"Cheaper Than 10 Years Ago"... Three Major Supermarkets Compete for Lowest Autumn Blue Crab Prices

Emart to Offer Same Price for Live and Frozen Blue Crabs from August 22 to 24
Homeplus: 780 KRW for Frozen Blue Crab, 1,090 KRW for Live Blue Crab

With the lifting of the West Coast blue crab fishing ban, major supermarket chains are entering a competition to offer the lowest prices on fresh autumn blue crabs.

The three major supermarket chains-Emart, Homeplus, and Lotte Mart-began price competition on August 21, the first day after the West Coast blue crab fishing ban (June 21-August 20) was lifted.

Citizens are lined up in front of the flower crab sales counter at a large supermarket in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

Emart will sell fresh autumn blue crabs to customers who accumulate Shinsegae Points at 760 KRW per 100g for three days from August 22 to 24. Both live blue crabs and frozen blue crabs stored on ice will be sold at the same price, which was initially set at 788 KRW but has been reduced.

Emart to Offer Same Price for Live and Frozen Blue Crabs from August 22 to 24

Emart emphasized that this is the lowest price since 2015. In addition, from August 25 to 28, fresh autumn blue crabs will be sold at 985 KRW per 100g for Shinsegae Points members.

Traders and Everyday will also offer discounts of up to 40% on blue crabs until August 28.

Emart plans to supply over 150 tons of blue crabs during the entire eight-day promotion period. To achieve this, the company has formed a direct transaction network by collaborating with about 50 vessels to secure the maximum quantity.

Homeplus: 780 KRW for Frozen Blue Crab, 1,090 KRW for Live Blue Crab

At Homeplus, frozen blue crabs are sold at a lower price than live blue crabs. When paying with a promotional card from August 22 to 24, customers can purchase frozen blue crabs at 780 KRW per 100g, which is 10 KRW lower than the initially set price of 790 KRW.

A Homeplus representative stated, "Ten years ago, the weekly flyer price for blue crabs right after the fishing ban was 980 KRW per 100g, but now it's even cheaper than that." The quantity of frozen fresh blue crabs available during this period is 20 tons, and each customer can purchase up to 1kg.

Additionally, until August 27, Homeplus will sell live blue crabs (cold water stunned blue crabs) at 1,090 KRW per 100g when paying with a promotional card. From August 25 to 27, Homeplus Online will offer cold water stunned blue crabs at a minimum price of 905 KRW per 100g.

Lotte Mart will offer live blue crabs at 992 KRW per 100g until August 27. In addition, Coupang is planning a Rocket Fresh direct delivery blue crab promotion, though the sales price has not yet been determined.

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