[Courtesy of Lotte On]
Government data showed that about 63.8 percent of raw fish menus were consumed at home through delivery service or take away in South Korea due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the epidemic, some 75 percent of raw fish was consumed at restaurants.
Lotte On, the online shopping mall of Lotte Group, said in a statement that Hoe and sushi filleted by seafood experts will be added to the instant delivery service on December 30. The two-hour instant delivery service will be available in 17 Lotte Mart stores across the country. Consumers can choose from some 10 fresh flatfish and salmon menus.
"By using Lotte On's instant delivery service, we hope that consumers will enjoy raw fish and sushi menus at home without visiting a store," Kim Dae-chang, head of Lotte On's grocery business division, was quoted as saying. Lotte On and Lotte Mart will roll out more sushi and raw fish-related menus and gradually increase the number of stores that deliver fresh cuisine.
The average monthly sales of domestic restaurants fell 16.5 percent from a year ago to 27.3 million won ($24,367) in 2020 when the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic swept across South Korea. The country's major seafood retailer Sajo Seafood launched a delivery service for raw tuna fish in March 2021 to overcome a business slump caused by the pandemic. According to the national statistical office, some 17.3 trillion worth of transactions were made via online delivery services in 2020, up 78.6 percent from 9.7 trillion won a year ago.
reporter
Kim Joo-heon
jhkim123@ajunews.com
