BHC follows the flock and raises its prices too

BHC Chicken is raising prices by an average of 7.8 percent.

The second largest fried-chicken franchise after Kyochon F&B said on Monday it will up the prices starting Dec. 20.

It blamed higher wages and delivery fees, more expensive raw materials and fees paid to food delivery apps for the increase.

The price increase is the first since 2013.

Last month, Kyochon F&B announced its own increase in chicken prices, by an average 8.1 percent.

The price of BHC Chicken's plain fried chicken will rise 13.33 percent from 15,000 won($14.5) to 17,000 won, while the prices of its Red King Wing spicy chicken and its iconic Bburinkle chicken will jump 11.11 percent to 20,000 won.

BHC Chicken said that five newly-released dishes, including the Pote-King Fried chicken and potato combination, will not be subject to the latest price increase.

The company added that the price increase is to "co-exist with store owners and to offer quality and a wide variety of flavors to customers."

Other food chains have raised price this year, citing rises in raw material prices, minimum wage increases and supply chain disruptions.

Lotteria raised the price of its food products by an average 4.1 percent starting this month, while Outback Steakhouse Korea upped the price of its products by an average 6.2 percent late last month.

Outback Steakhouse was acquired by BHC in November.

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