It's Hot, So Hot... Ice Cups at Convenience Stores Sell Like Crazy in Early Summer Weather

CU Weekly Sales Increase by 10.3%
Pouch Beverage Sales Also Up 10.4%

A customer is purchasing a pouch drink at Emart24.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] As unseasonably early early summer weather intensifies, sales of ice cups at convenience stores have surged significantly. Along with the strong sales of ice cups, sales of pouch beverages have also jumped.

According to the industry on the 4th, BGF Retail reported that ice cup sales increased by 10.3% compared to the previous week and 63.1% compared to the previous month during the week from the 25th of last month to the 1st of this month. Other companies showed similar sales patterns. GS Retail also saw ice cup sales rise by 24.5% week-on-week and 84.3% month-on-month during the same period. Emart24's ice cup sales increased by 5.2% week-on-week and 69.3% month-on-month. The increase in sales is attributed to more outings following the lifting of social distancing measures and the earlier-than-usual arrival of early summer weather.

Along with the strong ice cup sales, pouch beverage sales also surged. For BGF Retail, pouch beverage sales increased by 10.4% week-on-week and 71.2% month-on-month. GS Retail's pouch beverage sales rose 25.0% week-on-week and showed an even larger month-on-month growth rate of 98.8%. Emart24's product sales increased by 5.7% week-on-week and 84.2% month-on-month during the same period.

This trend is expected to continue for the time being. In the industry, May is generally considered the month when the summer season begins and when sales of ice cups and pouch beverages start to increase. Additionally, the early summer heat approaching 28 degrees Celsius starting in April and the increase in outdoor activities following the lifting of social distancing measures have contributed to this trend. As more people venture out in the warm weather, the phenomenon of purchasing pouch beverages to pour over ice cups at convenience stores has become prominent.

An industry official said, "As warm weather continues and outdoor activities increase, more customers are purchasing ice cups and pouch drinks at convenience stores," adding, "We plan to continue various discount events as we see more customers looking for cool products to beat the heat as temperatures rise."

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