Convenience Stores In South Korea Offer ‘Healthier And Tastier Products’ Amid Strong Competition For Lunch Box Meals
More and more South Koreans demand for cheap and affordable lunch boxes these days. Since the idea started a few years back, the competition for lunch box meals becomes stronger to meet the growing demand of the market.
Korea's largest poultry producer Harim Group opened a premium lunch-box store a couple of years ago in Seoul. A worker from the company's HYmeal revealed that the idea was well-received by South Koreans.
"About 150 to 200 boxes are sold every day at the HYmeal store in Yeouidoand the premium lunch boxes at around 30,000 won ($27) are also popular," says Byun Dong Hwan, as noted by Korea Joongang Daily on July27, 2013.
"We plan to open two more stores this year and start a franchise business," Byun adds.
On the other hand, a worker from Korea's largest convenience store CU added that lunch box market at convenience stores boomed following the global crisis in 2008.
"We tried selling lunch boxes in the early 2000s, but sales were low," says Yoon Hyun Sik. "However, the lunch box market at convenience stores started growing in full swing since the global financial crisis."
Yoon goes on, "Lunch boxes at convenience stores are increasingly popular as more than 10 varieties of lunch boxes are sold at only 3,000 to 4,000 won and as convenience stores are open for 24 hours and consumers can easily eat them anytime and anywhere."
Amid the tight competition among stores that offer lunch box meals, most of them have come up with the idea to offer lunch box meals that are healthier yet affordable, Korea Herald forecasted on Thursday.
"As consumer demand for quality lunch boxes grows at a fast pace on the back of demographic changes, the market is responding by developing healthier and tastier products," says Lee Na Ra, an official from 7-Eleven.
According to Korean companies that offer lunch box meals, the sales of lunch box meals skyrocketed to over 50 percent this year due to the increasing number of single-person households in the country.
"When I don't feel like cooking a meal for myself, I drop by a convenience store to buy a dosirak [Korean term of packed lunch] on the way home from work. It saves time and food waste. And I see more product varieties that look like a proper meal," says office worker Oh Min Joo.