In South Korea, Lotte Super reported an increase in sliced fruit sales, with a 50% rise year-on-year in 2024 and a further 20% growth in the first quarter of 2025. The period from May to August 2024 saw average monthly sales of sliced fruit more than double compared to the overall average for the year. Lotte Super attributes this trend to the growing number of single-person households and their preference for convenience.
Lotte Super plans to expand its range of sculpted fruits, including items like "Cutting Watermelon 400g" and "Cutting Watermelon 1/8," starting in May. From July, the selection will include peaches, cheondo peaches, grapes, melons, and kiwis, targeting smaller households and customers seeking immediate consumption.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reported a 3.6% year-on-year sales increase for SSM (business-type supermarkets) among offline distribution channels. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's "Second Quarter 2025 Retail Distribution Business Outlook Index" highlighted SSM's top forecast at 77 among major channels.
Lee Kyu-won, MD of Lotte Mart and Super Fruit Team, noted the popularity of "easy products or ready-to-use daily necessities" on super channels, emphasizing the ongoing effort to provide differentiated products and services for customer convenience.
Source: Maeil Business Newspaper