GS25 "Traditional Liquor Catering to 2030 Preferences... Sales Increased by 30.5% Compared to Last Year"

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Traditional liquors at convenience stores continue to see strong sales driven by popularity among the younger 2030 generation.

GS25 announced on the 13th that traditional liquor sales (excluding Makgeolli) from January 1 to December 11 this year increased by 30.5% compared to the same period last year. Following a 14.1% increase in traditional liquor sales last year compared to the previous year, this year’s growth rate more than doubled.

The products leading the recent sales surge of traditional liquors at GS25 are four types: ▲Bambit Meoru ▲Simsul 7-do ▲Simsul 10-do ▲Sulbak Season 2.

Bambit Meoru is a new traditional liquor product launched on November 26 as part of GS Retail’s traditional liquor revival project with GS25 and GS The Fresh. Since its launch until the 11th of this month, it ranks third in sales among about 30 traditional liquor products sold at GS25, outselling the steady seller Baekseju. Bambit Meoru is a distilled liquor made by fermenting meoru (wild grapes) grown in the clean area of Muju at an altitude of 500 meters and then distilling the wine.

Simsul 7-do and Simsul 10-do, released in April, ranked 5th and 6th respectively in sales during the same period. These also outsold existing popular traditional liquors such as Hwayo Soju and Sansachun. Simsul 7-do contains grapes and blueberries, giving it a pink hue when poured into a clear glass, while Simsul 10-do has a yellow color from grapefruit and calamansi. Their alcohol contents are relatively low at 7% and 10%, respectively, and they feature a soft carbonation that provides a refreshing, tingling taste.

Sulbak Season 2 is a product re-released in June after the original Sulbak, a limited edition of 150,000 bottles launched in summer 2019, sold out within two weeks. Sulbak Season 2 was already sold out by August. It contains watermelon juice, a representative summer fruit, which imparts the distinctive aroma and color of watermelon to the liquor.

GS Retail believes that the recently introduced traditional liquors, tailored to the tastes of the 2030 generation, are surpassing the popularity of existing steady-seller traditional liquors.

Noting the growth trend in the traditional liquor category continuing from last year, GS25 included traditional liquors in its “4 cans for 10,000 won” alcohol promotion?previously applied only to beer?starting this April as part of the traditional liquor revival project, and plans to gradually expand its range of traditional liquor products.

Ahn Jae-sung, GS Retail’s liquor MD, said, “There is a growing trend among the 2030 generation to enjoy tasty alcoholic beverages with added fruit flavors in low-alcohol forms. As the culture of enjoying special liquors during home drinking and home parties spreads through traditional liquors, GS25 will actively engage in the traditional liquor revival project.”

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