This photo provided by BHC Co., a fried chicken franchise operator, shows its cheese ball side dish.
SEOUL, July 27 (Korea Bizwire) — With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic resulting in the rapid growth of food delivery services, South Korea’s restaurant industry is placing more emphasis on the development and marketing of side dishes.
To offset the heightened burden stemming from delivery app commissions and fees charged by delivery companies, the restaurant industry is attempting to increase sales of side dishes that can be ordered together with main dishes.
Sales of cheese balls at Kyochon F&B, a major fried chicken franchise, rose by about 65 percent for the January to May period compared to a year ago.
McDonald’s Korea released the ‘BTS set’ that consists of sides such as chicken nuggets and French fries and sold a total of 1.45 million sets over the past 35 days.
The fried chicken skin that KFC Korea Co. released as a regular side dish back in May last year continues to enjoy strong popularity.
When KFC made a limited release of this side dish – which is particularly popular in Southeast Asia – in June 2019, it sold out instantly.
The number of side dish orders placed last year through food delivery service app Baedal Minjok marked a 2.5-fold increase compared to the year before.
“To offset the substantial increase in cost burdens, including the fees charged by delivery companies and delivery app commissions, it has become very important for restaurant owners to increase the average per-customer purchase,” an industry watcher said.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
