Pillow Watermelon, Half-Half Watermelon... GS Retail Introduces Small-Sized and Premium Watermelons

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] GS Retail announced on the 10th that it will introduce five types of small-sized, premium watermelons in line with the trend of pursuing "Convenipremium" (a neologism combining convenience and premium).

According to data analyzing the sales of 22 types of fruits from May 1 to June 8 by GS The Fresh, operated by GS Retail, sales of pre-cut watermelons processed and packaged for easy consumption increased by 55.8% compared to the previous year. This is a significant growth compared to the 2.8% decrease in sales of regular whole watermelons. Additionally, the sales composition ratio of washed and easy-to-enjoy cherries, blueberries, and Delaware grapes expanded significantly from 7.2% in the same period last year to 21.9% this year.

In response, GS The Fresh and GS25 are launching five types of small-sized, premium watermelons: Soknoran Sweet Watermelon, Sokppalgan Sweet Watermelon, Baegae Watermelon, Banui Ban Watermelon, and Banui Ban X2 Watermelon.

The Soknoran Watermelon and Sokppalgan Watermelon are small watermelons weighing around 3 to 4 kilograms, featuring thin rinds and boasting a premium sweetness level of over 12 Brix. They are individually packaged in single-serving boxes for easy carrying and are exclusive products introduced through a contract between GS Retail and Miryang City. Both varieties are priced at 10,900 KRW.

The Baegae Watermelon is also a small watermelon weighing around 4 to 5 kilograms, shaped like a long pillow. It is a specialty product from the Haman region, characterized by its rich sweetness and excellent crispness. The price is 17,800 KRW. The Banui Ban Watermelon (approximately 1.5 kg / 6,900 KRW) and Banui Ban X2 Watermelon (approximately 0.8 kg / 3,900 KRW) are products packaging watermelon pieces cut into quarters and eighths, respectively. Since they are distributed refrigerated, one or two people can enjoy chilled watermelon immediately.

Kang Byunghee, MD of the fruit team at GS Retail, said, "The increasing preference for small-sized products is influencing fruit consumption, leading to increased sales of fruits that can be eaten at once without the need for storage. We plan to make it easier to enjoy small-sized, premium seasonal summer fruits through separate processing or handling of specialty products."

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