Lotte Mart, one of the leading retail chains in Korea, has given in to the all-out pressure on its sale of ultra-cheap fried chicken as the Seoul-based outfit decided to stop selling the controversial items this week.
Lotte Mart said Monday that its fried chicken priced at 5,000 won a pack, which gained huge popularity across the nation since its debut last week, will only be available until Wednesday,.
Its price tag is a third of some of its rivals, mostly small-sized neighborhood stores. Accordingly, the Lotte fried chicken caused a big uproar from most local fried chicken vendors that they would go bankrupt.
``Originally, we thought the fried chicken would not affect the whole industry due to the small supply. Even if we offered them at our full capacity, it accounts for less than 1 percent of the annual demand,’’ a Lotte Mart representative said.
``Our views have not changed. But we opted to take into account the criticisms that our products fare well at the cost of small-sized shops. We plan to donate some 50,000 chickens we procured to those in need.’’
The fried chickens went on sale in 82 out of 88 Lotte Mart outlets in Korea last week, which prompted customers to line up to purchase the cheap product. The other six shops were not equipped with the fast food facilities.
Lotte Mart Chief Executive Officer Noh Byung-yong came up with similar remarks at a meeting with journalists after the meeting with regard to the cooperation between conglomerates and small-sized enterprises.
``We have agonized because our scheme was interpreted against our will,’’ Noh said. ``I am sorry because we will not be able to keep the promise of selling the fried chicken all year round.’’
The measure gained mixed responses.
Owners of fried chicken outlets welcomed the move, wrapping up their strong opposition that Lotte Mart would eventually cause them to fail en masse.
By contrast, end customers will not be so happy as they are losing the opportunity to snap up fried chicken at a bargain price.
``It is kind of a dilemma between the benefits of customers and those of small-sized merchants. They quite often clash with each other and it is always not easy to find a happy medium,’’ a Seoul analyst said.
통큰 치킨, 개업 1주만에 폐업
최근 큰 이슈로 부각되었던 “통큰 치킨”은 12월 16일부터 롯데마트에서 사라진다. 대기업의 동네 치킨집의 영역을 침범했다는 비판 속에 롯데마트가 사실상 백기투항 한 셈이다.
롯데마트는 13일 “통큰 치킨을 사랑해주신 고객 여러분께”라는 제목의 보도자료를 통해 치킨 사업의 폐쇄를 알렸다. “우리 사회의 다양한 의견을 적극 수용, 반영하는 차원의 결정”이라고 해명했다.
노병용 롯데마트 대표도 이날 오전 여의도에서 열린 동반성장위원회 회의를 마치고 기자들에게 “취지와 다르게 전달되어 많이 고민했다. 사회 각계각층의 여러 의견을 수렴해 16일부터 통큰 치킨 판매를 중단하기로 했다”고 말했다.
롯데마트가 한 마리 당 5,000원으로 영세상점의 1/3 가격으로 치킨을 내놓자 전국의 80여개 롯데마트 매장은 북새통을 이루었다. 롯데마트는 애초 공급물량이 시장의 1%를 하회해 문제가 될 것을 예상하지 못했다.
하지만 저렴한 통큰 치킨을 사기 위해 사람들이 장사진을 이루자 동네 치킨집에서는 불만이 쏟아져 나왔고 대기업이 영세상인의 생존권을 침해한다는 논란으로 번지자 결국 치킨 사업 철수를 선언한 것이다.
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