[Source: Herald Economy, by Reporter Kwon Nam-geun] As the era of high prices continues with even chicken prices soaring, the worries of chicken and beer lovers, known as “chimaek” lovers, have deepened. In the case of large franchise chicken prices, they can reach up to 30,000 won including delivery fees. Because of this, demand is shifting towards large mart and convenience store chicken priced around 10,000 won.
“According to the distribution industry on the 2nd, ‘large mart chicken,’ which was not receiving much attention even when delivery chicken was popular during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen a rapid increase in sales since 2022 in line with the situation of high prices,” it said.
“Sales of E-Mart’s Delicorner chicken increased by 30.4% and 49.0% compared to the previous year in 2022 and last year, and by 12.0% in the first 5 months of this year,” it added.
“Lotte Mart’s chicken sales growth rates were 35.0% in 2022, 20.0% last year, and 10.0% in the first 5 months of this year,” the report noted.
The popularity of large mart chicken is increasing due to the fact that delivery chicken prices are reaching up to 30,000 won.
“BHC raised the price of its most representative Pulkogi menu from 18,000 won to 21,000 won at the end of last year, while Goobne Chicken raised the price of its Gochu Basasak menu from 18,000 won to 19,900 won in April. BBQ will also increase the price of its popular menu, Hwanggeum Olive Chicken, from 20,000 won to 23,000 won starting from the 4th,” it said.
When ordering delivery chicken, the cost can reach up to the high 30,000 won range if you include the delivery fee without any discounts.
The three major large marts are reinforcing their chicken deli products to attract chimaek lovers.
E-Mart’s top 2 Delicorner chicken products are the 9,980 won ‘Fresh Chicken’ and ‘Boneless Chicken.’ The Secret Seasoned Chicken is priced at 14,980 won.
Homeplus Delicorner offers the ‘Bold Fried Chicken’ for 6,990 won, and the ‘Spicy Fried Chicken’ for 12,990 won.
Lotte Mart sells the ‘Big Chicken,’ a whole No. 10 frozen chicken, fried for 14,990 won, and the ‘New Whole Half Chicken,’ a No. 9-11 frozen chicken half, fried for 15,990 won.
Since chicken products are meant to attract customers to the mart as ‘customer gathering products,’ the large marts often sell them at even cheaper prices compared to their regular prices.
Lotte Mart will present the ‘Big Chicken’ and ‘Crunch Con So Me Chicken’ for 8,994 won and 9,990 won respectively until the 5th.
All three major large marts use domestically sourced chilled fresh chicken and only use vegetable oils such as soybean oil for frying. They plan to expand the chicken product lineup with more seasoning varieties and strengthen the deli products to replace dining out amid the rising dining out prices.
Neighborhood convenience stores have also seen a rapid increase as chicken sellers.
GS25 sells more than 40 chicken products, including ordered cooked chicken, cut chicken, chicken skewers, and more, through its in-house instant chicken brand ‘Chicken25,’ offering a 600g boneless chicken called ‘Sun Salt Chicken’ for 11,900 won.
GS25’s chicken sales increased by 23.5% and 29.8% in 2022 and last year, and also showed a 30.5% increase in the first 5 months of this year.
CU’s chicken sales also increased by 35.6% in 2022, 51.0% last year, and 46.5% in the first 5 months of this year.
The prices of cut chicken and skewers average in the mid-2000 won range, with a giant boneless chicken costing 8,900 won and fried chicken priced at 9,900 won for one whole chicken.