Convenience stores rolling out foods for Chobok

CU’s gift packages marketed for the hot weather [BGF RETAIL]

Convenience stores are marketing foods to help people fight the scorching heat as the temperature starts to climb.

GS25 and Emart24 convenience stores are introducing rice served with eel for less than 10,000 won ($9), while CU stores are offering lobster and abalone.

Usually, convenience stores strongly promote samgyetang, a traditional chicken soup with ginseng, in time for Chobok, which marks the beginning of the hot season.

Samgyetang is believed to help people replenish their energy lost in the heat.

This year, they have diversified their options and sales channels available as people continue to dine indoors to avoid contracting Covid-19.

This year’s Chobok falls on July 11.

GS25 on Monday said it is offering rice served with roasted eel with sliced perilla leaf and ginger at 9,900 won. It is offering a 30 percent discount to people who buy it via its mobile shopping app.

Emart24 is offering a similar product at 8,900 won, along with a number of samgyetang home meal replacement products offered at 3,900 won, around 50 percent off.

Emart24 said it expanded product categories by around 30 percent compared to last year because it expects more people to celebrate Chobok at home.

The company said sales of food like chicken and abalone jumped 84 percent on-month in July last year.

CU is targeting single-person households and those who want to send a gift package amid the continued social distancing.

Its offerings of gift packages range from premium Korean beef, lobster, abalone and ginseng. Their price range between 45,000 won to 99,000 won.

For single-person households, CU is introducing gonyak noodles (gelatinous noodles) with bulgogi and samgyetang with half a chicken.

CU “expanded the offerings this year,” said Jin Young-ho, Managing Director at BGF Retail’s Merchandising Department. Jin added that CU is selling Chobok products online for the first time this year as it expects demand to celebrate Chobok at home to rise.

7-Eleven focused on chicken this year, rolling out chicken burgers and chicken gimbap in partnership with Harim, a poultry processor.

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]