Three Major Large Mart Chains to Hold Unprecedented Discount Events This Weekend

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] The three major large marts, excluded from the government disaster relief fund usage, are launching a massive discount event this weekend.

On the 4th, Emart announced that it will hold a large-scale 1+1 and up to 50% discount event on key shopping basket product categories over the weekend on the 6th and 7th, with a total scale of 20 billion KRW.

Through this event, Emart expects that consumers struggling due to the economic downturn caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will be able to purchase daily necessities at affordable prices, and that the influx of customers will also benefit the leased stores within Emart.

First, Emart will offer bananas, diapers, liquid detergents, and more with exceptional benefits over the two days, Saturday and Sunday. Banabelli bananas will be offered as 1+1 for 2,980 KRW, and all items including fried dumplings, instant curry/jjajang, Lotte Xylitol gum, liquid detergent, kitchen detergent, hair dye/treatment, and Oral-B toothbrushes will be sold as 1+1.

During the same period, Huggies and Mamypoko diapers, Febreze fabric deodorizer, branded kitchen towels, facial cleansers, and refrigerated cold noodles will be offered at 50% off when purchasing two items. Also, through card promotions, all iPad Pro and Mac products will be 7-10% off, and 12 selected Nintendo and PS4 title promotional products will be available at up to 70% discount.

There will also be a one-day-only event on Saturday. Orion Choco Pie and other cake-type snacks, single cup ramen (limited to 12 per person), and ssamjang will be offered as 1+1, all jelly products as 2+1, all 3M scrubbers at 40% off, and all wines under 30,000 KRW at 20% off.

Lotte Mart will hold the 'Tongkeunjeol' event over the weekend, offering products worth 8 billion KRW at up to 50% discount.

First, Korean beef sirloin, which has reached record high prices due to the impact of disaster relief funds, will be sold at up to 50% discount. Korean beef previously sold at 11,000 KRW and 13,200 KRW will be sold to L.POINT members at 7,700 KRW and 9,240 KRW respectively. With card discounts, prices can be as low as 5,470 KRW and 6,560 KRW.

Masks are also prepared at exceptional prices. Over two days, a total of 2 million domestic masks will be sold at 580 KRW each. The card discount price for '50 domestic masks' is 29,000 KRW.

Lotte Mart will provide discount coupons regardless of purchase amount to customers using leased stores (excluding food courts) at 121 stores nationwide until August 31. Customers purchasing products over 30,000 KRW will receive a 3,000 KRW discount coupon, which can be used until September 14.

Homeplus will hold the ‘Samshiyukki’ special exhibition at all stores and online malls nationwide until the 10th, offering major livestock products including Korean beef at big deal prices. The idea is to sell meat so cheaply that consumers can enjoy six (6) meals a day with meat, reflecting the doubled meat consumption.

First, Nonghyup Safe Korean beef will be sold at 30% discount to My Homeplus members, and all Australian chilled beef products will be discounted up to 40%. Imported pork belly and neck meat (from Canada) will be offered at a big deal price of 1,290 KRW per 100g.

The Signature frozen flank steak (1kg, US origin), which has increased quality reliability through traceability, will be offered to My Homeplus members at 16,990 KRW after a 4,000 KRW discount. Two types of marinated beef special cuts for grilling, such as skirt steak and outside skirt (800g, pack, Australian origin), will be sold at 13,900 KRW each.

Foods that go well with meat will also be sold cheaply. For card payment customers during the event, 100% sugar-selected watermelons (7-12kg) will be sold from 11,990 KRW to 15,990 KRW, gold kiwis (9-15 pieces, pack) at 8,990 KRW, and Black Label high-sugar oranges at 9,990 KRW for 9 pieces. On the 6th and 7th, CJ cold noodles (two types: Hamheung bibim naengmyeon and dongchimi mul naengmyeon) will be 1+1, fresh special eggs (30 pieces, domestic) will be sold at 3,990 KRW with card payment, and on the 6th only, nine types of ssamjang will be 1+1.

A variety of alcoholic beverages are also prepared, selling 190 types of beer worldwide at 9,000 KRW per 3 bottles, 4 cans (large), 5 bottles, or 6 cans (small). Homeplus’s exclusive domestic sourcing includes Czech Hor?l premium pilsner lager and German Brauhaus pilsner/weizen cans (500ml, each 1,800 KRW), which will be offered at 9,900 KRW for 6 cans.

The popular American Copper Ridge wines (three types: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, White Zinfandel), which sold over 110,000 bottles within a month of release, will be sold at 4,990 KRW each, and six types of Casillero del Diablo (750ml) will be sold at 10,900 KRW each.