COST DETECTIVE · Fried chicken
Live-bird prices fell — why did fried-chicken prices not?
Following the money from raw material to shelf price over time, using published data.
+21.2%
+3.9%
-29% (reverted)
+171%
HOGU INDEX
What does it cost abroad?
Open in Hogu IndexCOMBINED INSIGHT
At a glance
Korea vs global average+171%
Cost increase pass-through (2024→2025)18%
Cost saving pass-through (2023→2024)Cost fell but retail rose — none passed on
Weight change-29% — later reverted
RAW VS RETAIL
Raw material vs retail price
Index with 2023 = 100. It compares rates of change, not prices; gaps are periods without published data.
| Period | Live broiler market price | Chicken CPI (dining out) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 89.4 | n/a |
| 2023 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| 2024 | 76.1 | 104.8 |
| 2025 | 92.3 | 108.9 |
Live broiler market price · Korean farm-gate (KAPE data) · Annual average
| Period | Original (원/kg) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,843 |
| 2023 | 2,062 |
| 2024 | 1,570 |
| 2025 | 1,903 |
PASS-THROUGH
How much of the cost change reached the shelf
| Period | Raw | Retail | Simple reference ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023→2024 | -23.9% | +4.8% | Saving pass-through Cost fell but retail rose — none passed on |
| 2024→2025 | +21.2% | +3.9% | Increase pass-through 18% |
Asymmetric price adjustment
Cost increase lagNot computed
Cost decrease lagNot computed
SHRINKFLATION
Same price, less product?
Kyochon boneless menu, pre-cooking weight · 2025-09-11
Sticker priceUnchanged (as reported)
Weight700g → 500g (-28.6%)
Effective increase+40.0%
Afterwards2025-11-20 — Reversal announced 23 Oct; 700 g and 100% thigh restored from 20 Nov
INGREDIENT CHANGE
Ingredient substitution
Kyochon boneless meat mix · 2025-09-11
Before100% thigh meat
AfterThigh mixed with tenderloin
Afterwards2025-11-20 — Back to 100% thigh
PRICE WATERFALL
How the price stacks up
Live bird (raw)Unknown
Slaughter and processingUnknown
Franchise supply price and royaltiesUnknown
Store operations (rent, labour)Unknown
PackagingUnknown
Delivery and platform feesUnknown
AdvertisingUnknown
Consumer priceUnknown
BENEFICIARY MAP
Who absorbed the difference?
Manufacturer / integratorUnclear
FranchisorUnclear
PlatformUnclear
Store / retailerUnclear
ConsumerPaid more
CONSUMER EFFECT
What consumers gained and lost
Gained
- The weight cut was reversed after about two months
Lost
- 2024 raw-cost fall not reflected in CPI
- Sep–Nov 2025: +40% real unit price on some menus (smaller portion)
- Meat mix changed in the same period
TIMELINE
Cost and price timeline
Read with care
- The open-market live-bird price covers only about 4% of shipments; it can differ from what franchises actually pay.
- The share of the bird in a chicken’s price is not public; pass-through is a simple directional reference, not a margin change.
- Chicken CPI is an average index, not any brand’s price.
Reports and corrections
Tell us about price, weight or ingredient changes. Companies can request corrections with supporting evidence.
Sources
DETECTIVE RADAR
Fried chicken from other angles
- Origin DetectiveApplies · not analysed yet
- Cost DetectiveThis page
- Distribution DetectiveApplies · not analysed yet
- Inflation DetectiveApplies · not analysed yet
- Discount DetectiveApplies · not analysed yet
- Value DetectiveApplies · not analysed yet
- Hype DetectiveApplies · not analysed yet
- Hogu IndexApplies · not analysed yet
- Tax DetectiveApplies · not analysed yet
- Wage DetectiveApplies · not analysed yet
- Ingredient Detective (food & drinks)Applies · not analysed yet
- Regulation DetectiveApplies · not analysed yet