"It's so hot outside that I came to buy ice cups and ice cream," said Kim, a 28-year-old tourist, wiping sweat from his brow at a convenience store near Gwanghwamun in Seoul. As the summer vacation season draws travelers like Kim to the city, many are seeking refuge from the sweltering heat in convenience stores, where summer products like ice cups, ice cream, and cold drinks are flying off the shelves.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, a heat wave warning was issued the previous day for parts of southern regions, including Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam, with perceived temperatures reaching around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety raised the heat wave disaster alert to 'serious' as of 3 p.m. that day and activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to respond to the extreme heat.
As the heat and tropical nights continue nationwide, convenience stores are experiencing a significant surge in sales of summer products. GS25 reported a 42% increase in ice sales over the weekend of July 25-26 compared to the previous weekend. Sales of electrolyte drinks rose by 41.7%, ice cream by 31.2%, and bottled water by 26.5%.
CU also saw strong sales for summer items during the same period, with pouch drinks, known as iced drinks, increasing by 38.5% and ice sales up by 38.2%. Fresh fruit smoothies rose by 29.4%, bottled water by 28.1%, ice cream by 26.6%, and electrolyte drinks by 24.6%.
Seven Eleven reported a remarkable 53% increase in ice cream sales compared to the previous weekend, the highest growth rate among major summer products. Ice cup sales rose by 43%, sports drinks by 41%, pouch drinks by 38%, and bottled water by 32%. Sales of summer items like cooling sleeves also increased by 36%. The demand for ready-to-eat meals surged, with Seven Eleven's instant food sales jumping by 82%. This trend is attributed to consumers avoiding outdoor cooking in the heat and opting for convenient meals and drinks from nearby convenience stores.
With the demand for health foods coinciding with the summer heat, sales of restorative dishes also surged. GS25's sales of samgyetang, a traditional chicken soup, increased by 65.3% over the weekend of July 25-26 compared to the previous weekend, while CU's sales of home meal replacement restorative dishes rose by 22.2%.
An industry insider noted, "As the heat wave and tropical nights persist, there has been a significant increase in customers seeking instant consumables like ice cups, ice cream, and electrolyte drinks. The overlap with the demand for restorative foods on hot days suggests that the strong sales of related products will continue for the foreseeable future."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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