‘Pokemon Bread’ sold in bundles (left) and a notice on the completion of number ticket distribution (right). [최아영 기자]The craze for ‘Pokemon Bread’, which was re-released following 16 years, is not cooling down. In order to get the ‘tie-boo seal’ (a sticker that has been peeled off and pasted) included with Pokemon bread, large marts and convenience stores ‘Open Run’, as well as the used market, are trading at a higher price. The ‘Season 2’ product, which was released thanks to such popularity, is also showing signs of being sold out.
According to SPC Samlip on the 8th, following the re-launch on February 24th, 1.5 million units of Pokemon Bread were sold, 7 million units in a month, and close to 10 million units in 40 days. On the 7th, they added refrigerated desserts and introduced a season 2 product, and announced that they would increase the supply by 30% compared to the previous one.
However, season 2 also seems to be continuing its popularity with two to three times more money just one day following its release. At the Carrot Market, there was also an article saying that three types of Pokémon Bread Season 2 were sold individually for 7,000 won each, and sold at 20,000 won in bulk.
Pokémon Bread, which was released in 1998 and discontinued in 2006, was very popular, creating a craze for collecting the enclosed ‘Tie-Buseal’ (a sticker that was peeled off and pasted). When the product, which was a ‘national snack’, came out following 16 years, it is interpreted as the reason for its popularity that it stimulated the nostalgia of those born in the 1990s, who collected twill seals at the time.
Tibu Seal, which caused a pokemon bread out of stock, is priced at 20,000 to 30,000 won, which is much higher than the 1,500 won price of bread on a used trading platform, and 50,000 won for a rare character. On the 7th, a seal book that collected a total of 159 kinds of stickers was uploaded to the carrot market at 1.1 million won.
In the online community, even the price list of Tibushil has appeared. According to the post, the most common types of Pokemon stickers are priced in the range of 3,000 won to 6,000 won, and the hard-to-find “Mew” and “Mewtwo” are priced around 50,000 won.
As supply failed to keep up with demand and a shortage of Pokemon Bread occurred, there was an open run procession waiting in front of convenience stores and hypermarkets even before business hours. In front of some large supermarkets, there have been eyewitness accounts of consumers who have come out from dawn to set up tents or lay mats and wait.
Consumers flocked to E-Mart Traders when it was announced that they were selling 6 packs of Pokemon Bread. Numbered tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis according to the quantity in stock, and purchases are made in order when the opening hours arrive.
SPC Samlip posted an apology on its website last month as complaints from convenience store owners and consumers have grown as the shortage has been prolonged. The factory operates 24 hours a day, but it is difficult to keep up with demand.
An official from SPC Samlip said, “According to the plan at the time of its launch in February, we are able to increase the supply of Pokemon bread by more than 30% by adding a new lineup such as refrigerated desserts. are doing,” he said.
[최아영 매경닷컴 기자]
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