March 20, 2024 | Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr |
Major supermarkets like E-Mart, Lotte Mart, and Homeplus are boosting the supply of imported fruits like cherries, kiwis, and mangosteen to stabilize prices. They plan to increase imports of New Zealand kiwis and Thai mangosteen, and U.S. cherries. The move aims to alleviate consumer burden by offering more affordable fruit through discounts and promotions. This strategy aligns with the government's efforts to diversify fruit demand and mitigate high domestic fruit prices. E-Mart notably increased orange imports fivefold in January and tripled sales volumes in February. Lotte Mart and Homeplus also saw double-digit growth in fruit sales. However, apple sales surged despite a price hike of over 30%, prompting supermarkets to offer discounts on "dimple apples" and other fruits to maintain consumer interest. E-Mart, for instance, offered dimple apples at a 40% discount and plans to introduce discounted "ugly melons" in April.