'National Fish' Salmon... Australian Clean Region Salmon Debuts in Major Supermarkets

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As salmon has become the nation's beloved "national fish," Australian Tasmania salmon has made its debut in large supermarkets for the first time.

Lotte Mart announced on the 28th that from the 29th of this month to the 4th of next month, it will introduce Tasmania salmon at all its stores, marking the first time this salmon is available in large supermarkets. Tasmania, Australia, is a globally recognized pristine area under special management by the Australian government.

Tasmania salmon features a rich flavor and chewy texture. Lotte Mart imports Tasmania salmon by air within 48 hours and sells it 100% refrigerated. Vacuum packaging has also been introduced to maintain freshness during distribution.

Tasmania salmon is the Atlantic salmon breed, the same as Norwegian salmon, and is farmed at about 40% of the typical salmon farming density to minimize stress. It also has a 100% vertically integrated monitoring system that allows a single producer to manage the entire process from hatching, farming, harvesting, to packaging.

As salmon's popularity grows annually, Lotte Mart has sought to secure a second source besides Norwegian salmon to ensure stable supply. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' seafood import-export statistics, salmon has ranked third in import volume over the past decade, following the national fish 'pollack' and 'shrimp.' Lotte Mart's salmon sales have also continuously increased, starting with 7.9% growth in 2017, 215.4% in 2018, and 44.2% in 2019.

Going forward, Lotte Mart will sell 100 tons of Tasmania salmon monthly throughout the year. The flagship product, ‘Tasmania Salmon (250g·pack·refrigerated·Australian origin),’ is priced at 11,800 KRW, and when purchasing two or more packs, the price is 8,800 KRW per pack. Additionally, Norwegian salmon is also available, with ‘Air-flown Fresh Salmon (400g·pack·refrigerated·Norwegian origin)’ offered to L.Point members at a discounted price of 14,800 KRW, 5,000 KRW less than the regular price.

Yang Seung-wook, Lotte Mart's Seafood MD (Merchandiser), said, “We have diversified the sources of salmon, a popular domestic seafood, and are introducing Tasmania salmon in large supermarkets for the first time. We planned this so customers can enjoy salmon raised healthily in a pristine area at an affordable price, and we hope for much interest.”