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna is rarely seen in large supermarkets because of its low catch volume and high price, mostly exported overseas or consumed at tuna specialty restaurants and hotels. However, Emart has prepared it at about 50% cheaper prices for this event.

The reason Emart is selling Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna at about half price is that although the tuna fishing quota, including bluefin tuna, increased by 20% this year, tuna exports decreased due to the impact of COVID-19, so they shifted the sales channel to domestic consumption to revitalize tuna consumption.

Meanwhile, due to export restrictions caused by COVID-19 this year and an increase in people eating home-cooked meals instead of dining out, premium gourmet ingredients have been appearing in large supermarkets, receiving great responses.

For example, premium crustaceans such as snow crab and king crab faced setbacks like blocked exports to China and cancellation of major domestic festivals, but after Emart offered up to 50% discounts four times this year, sales from January 1 to November 22 tripled compared to last year, even surpassing the sales of popular crustaceans like blue crabs.

Also, in March, freshwater eel, whose exports to Japan sharply declined, was sold at half price, resulting in eel sales increasing by more than 1600% during the event period. Consequently, March eel sales reached levels similar to July, when demand for health foods rises.

Choi Gwanyong, Emart’s seafood buyer, said, "Although the Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna fishing quota increased this year, exports decreased due to COVID-19, leading to cooperation between tuna suppliers and Emart. As a result, we are offering a total of 15 tons of premium Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna to customers at about half price."

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