Convenience Store Suneung Hot Items... Hot Packs, Caffeinated Drinks, and Chocolate 'Flying Off the Shelves'

CU, Hot Pack Sales Increase by 48.8%
Sharp and Correction Supplies Also See Increased Purchases
Food Items Popular: Caffeinated Beverages and Chocolate

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the day before and the day of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), convenience stores saw high sales of everyday items such as hand warmers and writing instruments, while caffeine drinks and chocolates were popular food items. Although CSAT marketing has significantly decreased compared to the past, convenience stores continue to enjoy a yearly "short-term boom."

According to CU on the 16th, sales of hand warmers increased by 48.8% from the previous week during November 17-18 last year. During the same period, GS25 saw a 22.6% increase, and Emart24 saw a 24% rise. This is analyzed to be due to examinees purchasing hand warmers to avoid the cold or as gifts for test-takers ahead of the exam.

There was also a high demand for writing instruments to be used at the test site. At CU, sales of writing instruments increased by 18.5% and notebooks by 10.2% compared to the previous week. GS25 showed strong growth rates with sign pens up 32.6%, mechanical pencils and pencils up 23.5%, and erasers and correction supplies up 131.7%. Seven Eleven saw a 30% increase in sales of writing supplies, and Emart24 experienced an 85% rise in stationery sales.

Caffeine drinks and chocolates, which can temporarily boost examinees' condition, were also popular. At CU, energy drink sales increased by 17.5% compared to the previous week. Chocolates, which can be consumed during the exam, rose by 19.2% compared to the previous month.

As food gifts for examinees, traditional favorites like chapssaltteok (glutinous rice cakes) sold well. At GS25, sales of dessert breads containing chapssaltteok tripled compared to the previous week. Seven Eleven saw a 70% increase in rice cake sales, and Emart24 experienced a 33% rise.

The day after the CSAT saw a significant increase in sales of ready-to-eat meals and snacks due to remote classes implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At CU, gimbap sales increased by 8.9% compared to the previous week, with snacks up 12.3%, carbonated drinks up 17.1%, and iced drinks up 39.7%. GS25 saw an 8.8% increase in triangular gimbap sales, while Seven Eleven recorded sales growth rates of 25% for triangular gimbap, 20% for cup noodles, and 15% for lunch boxes.

A convenience store industry official said, "We sincerely hope that examinees can fully demonstrate their abilities after all the preparation they have done," adding, "We are making efforts to secure store inventory so that necessary products can be purchased at any time."

A customer is purchasing a hand warmer at the convenience store CU. (Photo by BGF Retail)

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