As Spring Weather Brings More Outings... Sales of Convenient Foods at Marts Also 'Bloom'

Sales of Mart Deli Foods Rise Since March
Chicken and Sushi Among Top Sellers
Quality Improvement as Well as Cost-Effectiveness Boost Sales

As the weather turns fully spring-like, demand for outings and camping is increasing, leading to a rise in sales of convenient ready-to-eat foods at large supermarkets. Industry experts attribute the increased consumer interest not only to the warm weather but also to the overall improvement in the quality of these convenient food products.

E-Mart's Convenient Food Corner

According to the distribution industry on the 16th, Emart's deli food sales since March have increased by 11.8% compared to the same period last year as of the 11th. By detailed item, chicken sales surged by 202.4%, and fried and jeon (Korean pancake) items increased by 48.4%. Additionally, sales of simple meal items such as salads and sandwiches, as well as gangjeong (sweet crispy chicken), rose by 10.2% and 10.0%, respectively. During the same period, Homeplus's deli food sales jumped by 44.0%, and Lotte Mart also showed double-digit growth with a 10.0% increase in related sales.

Chicken and sushi held a high share among the top sales rankings. At Emart, the ‘Sushi-e Premium Assorted Sushi A’ ranked first in sales, with sushi products occupying the 4th to 6th places, while ‘Saengsaeng Chicken’ and ‘BBQ Smoked Samgyeopsal’ took 2nd and 3rd places. At Homeplus, ‘Dangdang Fried Chicken,’ ‘Homeplus Table Koshihikari Sushi,’ and ‘Dangdang Sweet Seasoned Chicken’ ranked 1st to 3rd, and at Lotte Mart, ‘Sushi of the Month,’ ‘Big Chicken,’ and ‘New Han Tong Full Chicken’ appeared in the same positions.

With March weather being milder than usual and early blooming increasing the number of outing visitors, sales of convenient deli foods at large supermarkets seem to be rising. An industry official said, “We are benefiting from the lifting of indoor and outdoor mask mandates and higher temperatures than usual,” adding, “Customers shopping before outings and camping are increasingly seeking deli products that can be easily enjoyed.” Furthermore, the ongoing high prices of dining out and delivery fees are also driving demand for deli foods that emphasize cost-effectiveness.

However, the industry also evaluates that continuous quality improvements, beyond weather and price competitiveness, have influenced the sales increase. A Homeplus representative explained, “For sushi, we improved quality compared to last year by using premium ingredients such as Norwegian fresh salmon, Jeju fresh flatfish, and Koshihikari rice,” adding, “The recent sales increase was mainly due to launching new products that reflect customers’ demand for high quality.” Lotte Mart also emphasized, “We have consistently introduced new products reflecting trends, with about 120 new items launched last year,” and “We conduct monthly tasting sessions and blind tests, continuously improving the quality and taste of existing products.”

As demand for deli foods grows and shows continuous growth, companies are also releasing specialized products. Emart introduced ‘Kitchen Deli Mara Gangjeong,’ a specialty product featuring authentic mala-flavored fried chicken with fish balls and fried soft tofu. Homeplus is steadily expanding the lineup of ‘Dangdang Chicken,’ including fried, honey, and spicy Hao flavors. Lotte Mart plans to continue launching the ‘American Chinese’ series, which adds softness to Chinese cuisine, emphasizing a clean and sophisticated taste.

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