Lotte Mart said on the 21st that it will sell "domestically produced salmon" (100g) for 4,490 won for four days from Apr. 23–26, the first among domestic distributors.
Despite strong consumer demand, salmon has been almost 100% dependent on imports from abroad, including Norway and Chile. As a result, concerns have been high about supply instability and price increases due to external factors such as international conditions and exchange rate fluctuations.
The domestically produced salmon that Lotte Mart is introducing this time is "king salmon," a premium variety that accounts for only 1% of global farmed volume. It said the fish carries high scarcity and value, as it takes about two years and six months or more to ship.
To introduce this domestically farmed salmon, Lotte Mart has worked with Worya Fisheries since 2023. Worya Fisheries is a specialized company that has pursued salmon farming since 2014, and, through a smart-farm control system, maintains the optimal year-round water temperature (13℃ or below) to raise salmon with fresh and safe quality.
For this domestically farmed salmon promotion, Lotte Mart signed advance contracts for a total of 5 tons (t). Cho Seong-yeon, Lotte Mart and Super seafood team MD (merchandiser), said, "This sale of domestically produced salmon is a challenging attempt carried out to reduce the 100% dependence on imported salmon and to stabilize supply amid a strong dollar."