By Choi Sung-jin
Reflecting rapid changes in Koreans' dietary pattern, sales of bread have surpassed those of rice at a major retail chain.
According to Emart, rice took 15th place in its sales list in the first 11 months of this year, down from ninth in 2014 and seventh in 2013, while bread was 10th.
This coincides with the fall in per capita rice consumption announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Per-person consumption stood at 202.9 grams in 2009 but slid to 199.6g in 2010, 195g in 2011, 191.3g in 2012, 184g in 2013 and 178.2g last year.
In comparison, the consumption of bread, including donuts and bagels, has been on a steady rise, with their ranking in the grocery mall's sales list climbing from 13th place in 2013 to 12th in 2014 and to 10th this year.
Among breads, sales of loaf bread, which could replace rice at breakfast tables, had the steepest growth of 25.6 percent, and those of other bakery items and cakes rose 5.3 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively, Emart said.