Nongshim Ramen Warehouse Empties Amid 'Stockpiling War'... Convenience Store Orders and Mart Sales Restricted

Nongshim Wholesale Dealers Struggle to Supply Due to Ramen Shortage... Order Limits at Convenience Stores
Ramen Sales Restricted at Some Costco Stores... Popular Meal Substitutes Include Gukmin Bread and Morning Bread

The warehouse discount store Costco Uijeongbu branch has limited ramen supply sales to 2 boxes per member per day starting from the 24th due to changes in ramen supply.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] Individual business owner A, who operates a Nongshim agency, is pacing anxiously due to a lack of ramen to supply to retail stores. He lamented, "There is not a single pack of ramen at the Nongshim Center (Nongshim logistics warehouse)," adding, "Ramen wholesalers currently have nothing to do and cannot even go to work." This is a phenomenon resulting from the intense ramen hoarding frenzy nationwide amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to industry sources on the 27th, Nongshim is currently maximizing factory operation rates and supplying 30% more ramen than usual. This is the maximum amount Nongshim can supply daily. Nevertheless, as the COVID-19 outbreak intensifies the hoarding frenzy, consumer complaints about ramen supply shortages are flooding in from various places. A Nongshim official explained, "We are receiving additional product supply requests, but the 30% increase is the maximum we can do," adding, "It seems that the shortage of ramen at Nongshim agencies is due to movements to stockpile heavily."

An empty Nongshim Center on the 26th. Photo captured from an online community.

The convenience store industry is responding by temporarily restricting ramen orders due to the influx of ramen-buying customers. Convenience store owner B said, "There were so many customers buying ramen that when I tried to order 10 boxes, I found that orders were limited to 10 boxes," adding, "Shin Ramyun and Ansungtangmyun sell out as soon as they are stocked."

In addition to ramen, bottled water and instant rice, dumplings and bread are also gaining popularity. At Shinsegae Food’s e-Bakery (a small variety, large volume bakery) and Traders Bakery operated by E-Mart, bread, which usually ranks around 10th in sales, rose to 3rd place. Sales increased by 20% compared to the previous month. Sales of large-sized bagels and morning bread, often used as meal substitutes, also increased by about 15%. A Shinsegae Food official said, "Due to the impact of COVID-19, bread and morning bread are gaining popularity as meal substitutes."

The popular bread from Shinsegae Food, whose sales are rapidly increasing due to the impact of COVID-19. Photo by Shinsegae Food.

Frozen dumplings are also continuing to be purchased because they can be stored and eaten over a long period. Housewife C said, "I often order from Market Kurly, but yesterday frozen dumplings were out of stock all day, so I couldn’t place an order." Currently, some frozen dumpling products can be ordered on the Market Kurly website, but even these are expected to sell out quickly.

As hoarding of daily necessities intensifies, large supermarkets are expected to impose sales restrictions. Costco has already limited sales of latex gloves, rice, and fried rice products to one box per person at some stores, and for ramen, it decided to sell only two boxes per member per day. Office worker D, who shopped for daily necessities at the Yangjae branch, said, "I bought more than usual because I was told instant rice might not be restocked and displayed," adding, "The store was crowded with people trying to buy instant rice, rice, bottled water, frozen food, and other daily necessities, and many shelves were empty, so I couldn’t help but buy as well."

Frozen dumpling products are quickly selling out on Market Kurly. Photo is a screenshot from the homepage.

On popular online communities, blogs, and cafes, posts titled "COVID-19 Daily Necessities Hoarding List" and "COVID-19 Preparedness Daily Necessities List" are being shared one after another. Currently, consumers are filled with anxiety, feeling they must buy items before prices rise, having witnessed the soaring prices of masks and hand sanitizers after the COVID-19 outbreak. Working mom E said, "The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is so frightening that I dread waking up," adding, "I know hoarding is bad and this is not a war, but out of anxiety, I buy daily necessities first."

An official from the large supermarket industry said, "Currently, the surge in daily necessities purchases is not threatening inventory levels, but if the COVID-19 situation prolongs, hoarding of daily necessities could occur nationwide, so we need to monitor supply and demand and respond accordingly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.