As franchise delivery chicken prices soared to 20,000 to 30,000 won, three major supermarkets entered the competition for 'ultra-low-priced chicken.'
According to the distribution industry on the 6th, Lotte Mart introduced 'big chicken' as a representative item in its 'big sale' event from the 26th of last month to the 2nd. The event, which sells one chicken for 5,000 won, saw all 100,000 chickens sold during the promotion period.
Emart has been selling 'amazing perfect chicken' for 3,480 won as a representative item in its 'whale it festa cool summer sale' from the 4th to today. Homeplus also introduced 'dangdang 3,990 old fried chicken' for 3,990 won as part of its 'crazy 4-day special price' event from the 3rd to today.
All three major supermarkets are having staff fry domestic chilled meat directly in-store, selling only one chicken per person. The daily preparation quantity per store is 100 to 150 chickens at Emart and about 50 at Homeplus.
The popularity of low-priced chicken from major supermarkets is due to a recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in Brazil, which caused chicken prices to rise more than 20% compared to last year, along with delivery chicken prices increasing to 20,000 to 30,000 won.
As delivery chicken prices rose, it was reported that the sales of ready-to-cook chicken in major supermarkets increased. In the first half of this year, the sales volume of chicken at Emart and Lotte Mart increased by 22% and 10%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. During the same period, Homeplus's chicken sales increased by up to four times, depending on the store.
Major supermarkets explained that they lowered the chicken price by purchasing chicken, cooking oil, and powder in bulk through pre-contracts. In particular, since staff fry the chicken directly in the deli corner, there are no separate store rental fees or franchise and marketing expenses. The major supermarkets plan to continue the 'chicken competition' due to the significant symbolic value of deli corner chicken.