Strawberries Surpass Instant Coffee and Snacks... Emart December Sales Rank 5th

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Strawberries have surpassed 10 billion KRW in monthly sales.

Emart announced on the 6th that according to last year's sales data, strawberries achieved sales of 10.5 billion KRW in December alone. This represents a 10.5% increase compared to the same period in 2018.

In December of last year, strawberry sales exceeded those of instant coffee, snacks, and canned ham. Strawberries rose to 5th place in the overall December product rankings, following ramen, beer, milk, and branded pork products. They ranked first among all fruits.

Emart attributes the increase in strawberry sales to their unique convenience, aesthetic appeal, and versatile uses. They are easy to eat by simply rinsing under running water without peeling, and their bright red color evokes a winter atmosphere, satisfying consumers' aesthetic senses who seek cute shapes.

Additionally, their versatility is excellent, being used with syrup, as sandwich fillings, or as the finishing touch in cake decorations. High-end hotels have even introduced 'Strawberry Buffets' featuring strawberries as the main ingredient, with reservations filling up one to two months in advance, creating a booming trend.

These combined factors have contributed to the steady sales growth of strawberries over recent years, with their December Emart product sales ranking jumping from 12th place in 2017 to 9th in 2018, and now soaring to 5th place.

Emart positioned strawberries as the top sales product this winter instead of mandarins, doubling the display area compared to before, making strawberries a key card in their sales strategy. Emart began full-scale strawberry operations two weeks earlier than usual, starting in early November, and created a dedicated 'Strawberry Zone' to highlight their features.

Moreover, the recent trend shows more consumers seeking distinctive and high-quality new strawberry varieties rather than ordinary strawberries. The premium strawberry product group, including new varieties, accounted for 14.5% of December strawberry sales in 2017, increasing to 22.7% in 2018 and 24.1% in 2019.

Representative examples include the 'Kingsberry' strawberry, which catches the eye with its egg-sized fruit, and 'Smart Farm Strawberries' cultivated using IoT (Internet of Things) technology.

Fruit buyer Jinbok Jeon stated, "The strawberry variety market has shifted from the traditional 'Seolhyang' variety to a 'Strawberry Renaissance' era, as various new varieties such as Kingsberry, Geumsil, Damhyang, and Arihyang have been newly developed and distributed through the Rural Development Administration and regional agricultural technology centers, aligning supply and demand."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.