Jensen Huang Boosts Sales by 1024% Amid Retail Challenges

As Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, concluded his five-day visit to South Korea, products associated with him, ranging from convenience store snacks to chicken and beverages, have gained significant attention online, benefiting related brands.

On June 9, Seven-Eleven reported that sales of its private brand product, the "Seven Select Honey Banana HBM Chips," surged by 1024% from the same days the previous week, between June 6 and June 8.

This spike in sales was largely attributed to a gathering known as the "pork belly meeting" held on June 5 at a restaurant near Hongdae Station in Seoul. During this event, Huang dined with Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group; Koo Kwang-mo, chairman of LG Group; and Lee Hae-jin, chairman of Naver. After the meal, Huang distributed boxes of the snacks to passersby, and images of him opening the snack bags and encouraging citizens to try them quickly spread on social media.

The Honey Banana HBM Chips were launched in November 2022 as a collaboration between Seven-Eleven and SK Hynix, featuring a playful name derived from SK Hynix's high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. A Seven-Eleven representative stated, "This product is a limited edition, and we are currently selling remaining stock in stores. Once the inventory is depleted, sales will end, but we are considering additional production." The representative added that the company has requested stores with remaining stock to prominently display the product, taking into account the promotional effect of Huang's appearance.

The beverage industry also benefited from Huang's influence. The table during the pork belly gathering featured products from Hite Jinro, including Terra and Chamisul, as well as OB Beer’s Cass, which were naturally promoted to consumers.

Sales at the BBQ Hongdae location, which Huang visited afterward, also increased. According to BBQ, the restaurant's sales from June 5 to June 6 rose by 20% compared to the same period the previous week.

BBQ received further exposure at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium, where Huang threw the first pitch on June 7. He was seen ordering BBQ's "Crunchy Boneless Chicken Crackers" during the event. NVIDIA ordered 113 boxes of this menu item to distribute to invited NVIDIA Korea employees and their families. BBQ staff were also present to assist with food preparation.

BBQ plans to leverage this opportunity for marketing. The company is reportedly developing set menus and promotions related to Huang.

Industry experts suggest that Huang's visit created a real-time marketing effect. Last year, after Huang visited Kkanbu Chicken, that brand became the top trending search on delivery apps, leading to increased orders. Similarly, it is likely that related brands will pursue follow-up marketing efforts this time. An industry insider noted, "The fact that Huang personally consumed or distributed these products has rapidly spread on social media, translating consumer interest into sales. Related companies are expected to utilize this exposure for promotions and product planning."