![Kim Su-jin, a merchandise director on Lotte Mart and Super's specialty food team, promotes two Chico-brand coffee alternative products at the coffee aisle of Lotte Mart Zettaplex Jamsil in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Monday. [Lotte Mart]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/07/07/news-p.v1.20260707.798b979916c2496eb50037d87be65b32_P1.jpg)
Lotte Mart on Tuesday announced the exclusive launch of two chicory-based coffee alternative products: Chico Mild Roast and Chico Mild Latte.
The release comes as demand for coffee alternatives and decaffeinated coffee grows amid soaring bean prices driven by extreme heat and erratic weather. Lotte Mart's sales of coffee alternatives rose 35.7 percent in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year, while decaffeinated coffee sales climbed 17.5 percent.
The Chico brand name blends the words "chicory" and "coffee." Both products are made from roasted chicory root, which replicates the slightly bitter flavor characteristic of coffee. The Chico Mild Latte comes in powder form for added convenience.
To mark the launch, Lotte Mart is running a buy-one-get-one promotion on both Chico Mild Roast and Chico Mild Latte through July 31.
siuu@heraldcorp.com
