"Can't Resist Boknal"... Soaring Prices Boost Demand for Health-Boosting Ready Meals

Seven Eleven, Health Food Sales Increase 8x
High Purchases by Office Workers and Single-Person Households
Diversification of Products Including Chicken and Jangeo (Eel)

This year, health-boosting ready meals are gaining great popularity again as the hottest days of summer approach. Due to rising dining-out prices, consumers are seeking affordable and convenient alternatives. Convenience stores are responding by introducing various health-boosting ready meals to capture the market.

CU is introducing a model promoting health-boosting convenience meals.
[Photo by BGF Retail]

According to CU on the 12th, sales of health-boosting ready meals increased by 33.4% from the 4th to the 10th of this month compared to the previous year. During the same period, GS25 saw a 364.3% increase, Seven Eleven 700%, and Emart24 25%. This is largely due to the soaring price of Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup). According to the Korea Consumer Agency's Price Information Portal, the average price of Samgyetang at restaurants in Seoul was 16,423 KRW in May, up 12.7% from 14,577 KRW in the same month last year. This is because chicken prices rose more than 10% compared to last year, along with increases in labor, logistics, and energy costs.

Health-boosting ready meals were mostly purchased in office districts and residential areas. The main customers are analyzed to be office workers, students, and single-person households. At CU, sales growth rates were highest in office districts at 294.2%, tourist spots at 195.8%, residential areas at 40.7%, and university areas at 36.4%. GS25 recorded 428% in office districts, 395.6% in residential areas, and 372.8% near subway stations. Emart24 showed 26% in residential areas, 18% in office districts, and 16% in academy districts.

Convenience stores are focusing on differentiated health foods. At CU, Paldo Hankki Health-Boosting Samgyetang Porridge and Giant Ginseng Chicken Baeksuk rank first and second in the refrigerated ready meal category. Samgyetang porridge is a premium Gapyeong-style chicken porridge combining ginseng chicken porridge with whole chicken legs. The chicken baeksuk comes in a 30cm diameter container with two 2XL whole chicken legs, weighing 1.2kg, and is about 30% cheaper than specialty stores. GS25 planned to release 5,000 units of Energizing Freshwater Eel Grill for Chobok (the first of the three hottest days), but due to explosive demand, increased the quantity to 15,000. Seven Eleven launched freshwater eel and smoked duck lunch boxes and seasoned freshwater eel grill, while Emart24 is selling eel egg roll rice bowl as a seasonal product.

A convenience store industry official said, "Due to the recent consecutive price increases, more consumers are trying to enjoy health foods economically and conveniently at convenience stores. We are making efforts to stabilize prices by not only developing differentiated health foods but also holding large-scale promotions focusing on products with high consumer purchase shares."

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