Hana Financial Group Launches 'Kind Egg' Project to Support Small Businesses and Lower Food Costs

Hana Financial Group is joining forces with small-business organizations to supply discounted eggs through neighborhood supermarkets, seeking to ease household food costs and support small retailers.

The group signed the agreement with Small Enterprise and Market Service (SEMAS) and the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise in Seoul on Friday. Hana CEO Ham Young-joo, SEMAS President In Tae-yeon and KFME Vice Chairman Kwon Hyuk-hwan were in attendance.

“This project is meaningful because it allows us to provide practical assistance to small-business owners, who form the foundation of regional economies, as well as consumers,” Ham said. “We will continue initiatives that contribute to people’s livelihoods while practicing inclusive finance that fulfills the social responsibility of the financial sector.”

Under the “Kind Egg” project, 20 poultry farms were selected to supply eggs at lower prices by minimizing intermediary margins. About 120,000 trays were to be distributed to some 4,000 neighborhood supermarkets nationwide, the company said.

Consumers can purchase 60 eggs for 9,990 won ($7.42).

Hana Financial will fund washing, candling and sorting, along with nationwide transportation costs, to lower distribution expenses.

SEMAS will establish guidelines for price labeling and fair trade practices, oversee implementation and conduct public outreach. KFME will use its nationwide network of small supermarket chains to facilitate distribution and sales.

The initiative follows Hana Financial’s partnership with SEMAS in June on the “Hana On, Youth On” program, which supports young entrepreneurs and revitalizes commercial districts. The financial group also operates programs focused on improving small-business competitiveness, energy efficiency and digital transformation.