Last season, the professional baseball league surpassed 10 million spectators for the first time in history, and various specialized products were launched in line with this success. However, the Lotte Giants were the only team excluded, leaving fans disappointed.
Baking corporation SPC Samlip officially launched 'KBO Bread' on the 20th through a collaboration with the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Products featuring one KBO Bread representing each of the nine other teams were released, and including a specially crafted roll cake shaped like a bat called 'Home Run Bat Roll', a total of 10 varieties are available.
The product includes a total of 215 types of sticker seals, which comprise 189 types featuring 20 representative players and mascots from the nine teams, as well as 26 types of 'Special Sticker Seals' made up of the lineup for the 2024 Premier 12 team.
The sticker seals gained immense popularity, with online communities featuring posts from individuals boasting about pulling their desired player sticker seals, while transactions of sticker seals are occurring on the second-hand trading application 'Carrot'.
However, fans of the excluded Lotte Giants expressed their disappointment. The reason for Lotte's exclusion is that LOTTE Wellfood, one of the Lotte affiliates, operates a baking business under the Kirin brand. This creates a unique situation where the Lotte team finds it difficult to promote competitor products.
SPC Samlip reportedly requested cooperation from the KBO Secretariat for launching the product with all 10 teams, but Lotte declined.
A KBO official noted, 'Samilp inquired with all 10 teams through KBOP, which manages league marketing, and the Lotte team responded that they found it difficult to participate. However, the Lotte team agreed to the launch of products involving only the other nine teams.'
Woongjin Food will also launch the 'Sky Barley KBO Edition', featuring each team's logo and mascot, on the 22nd, coinciding with the opening day of the professional baseball season. This special edition is produced and sold under a formal licensing agreement with the KBO and was made only for teams wishing to participate, meaning that nine teams, excluding Lotte Giants, are involved. The product is available in a general version and separate editions featuring each team's mascot, totaling 10 varieties, and can be found in convenience stores and various online malls nationwide.
The Sky Barley KBO Edition also excluded the Lotte Giants because LOTTE Chilsung Beverage, one of its affiliates, operates in the beverage business.
Lotte fans understand the situation but feel disappointed that they cannot enjoy the content alongside fans of the other nine teams.
A Lotte fan, Seo (30), residing in Haeundae District, Busan, said, 'While I understand it's due to competing products, I feel disappointed seeing fans from other teams proudly showcasing their player sticker seals. I hope that in the next opportunity, a collaboration product will be created by Lotte affiliates to include the Lotte Giants as well.'