COVID-19 Boosts Convenience Store Sales and Residential Commercial Areas, While Entertainment and Leisure Decline

Increase in Sales in Residential and Office Commercial Areas

Rise in Sales of Fresh Food, Daily Necessities, and Over-the-Counter Medicines

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-sun] Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, convenience stores located near residential areas and offices have seen an increase in sales. In contrast, sales in entertainment districts where many people gather have declined.

According to the convenience store industry on the 16th, sales at Seven Eleven stores located in residential areas increased by 11.9% compared to the same period last year, from January 27 to February 10. Stores near offices also saw a 3.1% increase. Conversely, convenience stores in entertainment and leisure districts experienced sales decreases of 2.3% and 9.6%, respectively. Leisure districts refer to amusement parks or large national parks, while entertainment districts are areas with many restaurants and bars for company gatherings.

Accordingly, sales of groceries, daily necessities, and ready-to-eat meals have increased, as more consumers are shopping for simple groceries at convenience stores.

At CU, despite winter generally being a low season for fruit and vegetable sales, sales jumped by 62.2% compared to the same period last year. Sales of seasonings such as gochujang and doenjang, as well as agricultural ingredients like tofu and flour, also rose by 17.1% and 18.8%, respectively. Sales of major daily necessities that are not usually highly purchased at convenience stores, such as toilet paper rolls (9.3%) and shampoo & rinse (7.2%), also grew.

Seven Eleven’s food sales increased by 8.9%. From the 1st to the 11th, GS25’s fresh food sales rose by 20.9% compared to the same period last year.

As more people avoid dining out, sales of convenience store ready-to-eat meals have also surged. CU’s lunchbox sales grew by 16.0% year-on-year, and kimbap sales increased by 25.6% during the same period. With more consumers enjoying home cafes, dessert sales jumped by 60.3%. Sales of bottled water and ramen also increased by 8.6% and 12.3%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Due to growing health concerns, CU’s sales of over-the-counter medicines rose by 40.4% year-on-year. Consumers are avoiding visiting medical institutions such as pharmacies and hospitals, which may have COVID-19 patients, and are instead purchasing fever reducers, cold medicines, and other over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores as a passive preventive measure.

A convenience store official explained, "Housewives who avoid crowded places like large marts and supermarkets are purchasing major consumer goods in bulk online, and are replenishing items that are in short supply or require freshness at nearby convenience stores as needed."

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