"Small Size Sells Better Magic"... Lotte Mart's Small-Packaged Fruit Sales Jump 5 Times

Mini and Cut Watermelons, Melons Double Compared to Last Year
Reflecting Increase in Single-Person Households, Released with 30% Reduced Volume

Lotte Mart and its supermarkets have significantly expanded their range of small-sized and cut fruit products that can be easily enjoyed this summer. This is thanks to the continued high inflation and the increase in single- and two-person households, which have raised customer demand for small-packaged and cut products.

According to Lotte Mart on the 13th, sales of ‘mini watermelons’ under 4kg and pre-cut ‘cut watermelons’ increased more than fivefold compared to the previous year during the approximately one-month period from June 1 to June 11. This is due to the growing demand for small-sized and cut products at reasonable prices, mainly among single- and two-person households.

Demand for ‘cut apples’ packaged in 150g single cups has also increased. Sales of cut apples have grown by more than 70% compared to the previous year so far this year, while ‘cut pears’ have increased by more than 40% during the same period.

Lotte Mart and its supermarkets have more than doubled the number of small-sized and cut fruit product lines to keep up with this trend. In the case of watermelons, they have expanded the product range to include 400g and 800g options, broadening customers’ choices for watermelon shopping. They also sell ‘cut watermelon’ in bite-sized cube shapes, ‘cut watermelon 1/8’ which is cut into one-eighth size of the whole fruit, and ‘ready-to-eat watermelon’ cut with the rind left on so it can be picked up by hand without a fork.

Starting from the 13th, a new product ‘cut watermelon 1/4’ cut into four pieces will also be introduced. Since January, the newly operated ‘cut muskmelon’ uses B+ grade products and is offered in a 400g size at a reasonable price of 5,990 KRW.

Since June, Lotte Mart and its supermarkets have been selling cut fruit products that go through thorough washing and disinfection processes at their own pre-processing facility certified with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) within their Fresh Quality Innovation Center. These products maintain optimal freshness by being delivered to stores the next morning through a cold chain logistics system.

Lotte Mart will also introduce small-sized grapes and cherries with about 30% reduced volume. For Red Globe grapes from South America, which were sold in approximately 1.2kg packages last year, the company will offer 800g packages this year in response to customer demand for smaller sizes. Cherries will also be sold mainly in 450g packages, which is 200g less than last year, following the same trend.

Choi Hyun-kyung, MD (Merchandiser) of the Fruit Team at Lotte Mart, said, “As consumers increasingly prefer smaller fruit sizes, we are expanding the range of various small-sized varieties as well as cut and small-packaged fruit products. Especially for cut fruit products, we strive to offer the best freshness through our own Quality Innovation Center, and we plan to continuously develop fresh small-sized fruit products in the future.”