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[garykasparov]

U.S. beef receives warm response at Lotte Mart

https://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2007/07/16/200707160008.asp

The first day of sales of U.S. beef imports at Lotte Mart outlets nationwide on Friday was received with wide consumer acceptance, the company said yesterday.

Lotte Mart, the country's third-largest discount store chain said it sold about 5 tons, or 120 million won ($131,000), of American beef at 47 of its 53 outlets nationwide. The six other stores had to stop sales because of anti-U.S. beef protestors.

Lotte Mart is the country's first major discount store chain to market American beef since late December 2003 when Korea banned imports in the wake of a case of mad cow disease.

The favorable response at Lotte Mart supports the belief by many industry experts that U.S. beef would quickly regain wide popularity because of its affordable prices and good taste, despite fears over possible health issues raised by some anti-U.S. activists.

U.S. beef also lifted sales of Australian beef by about 40 percent, or 56 million won, on a typical Friday, Lotte said. It attributed the increase in demand for Australian beef to American beef running out of stock and to the anti-U.S. beef protests that left consumers no choice but to buy beef from a different origin.

Australian beef costs 30 percent more than U.S. beef, but is 20 to 30 percent cheaper than Korean beef.

Lotte Mart ordered about 40 tons of various grade-A beef cuts such as short ribs (boneless, due to current import conditions) and sirloin.

It said the cuts are equivalent to grade-A Korean beef, or more popularly called "hanwoo."

American beef is a subject of controversy, particularly among local farmers, because they fear losing out to cheaper foreign competition. They strongly oppose wider market opening to foreign agricultural goods.

By Yoo Soh-jung

([email protected])




2007.07.16

[wylies99]

I bought 40,000 won worth and will go back to get more after my next payday. BTW- it tastes great- like VICTORY!

[Demophobe]

[cdninkorea]

I'm dropping by the Jamsil Lotte on Thursday to pick up a few pounds. This is going to be great!

[Jarome_Turner]

I went to HomeEver on Sunday with the hope of getting some.... unfortunatly they weren't carrying any. They did have Australian sirloin on sale tho - about 1500w/100g. Bought 3 huge steaks for about 20,000w. Also picked up a cheap BBQ for 12,000 won.... BBQ steak on my roof, felt like I was back home for an evening!!

Anybody know when the other stores (HomeEver, HomePlus in particular) will start carrying American?

[wylies99]

ONLY Lottemart is carrying US beef. The other major chains are refusing to sell it.

[sojourner1]

How much is Lotte Mart selling it for? Is a Lotte Mart store the grocery department of big Lotte department stores or is it another kind of store found in Seoul?

[wylies99]

Lottemart is a grocery store chain with locations throughout Korea. Lotte Dept stores are a different chain (owned by the same people). The US beef is only at Lottemart.

[Alyallen]

Well damn it...

No Lottemart in Jeonju so no U.S. beef for me...

Just as well, I usually only buy chicken nowadays...

[Jarome_Turner]

Well I'm headin to Lottemart to try and wrangle me up so American beef. It's a trek across town, but I'm gonna fill my freezer if they have it.... I'll stop back to let you all know how it went! Wish me luck!

[wylies99]

Grab some marinade, too.

[Jarome_Turner]

Well I'll be goddamned if I didn't get there and they were sold out of American beef. The only stuff they had left was the frozen thinly cut stuff for kalbi. Was informed they won't have anymore until Friday.

Having made the trek, I once again settled for Australian, got them to cut me 3 steaks about an inch and a half thick and decent size, cost of 24,000 won. Make my own marinade - wine and soy sauce, black pepper and garlic.

Enough chit-chat- TO THE ROOF!

[HapKi]

[stevemcgarrett]

Hapki wrote:

[mrsquirrel]

How can I tell if it's ozzy, korean or us meat?