Pandemic boosts sales of ready-to-cook meal kits

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 4, 2020, 13:58 Updated : May 4, 2020, 13:58

[Courtesy of GS25]

SEOUL -- A coronavirus epidemic has boosted sales of ready-to-cook meal kits, which are easily found at convenience stores, as many people dine in their homes due to social distancing, according to a South Korean convenience store chain.

Ready-to-cook meal kits in forms of stew, soup or stir-fried vegetables and meat dishes are favored by single-person households for the simplicity of cooking. The meal kits can be cooked immediately using a stove or microwave oven as all ingredients are prepared.

Data released by GS25, the operator of South Korea's top convenience store chain, on Monday showed that sales of its meal kit brand in the first quarter of this year, soared 852 percent from a year ago. The chain attributed the increase to a social distancing campaign that began in February.

According to a survey of 985 people, conducted by the state-funded Rural Development Administration in April, 82.5 percent decided to cook at home using agricultural products while 15 percent said that they bought ready-to-cook meals at stores.
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