Heated "Kimchi War"... Kurly's Packaged Kimchi Transactions Up 35%

Kurly Targets 'Small-Sized and Premium' Segment

Transaction Volume Rises 39% for Packages Under 1kg

Choices Expand from Hotel Kimchi to Michelin-Starred Kimchi

Retail tech company Kurly announced on October 6 that packaged kimchi transaction volume over the past three months increased by 35% compared to the same period last year.

According to Kurly, the number of packaged kimchi products available from July to September this year rose by 28% year-over-year. Notably, small-sized products ranging from 100g to 1kg saw a 39% increase in transaction volume, outpacing the growth rates of mid-sized (2–4kg, up 26%) and large-sized (5–10kg, up 18%) packages. Kurly analyzed that the rising popularity of small-sized kimchi is driven by one- and two-person households who prefer the convenience of purchasing only the amount they need.

Kurly's own private label products also continued to grow. The 'Jeil Matge Kurly' whole cabbage kimchi and young radish kimchi, launched in partnership with CJ CheilJedang in September of last year, saw their transaction volume increase by 56% after one year as of September this year. In particular, 'Jeil Matge Kurly Young Radish Kimchi' ranked No. 1 in transaction volume among all young radish kimchi offerings.

Kurly’s (Kurly's) ‘Cool Cabbage Kimchi’ also saw its transaction volume in the past three months rise by 58% year-over-year. The 1.5kg product, packaged in half-head portions for added convenience, ranked second in the entire kimchi category.

The expanding range of kimchi options is another notable trend. In July, Kurly collaborated with Daesang Jongga to exclusively launch ‘Sanhowon Kimchi’, based on recipes from the Michelin one-star Korean restaurant Sanhowon, available only in Korea. In addition, Kurly offers a wide variety of kimchi brands—from popular names such as Jongga and Bibigo to premium selections from luxury hotels like Josun Hotel and Walkerhill Hotel.

Recently, competition in the kimchi segment across the retail sector has intensified. From widely recognized brands like Jongga and Bibigo to luxury hotel offerings from Josun Hotel and Walkerhill Hotel, a diverse range of packaged kimchi concepts continues to capture consumers’ tastes.

A Kurly spokesperson stated, “With cabbage prices rising, more customers are choosing the convenience of buying kimchi rather than making it themselves, seeking products that suit their individual preferences,” and added, “We will continue to discover a broader range of kimchi to provide consumers with greater choice.”

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