CU, Exclusive Sale of 'Doenjang Making Kit'... Limited to 1,000 Units

All Components Including Domestic Meju, Salt, and Containers Gathered
DIY Trend Continues Among Homebodies Since COVID-19
Sales of Related Products Increased by 57.5% Year-on-Year Last Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] Convenience store CU, operated by BGF Retail, announced on the 18th that it will exclusively sell a 'Doenjang Making Kit' in collaboration with the agricultural corporation Barodam.

The Doenjang Making Kit is a product designed to allow customers to easily make doenjang at home by providing all the necessary components, including domestically produced meju powder, salt, and a fermentation container.

The manufacturing process is simple. Mix the meju powder into saltwater evenly, then ferment at room temperature (20℃~25℃) for over 90 days to complete. The kit weighs about 3kg, which is enough for a 1-2 person household to consume for one year.

The product contains no food additives other than domestic soybeans and salt, so there is no concern about genetically modified organisms (GMO) or chemical seasonings. The convenience store explained that it has passed tests for harmful substances that may occur during fermentation, ensuring it is safe to eat. The price is 39,900 KRW.

It will be available for limited pre-order of 1,000 units through the membership app ‘Pocket CU’ until the 17th of next month.

CU is introducing this DIY doenjang kit because, since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a continuing trend among people staying at home to make their own food and ingredients. Accordingly, homemade products such as meal kits and hotteok mix are gaining popularity even in convenience stores.

In fact, the number of DIY products sold at CU last year nearly doubled compared to the same period the previous year, with sales increasing by 57.5%. Especially, sales in the fourth quarter, when social distancing was strengthened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, accounted for more than half of the total.

Reflecting this trend, CU launched a ‘Choco Fondue Kit’ early last year, allowing customers to coat chocolate themselves, and sold out 10,000 units in a short period.

Recently, CU also introduced a ‘Fruit Vin Chaud Kit’ that allows customers to make vin chaud, a popular winter drink in Europe. The product contains apple, orange, cinnamon sticks, and lemon liquid tea, enabling even beginners to make vin chaud in just 20 minutes.

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