FAS/Seoul Monitoring of Media Reporting on Agricultural Issues 

Today's Date: Friday,  August 18,  2023

For Coverage:  August 14 ~ 18, 2023

E-Mart 24 Expands Famous Overseas Food... Launching Grilled Peanut Ball and Zero Beverage

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/421/0006996438?sid=101

Summary:  Emart 24, a prominent convenience store chain in Korea, has announced its plans for expanding its range of international products.  Over the course of a year, they have increased the number of available overseas products from 10 to 30.  The sales figures from July 2023 highlight their remarkable success, with a three-fold increase compared to July 2022.  Emart 24 has pursued various avenues to source products from abroad, with one notable approach being their participation in international Food Fairs held outside of Korea.  By consistently offering products from different corners of the world, they aim to secure a competitive advantage and cater to a diverse customer base.

Institutional Food Service Industry Supported by 'Lunch Inflation'... "Find the next Chance"

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/018/0005553604?sid=101

Summary:  The institutional food service industry is thriving at present.  While the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to sales, it has completely changed, and they are now enjoying better times.  After the uncertainty, their goal now is not only boosting sales but also investing in their businesses.  Notably, CJ Fresh Way and Hyundai Green Food achieved sales growth of 14.9% and 16.0% respectively compared to last year.  As they continue to maintain sales, they are seeking new ways to take measures against challenges that might happen, just like COVID-19.  One of the strategies is expanding into foreign markets.  Hyundai Green Food and Our Home have already started investing abroad, with plans to expand further into the United States and Europe.

Fostering Powdered Rice that is Implemented by the Government... "The Role of the Private Sector should be Expanded"

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/421/0006993908?sid=102

Summary:  The Korean government suggest that Korea decrease growing rice and increase growing powdered rice that can replace wheat.  This is because there are plenty of rice for Koreans to eat and wheat is highly dependent on imports.  By doing so, the government estimates that Korea can reach the food self-sufficiency rate of 55.5 percent by 2027.  This rate has been decreasing since 2017 and reached its lowest point in 2021.  By increasing the supply and demand of powdered rice, the government is trying to solve the decreasing rate in food self-sufficiency.  However, there are opinions that this business is only implemented by the government.  Therefore, they are arguing that government privatize the business and give chance to the private sectors. 

MAFRA: 5 Million of Hatchery Eggs from Netherland to Arrive in Korea Today

https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20230816033200003?input=1195m

Summary:  MAFRA announced that 5 million of hatchery eggs for broiler breeding for the first time will be arrived in Korea on 8/17/2023.  Korea had imported hatchery eggs for layer breeding once in 2017 due to the HPAI outbreaks, but it is the first time to import the hatchery eggs for broiler breeding.  MAFRA announced that the Harim and the Dongwoo Farm To Table will import 5 million of hatchery eggs from Netherland and will provide about 4 million broiler chicks to poultry farms after hatching.  Considering the breeding period (about 50 days), broilers hatched from imported eggs will be supplied to the market from October.  MAFRA will support some part of the difference of between domestic chick price and the production cost of hatched chicks from imported eggs.  Importing hatchery eggs for broiler breeding is to stabilize the supply, demand of chickens in the market.  Broiler supply in July was 67.3 million chickens down 6.2 percent from the previous year.  Wholesale and consumer prices for chickens are about 9.3 percent and 12 percent, respectively higher compared to the previous year.  MAFRA will closely monitor the chicken demand and supply and will make an effort to stabilize the chicken prices via additional imports of hatchery eggs or expansion of TRQ.

"More Canned-ham without Meat" Food Industry Growing its Market in Large
https://biz.newdaily.co.kr/site/data/html/2023/08/16/2023081600079.html

Summary:  Many Korean food industries are expanding their business to “substitute-meant”, or plant-based meat, which is created without using any animal ingredients.  As there are increasing portion of consumers who put value to the food they consume, a lot of companies in food industry including CJ, Pulmuone, Shinsegae, Dongwon F&B are participating in developing substitute meat.  Some of them are even considering separation of substitute meat business in order to improve and focus more on the plant-based meat.  It is estimated that the demand will continue to increase and reach 32.1billion KRW in 2025.

The Price of "Iced-Americano" is Falling Again to 2,000 KRW… Bigger, Cheaper, Cost-effective

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0004880610?sid=103

Summary:  The coffee business is becoming more competitive than ever.  In the case of convenience stores, major factor in competitions amongst companies is size and cost-efficiency.  This resulted in bringing bigger and cheaper coffee products to major convenience stores such as CU, GS25, and Seven Eleven.  In addition, franchise coffee stores are also competing with additional sizes of coffee.  Starbucks Korea has launched a new coffee size ‘Trenta’, 1.5 times bigger than ‘Venti’.  Coffee Bean Korea and Ediya have also made promotion that targets customers who want bigger coffee.  This rising trend in Korea is taking place because consumer price has been increasing for a long time.  This high price created the demand for cost-efficient price.  Therefore, as the coffee price increased for the last couple of periods, customers looking for bigger sized coffee has also increased, to fulfill their new needs.

"5 Lettuce per Person, No Refill"... The Sigh of Korean Meat Restaurant Owner]

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0004880603?sid=103\

Summary:  The owner of a Korean food restaurant has decreased the amount of lettuce to five slices a table due to the recent sharp rise in price.  The average price of lettuce was 25,000 KRW per 4kg, but nowadays it is almost 100,000 KRW, which is four times higher than before.  Due to the price increases, other restaurants have stopped the “self-service” of items such as kimchi and pickled radish to reduce food waste and save money.  According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), most of the agricultural product prices have increased and the higher prices of crops is expected to continue for some time because of recent harsh weather.  If the supply chain keeps on facing this kind of difficulty, it is estimated that the price of crops might increase further, especially in the coming months, when the demand for food increases due to the Chuseok holiday.

No Further AI Cases Confirmed from Contaminated Cat Food

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230808007900320?section=search

Summary:  South Korea's agricultural ministry said Wednesday it has found no further infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) traced to contaminated cat food products.  The announcement came after the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said traces of the virus were found in two kinds of cat food -- Balanced Duck and Balanced Chicken manufactured by Nature's Raw -- used at a shelter in Seoul last week.  Last month, a cat at the shelter in Seoul's Gwanak district died after showing respiratory symptoms, and it was later found to have been infected with a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain.  Upon detection of the virus, the government ordered the manufacturer to recall and destroy the products and launched an inspection into all manufacturers of animal food using chicken, duck and other meats.  The ministry said it has contacted 286 consumers who have purchased the products to recall and destroy them.  The consumers' cats have so far showed no signs of the highly pathogenic AI, with the regional governments planning to closely observe them through next week.  Concerns have grown over the spread of avian influenza among cats and other animals, as the country also reported AI cases in two cats at a shelter in Seoul's Yongsan Ward last month, marking the first infections of the virus in mammals since 2016.  "Pets living at houses are highly unlikely to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, and there have been no cases of such infections between cats globally," an official from the agricultural ministry said.

Additional Disclosure of Reference Values of Consumption Date for 120 Items of 39 Food Types

http://www.foodnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=103794

Summary:  The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) disclosed 'consumption date reference values' for 430 items of 34 food types by January 2023 so that food companies refer to the information when they indicate the expiration date of their processed foods.  On August 2^nd, the consumption period reference values for 120 items including fried noodles and boiled foods which had no reference values before were additionally announced.