Lotte Wellfood teams up with Gunwi-gun to launch 15 apple-flavored products

Lotte Wellfood announced Friday it has partnered with the Ministry of Interior and Safety and Daegu's Gunwi-gun to launch 15 new products featuring Gunwi apples, as part of an effort to promote regional specialties and support the local economy.

The company signed an MOU with the ministry and Gunwi-gun at Government Complex Seoul on Thursday. The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Jae-hoon, head of Lotte Wellfood's frozen dessert marketing division, Jin Myeong-gi, director general of the Ministry of Interior and Safety's autonomous innovation office, and Gunwi-gun County Chief Kim Jin-yeol, among other officials.

Under the agreement, Lotte Wellfood will roll out the third installment of its regional co-prosperity project, "Delicious Korea Mutual Growth Road," spotlighting Gunwi apples — known for their high sugar content and crisp texture. The lineup applies the apple's characteristics to the company's flagship brands across 11 confectionery items, two frozen desserts and two bakery products.

The confectionery lineup includes Mont Chéri Apple, Kkokkalkon Apple Cinnamon, ABC Choco Cookie Apple Yogurt, Lotsan Apple, Zero Mini Cake Apple Cinnamon, Zero Choco Pie Apple Cinnamon, Zero Yeon Yanggaeng Apple Cinnamon, Almond Ball Apple Yogurt, Crunky Choco Bar Apple Caramel, Apple Candy and Fruit Bite Jelly Apple. The frozen dessert offerings are Wizzle Apple Jam Cream Monaka and Joy Greek Yogurt Gunwi Apple. The bakery items are Girin Origin Castella Apple and Girin Apple Fresh Cream Bread.

Lotte Wellfood will also run regional promotional activities. Product packaging will carry the slogan "Gunwi Apple's Here!" — rendered in a local dialect — on the front, with text highlighting the qualities of Gunwi apples on the back. A pop-up store at Seoul Station will run through Sunday. The company will also participate in the Suseongmot Festival in Daegu from Sept. 18 to 20.

The "Delicious Korea Mutual Growth Road" initiative, run jointly with the Ministry of Interior and Safety, has established itself as a co-prosperity platform since launching a Buyeo chestnut series in 2024 and a North Jeolla Province Gochang sweet potato series last year. The Buyeo chestnut series sold out within roughly a month of its release and earned a presidential commendation.

"We will continue to solidify an exemplary mutual-growth business model that elevates the value of Korea's finest agricultural and regional specialties and drives co-development with local communities," a Lotte Wellfood official said.