Lotte Mart said on the 19th that it will strengthen its fruit competitiveness by highlighting exclusive growing regions and new varieties. While being the only one among the three major big-box chains to offer produce from leading domestic growing regions, it has also been aggressively expanding its new-variety lineup since the start of the year.
This year, Lotte Mart is selling "Miryang Eoreumgol apples (4-5 count/bag)" exclusively among big-box retailers. Miryang Eoreumgol is regarded as one of Korea's top growing regions thanks to its large daily temperature swings and abundant sunlight, which produce excellent texture and sweetness in the flesh. Although harvests have declined since 2022 due to abnormal weather, creating shortages, Lotte Mart moved early by collaborating with NongHyup in Miryang to prepare for exclusive distribution.
Lotte Mart is also putting weight behind introducing new varieties. At the end of last year, Lotte Mart launched "Jeju Urihyang (1.2 kg/pack)," a cross between Hwanggeumhyang and Redhyang, becoming the first among big-box retailers to do so. Unlike typical late-season citrus, this product has a thin peel, making it as easy to eat as tangerines and enhancing convenience. Alongside that, it is introducing "Greensis pears (2 count/pack)," bred by crossing Asian pears and Western pears, featuring an unusual light-green peel and a fresh acidity.
Strawberries will be offered in the most diverse assortment. In Jan., Lotte Mart added four new varieties, including "Pink Candy (310 g/pack)" and "Arihyang (310 g/pack)," completing a seasonal strawberry lineup of 11 varieties with differing characteristics in texture, juiciness, and sweetness.
In addition, to allow customers to enjoy year-round the large size and crisp texture of the popular U.S. summer variety "Super Crunch," Lotte Mart will carry through the winter a Chilean new variety with similar traits, "Sequoia blueberries (278 g/pack)."
Kim Dong-hun, head of fruit for Lotte Mart and Lotte Super, said, "By working with partners nationwide to secure exclusive growing regions and actively adopt new varieties, we are continuously expanding the fruit choices available at Lotte Mart," adding, "We will provide differentiated fresh experiences to customers throughout the year."