Clucky streak: BBQ delays planned chicken price hike again until June 4

Major Korean chicken franchise Genesis BBQ has postponed its planned price increase for chicken products to June 4 in response to government requests to alleviate the consumer burden.

A BBQ store in Seoul [NEWS1]

Major Korean chicken franchise Genesis BBQ has postponed its planned price increase for chicken products to June 4 in response to government requests to alleviate the consumer burden.

BBQ initially planned to raise the prices of its products on May 23, but soon decided to postpone the price hike by eight days to May 31. It has now delayed the increase by five more days to June 4.

The decision came in response to a request from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, asking the company to consider delaying the price hike to ease the burden on consumers.

“We delayed the price hike to minimize its impact, and are very grateful for the patience and the decisions of our franchisees during these challenging times," the company said Friday.

However, some consumers and BBQ franchise operators have expressed confusion over the company's changing plans for the price increase.

On May 24, when Genesis BBQ initially raised prices for 23 items on its menu, the items included the flagship Golden Olive Oil Fried Chicken, Jamaican Grilled Chicken and Jamaican Jerk Fried Chicken with Sotteok (rice cake)and Galbi Chicken.

The price of its the representative Golden Olive Oil Fried Chicken was set to rise to 23,000 won ($16.60) from 20,000 won, with Jamaican Grilled Chicken to rise to 24,000 won from 21,500 won.

The prices were slated to increase by an average of 6.3 percent, Genesis BBQ said on May 21.

Genesis BBQ attributed the price hike to the increase in minimum wage and the costs of ingredients, rent, delivery fees, delivery platform commission fees and utilities, such as gas and electricity.

BY CHOI HAE-JIN [choi.haejin@joongang.co.kr]