Models hold Hyundai Green Food's care food products at Hyundai Department Store in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 11, 2020. Hyundai Department Store

By Kim Jae-heun

Local food companies are introducing more products that are easy to chew and digest for elderly consumers amid the rapidly aging population and falling birthrates, according to industry officials Thursday.

Lotte Confectionery, which closed its baby food business in October, plans to enter the senior-friendly food sector.

"The baby food business is labor-intensive and inefficient. Due to the country's low birthrate, which deters us from expanding, we have decided to shut down the business," a Lotte Confectionery official said. "Instead, we will beef up the home meal replacement business, which has high potential for growth, and also enter the food business for seniors."

The confectionery firm said it is still reviewing when and how it will target seniors.

Shinsegae is also entering the senior-friendly food sector in 2023. Its food and beverage unit Shinsegae Food acquired a safe quality food certification from the government this month for five food items, including bulgogi mousse and dongpayuk (fried pork belly in soy sauce) mousse, which the company launched under its "care food" brand, Easy Balance. "Care food" items are mainly for the elderly who need customized food for health reasons.

CJ CheilJedang's "care food" products / Courtesy of CJ CheilJeandg

Pulmuone Foodmerce and Hyundai Green Food have already introduced senior-friendly food brands and are expanding their product lines.

Pulmuone Foodmerce is the company with the most care food items certified by the government, with 24 types. The company launched a senior-friendly food brand called "Softmade" in 2015 and later changed the name to "Pul's Care." Since 2020, the company has been expanding its retail channels for the care food business from nursing hospitals to online malls.

Pulmuone Foodmerce's sales this year increased by 20 percent year-on-year. The company said it will lead the local care food market by offering a greater variety of items for senior citizens, such as snacks and beverages.

Hyundai Green Food has also acquired a safe quality food certification this month for three types of marinated pork. It adopted senior food as its new growth engine and started developing items in 2016. The company plans to double the number of its care food items in 2023.