SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — An increasing number of consumers are showing a preference for packaged traditional chicken soup, or “samgyetang,” an iconic summer dish in South Korea.
According to CJ Cheiljedang Corp., sales of Bibigo Samgyetang from July 1 to 25 tripled compared to the same period in April and May. In the first half of this year, sales doubled.
Dongwon F&B Co. also experienced a 25 percent rise in sales of its ready-to-eat samgyetang products this year, with second-quarter sales surging by over 550 percent compared to the first quarter.
Shinsegae Food Inc. reported that sales of its pre-cooked Olban Samgyetang increased by 52 percent during the period from June 1 to July 15 compared to the previous year.
The price of samgyetang sold at restaurants in Seoul averaged 16,423 won (US$12.82) last month, reflecting a 10.3 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Korea Consumer Agency.
Samgyetang is a traditional chicken soup made with a whole young chicken stuffed with ginseng, sticky rice and garlic. It is widely consumed in the country as an energy-boosting meal during summer.
Image Credit: Shinsegae Food Inc. / CJ Cheiljedang Corp. / photonews@koreabizwire.com
