On April 23, a new store called “Jigu Store” opened in a Seoul apartment complex in the Songpa district. The store offers a variety of products, such as ham, gochujang (Korean chili paste), sunflower oil, and notebooks, with most items discounted by more than 50%. For example, a beef bone soup, originally priced at 2,470 won ($2), is now available for just 1,000 won ($0.80), and an 8,100-won ($6) black rice porridge is being sold for 3,240 won ($2.50).
Jigu Store is a new venture from CJ, the holding company of the CJ Group. The store specializes in discounted items that are nearing their expiration dates, and its location in a less visible part of an apartment complex reflects CJ’s experimental approach.
The store is intended as a test project for CJ. Normally, food companies discard products with 3-4 months left on their shelf life due to potential risks in distribution, but Jigu Store offers a solution that reduces waste while attracting customer attention and generating some revenue.
A CJ spokesperson explained, “We were looking for a way to handle near-expiry products more effectively, and the idea for Jigu Store emerged internally. It helps reduce waste, draw consumer interest, and make a modest profit.”
Customers can shop at the store in person, or they can pre-order limited-quantity items via KakaoTalk, with special offers sent out twice daily. Payments are made and products are picked up at the store.
CJ plans to lease the space for three months to assess the potential for expanding the business. Currently, the store primarily stocks processed foods from CJ CheilJedang, a CJ subsidiary, but future products may include items from Tous Les Jours, CJ’s bakery brand, or CGV movie theater memorabilia.
