Record-Breaking Heat... Food Industry Falling for 'Subak'

Watermelon, High Water Content but Difficult Post-Processing
Various Products Released in Forms like Smoothies and Juices

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] With the onset of the intense heat, food companies are consecutively launching products featuring the summer’s representative fruit, the watermelon.

Watermelon is composed of 90% water, making it an ideal fruit for replenishing fluids and quenching thirst during the hot summer months when people sweat a lot. Additionally, it has a low calorie count compared to its sweet flesh and is rich in nutrients, earning steady love from people of all ages. However, its large size makes purchasing and storage difficult, and dealing with the rind after eating is also cumbersome. In response, companies are introducing various products such as smoothies and juices for convenient consumption, targeting the market aggressively.

According to industry sources on the 21st, Smoothie King launched two new menu items: the ‘Watermelon Smoothie’ and ‘Watermelon Juice,’ which offer both refreshment and health benefits. The ‘Watermelon Smoothie’ features the freshness of fresh watermelon and includes Smoothie King’s electrolyte-rich nutrition powder, Electrolyte, allowing consumers to enjoy thirst relief and a refreshing sensation simultaneously. The ‘Watermelon Juice’ is made by blending domestically grown watermelon as is, so customers can enjoy its natural sweet taste and nutrition together.

Shinsegae Food began importing and selling the popular Vietnamese carbonated drink ‘Blue Monkey Watermelon Juice Sparkling.’ This beverage uses 55% watermelon concentrate, allowing consumers to enjoy the cool and sweet taste of watermelon as it is. It also contains carbonated water and lemon juice, providing a tingling refreshment and a tangy flavor. Notably, it contains no sugar, synthetic flavorings, or additives, making it an ideal healthy drink for summer hydration.

Korea Yakult launched a large-sized ‘Grand Watermelon’ exclusively for convenience stores to welcome summer. ‘Grand Watermelon’ combines the unique tangy taste of Yakult with the sweet flavor of watermelon, the representative summer fruit. It contains the patented probiotic HY2782 and 50 billion probiotics, considering gut health as well. As a 280ml large-sized product befitting the ‘Grand’ brand name, it offers ample enjoyment.

Sandwich specialty brand Hongruizen introduced Coco Pearl Watermelon Juice, made with natural watermelon concentrate that boasts a rich flavor as if eating real watermelon. It also includes nata de coco made from coconut flesh, adding a chewy jelly-like texture for added chewing enjoyment.

The convenience store industry is also releasing ice products featuring watermelon one after another. CU launched a fruit cup ice containing watermelon-flavored ice. The ice contains watermelon juice, allowing consumers to pour soju, cider, carbonated water, etc., and enjoy it in various ways according to their preferences. Eating the ice alone offers a crisp texture and a sweet and sour taste, making it usable like ice cream.

GS25 released five unique watermelon-themed ice cream products. These include the ‘Half & Half Watermelon Bar,’ composed of 50% watermelon flesh and 50% rind, the soft sherbet-type ‘Chuchu Bar Watermelon,’ ‘Polar Pop Watermelon’ with watermelon flavor added to ice granules, the ice-type frozen dessert ‘Cool Shot Watermelon’ perfect for cooling down in the hot summer, and the ‘King Watermelon Bar.’

An industry official said, “With this summer expected to bring record-breaking heat and increased health awareness due to COVID-19, the consumption of fruit beverages is expected to rise. To capture the peak beverage season, competition among various watermelon-based products that offer both refreshment and nutrition is likely to intensify.”

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