Emart, Unique Tomato Popularity... Tomato Sales Up 15.3%

Emart announced that from January 1 to 11 this month, new variety tomatoes accounted for 53.6% of total tomato sales.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] New tomato varieties that differentiate taste and texture from traditional breeds are gaining popularity.

Emart announced on the 14th that from January 1 to 11 this month, new tomato varieties accounted for 53.6% of total tomato sales. During the same period, thanks to the popularity of the new varieties, total tomato sales increased by 15.3% compared to the same period last year.

Emart has increased the number of new tomato varieties from just six in 2019 to 12 currently. This year, they introduced new varieties such as Jellymato, a Japanese variety with a jelly-like soft texture; Byeolmato, a Dutch variety that shows a star pattern when the stem is removed; and Saekom-Asak Color Mato, which is larger than regular cherry tomatoes and has a crisp, tangy texture. Additionally, Emart decided to sell Stevia tomatoes year-round, which were sold temporarily last year. Stevia tomatoes absorb the natural sweetener stevioside, giving them a sugar-like sweetness.

To celebrate the tomato season, Emart will hold a promotion from the 15th to the 21st, offering a 20% discount on all tomato products (16 varieties) when paid with event cards.

An Emart official said, “As more people seek tomatoes that differ from popular varieties, the sales proportion of unique tomatoes exceeded half for the first time this year. We will continue efforts to diversify fruit varieties so that customers can easily access new fruit varieties at Emart that cannot be found elsewhere.”