Food prices under pressure as Ottogi raises prices on 29 items by up to 17%

Signs of mounting pressure on household food costs are growing. Following Lotte Chilsung, Ottogi has announced price increases of up to 17 percent on 29 items, including curry products.

The move reflects rising raw material import costs driven by the high exchange rate, a development expected to weigh further on ordinary consumers.

Ottogi said it will raise factory-gate prices on 29 items across its curry, glass noodle, ketchup and pepper product lines starting Thursday, citing higher costs for raw and subsidiary materials. By category, the average increase is 17.0 percent for pepper products, 10.0 percent for glass noodles, and 6.1 percent each for curry and ketchup.

Among individual items, the 3-Day Aged Curry Slightly Spicy (80 grams) will rise from 3,200 won to 3,680 won. The Yetnal Glass Noodles (500 grams) will increase by 770 won, from 7,180 won to 7,950 won. Tomato Ketchup (300 grams) will go from 2,180 won to 2,480 won, and Pure Pepper (can, 50 grams) from 4,850 won to 5,380 won.

The higher prices will be applied sequentially across retail channels starting Thursday.

An Ottogi official said packaging costs have risen due to fluctuations in international oil and naphtha prices, while the prolonged high exchange rate has also pushed up import costs for key raw materials, significantly increasing the manufacturing cost burden.

Lotte Chilsung earlier raised factory-gate prices by an average of 5.3 percent on 44 items across 12 brands — including Chilsung Cider — effective June 26. The steepest increase was 7.6 percent for Let's Be canned coffee, followed by 2% Isotonic Drink at 6.9 percent, Gatorade at 6.3 percent, Milkis at 6.0 percent, Lipton at 5.9 percent, Pepsi-Cola at 5.0 percent, Chilsung Cider at 4.3 percent and Hot Six at 4.0 percent.

When factory-gate prices rise, retail prices at convenience stores and other outlets typically follow suit across the board.