Due to High Prices, People Eat Health Foods at Home on Boknal

[Financial News] Ahead of Chobok (July 20), competition to capture the 'Chobok special demand' is intensifying among distribution industries such as large supermarkets and convenience stores. Due to skyrocketing prices, the burden of dining out costs is increasing, leading to a growing demand for preparing health foods at home on Boknal. In particular, large supermarkets are selling Samgyetang ingredients at prices cheaper than 10 years ago, and convenience stores are introducing convenient home health food menus, targeting consumers with a 'cost-effectiveness (price-performance ratio)' strategy.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency's price information portal 'Chamgagyeok' on the 16th, the price of a bowl of Samgyetang in Seoul as of last May was 17,654 won. It rose about 4.5% compared to the same month last year (16,885 won).
Due to the impact of rising dining out prices, the demand for 'home health food' is also increasing. GS25's sales in the health food category during last year's Boknal season showed a high growth rate of 87% compared to the previous year.
CU also showed a trend of increasing sales growth rates for health foods in the summer season (June-August) by 30.8% in 2022, 28.5% in 2023, and 25.1% in 2024, increasing by 20-30% annually.
Accordingly, the distribution industry is also promoting a 'cost-effectiveness strategy' this year to capture the Boknal demand of 'home health enthusiasts' by offering discounts on ingredients and introducing convenient health foods for single households and solo diners.
Lotte Mart will hold a discount event for boiled chicken and convenient health foods for home health enthusiasts from the 17th. From the 17th to the 18th, they will sell Harim frozen young chicken (370g, domestic) at a super special price of 1,590 won.
For this, it is known that Lotte Mart has prepared a limited quantity of 20,000 chickens by purchasing raw materials whenever the market price was low since last January and storing them frozen. From the 17th to the 23rd, they will sell 'Geumsan washed ginseng' at a price 30% cheaper than the market price.
Emart counters with a massive discount level cheaper than 10 years ago. They will sell two fresh chickens for 3,980 won when paying with an event card for four days from the 17th to the 20th, and one watermelon for 9,900 won only on the 17th. The convenient Samgyetang is sold at the 'all-time lowest price', not 10 years ago. It is sold at 3,980 won, a 66.7% discount from the regular price of 11,980 won.
The convenience store industry is also introducing new convenient health food menus that stand out with ideas.
GS25 launched chicken leg nurungji Samgyetang (6,900 won) and whole freshwater eel rice bowl (8,900 won). GS25's instant chicken brand Chicken25 offers a 5,000 won discount on delivery and pickup of 'Our Neighborhood GS' on the day of Chobok (July 20) and Jungbok (30th).
CU also introduced two types of convenient health foods for Boknal to replenish energy. The whole freshwater eel set meal (9,900 won) is in the form of a rice bowl topped with a whole grilled freshwater eel. The smoked duck set meal (6,900 won) is a lunch box that includes tender and savory smoked duck with radish wraps.
An industry official said, "As dining out prices rise, more consumers are enjoying health foods at home conveniently and affordably," and "the launch of products with reasonable prices and convenience will continue."
wonder@fnnews.com Jeong Sang-hee Reporter