"Due to Soaring Cabbage Prices..." Lotte Mart Launches Early Reservation Sales for 'Half-Price Pickled Cabbage' One Month Ahead

Limited Pre-Order Sale of 200 Tons of Pickled Cabbage from the 29th
"Record High Cabbage Prices Prompt Sale One Month Earlier Than Last Year"
Average Retail Price per Cabbage Head 9,544 KRW... Up 29% from Early Month, 63% from Average
Haenam Local Pickled Cabbage 20kg Priced at Half of Current Cabbage Market Price

Models are promoting the pre-order sale of salted napa cabbage at Lotte Mart.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Lotte Mart announced on the 26th that it will start advance reservations for 'salted napa cabbage' about one month earlier than last year to stabilize prices.

This year, due to rising cultivation costs such as increased prices of agricultural materials, oil prices, and labor costs, along with poor cabbage growth and the occurrence of soft rot disease caused by heatwaves and heavy rain, the cabbage harvest has been poor, leading to a shortage of supply and a sharp rise in cabbage prices. According to the Agricultural and Fishery Products Distribution Information (aTKAMIS), as of the 23rd, the average retail price of one head of cabbage was 9,544 won, which is about 29% higher than early September and about 63% higher than the average year. The surge in cabbage prices has made buying kimchi more economical than making it at home, causing a shortage of packaged kimchi available in the market. This has increased the burden on consumers who make kimchi every year, and many predict that the so-called 'Gimpo-jok'?those who give up making kimchi?will increase this year.

In response, Lotte Mart will hold advance reservations for salted napa cabbage from the 29th to November 2nd for those worried about soaring cabbage prices ahead of the kimchi-making season. Until now, advance reservations started in early November when demand for salted napa cabbage began to rise, but due to the record-high cabbage prices, the company planned the advance reservations about one month earlier to ease customers' concerns.

The salted napa cabbages introduced by Lotte Mart this time are Haenam local salted napa cabbage (20kg) and Sanji Ttukshim Yeongwol salted napa cabbage (20kg). They will be offered at 39,900 won and 45,900 won, respectively. Each 20kg package contains 8 to 12 heads of cabbage, which is about half the price considering the current cabbage market price.

Both products have passed Lotte Mart's own quality and hygiene on-site inspections and are 100% HACCP certified products, with 200 tons prepared. The cabbages shipped from Haenam and Yeongwol in November are expected to have less climate damage compared to the highland cabbages currently being shipped, as they have been cultivated since August, so the shipment volume is expected to be stable. Additionally, by pre-negotiating a large quantity of 200 tons, they were able to offer the products at a significantly lower price compared to the current market price. During the advance reservation period, customers can apply at the 'We Will Help You' center in Lotte Mart stores and pick up their orders at the store from November 10th to December 7th.

Baek Seung-hoon, product planner (MD) of Lotte Mart's vegetable team, said, "We planned the advance reservation sales one month earlier than last year for customers worried about preparing kimchi due to the surge in cabbage prices," adding, "We will continue to respond proactively to ease the concerns of customers burdened by high prices."

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