As the weather cools, hot soups gain popularity... Bungeoppang also 'into convenience stores'

Three Major Convenience Store Chains Launch Winter Products Like Bungeoppang One After Another
Trend Agility + Capital Power + Ultra Proximity... Absorbing Seasonal Snacks

With the chilly weather in the mornings and evenings, demand for winter products, including warm fish cake broth, has surged at convenience stores. This year, convenience stores are expected to fully absorb the winter snack staple, Bungeoppang, adding approximately 45,000 convenience stores nationwide to the 'Bungeoppang Sales Map.'

A model is putting roasted sweet potatoes, a winter product, into a bag at Seven Eleven Photo by Seven Eleven.

According to the convenience store industry on the 1st, Seven Eleven saw sales of roasted sweet potatoes and fish cakes jump by 30% and 90%, respectively, from October 18 to 26, when winter product sales began in earnest, compared to the same period last year. Seven Eleven started selling roasted sweet potatoes and fish cakes, representative winter snacks, in earnest from October 18 as the daily temperature difference increased. The roasted sweet potatoes are sourced from Yeongam, Nonsan, and Yeoju, sold as firm-textured new sweet potatoes until October, and from November as sweet and soft honey sweet potatoes. Fish cakes include six varieties such as 'Jeopsagak Skewers' and 'Assorted Skewers' along with Whale Brand Fish Cakes. On October 20, hot pack products were also launched earlier than usual.

CU focused on steamed buns (Hoppang). They plan to lead this year’s Hoppang trend by consecutively releasing unique Hoppang in collaboration with IPX (formerly Line Friends) popular character 'Minini.' Last year, CU’s Hoppang sales in October, the initial launch month, were 48.7% higher than in January, the peak winter month. Considering the large daily temperature difference and chilly autumn mornings and evenings, the product was launched last month. The CU Minini Hoppang series includes four types: 'Lenini’s Green Onion Cream Cheese Hoppang,' 'Sallini’s Yellow Cheese Hoppang,' 'Chonini’s Spicy Stir-fried Pork Hoppang,' and 'Pangnini’s Chinese Black Bean Sauce Hoppang.' Each package features Minini characters and includes 80 types of random collectible stickers.

A consumer is selecting freshly made Bungeoppang at GS25.
[Photo by GS Retail].

Moreover, convenience stores, quick to catch trends, have brought the highly sought-after street Bungeoppang inside stores, signaling fierce competition between indoor and outdoor Bungeoppang this winter. GS25 launched the instant food 'Delicious Bungeoppang Filled to the Tail' at major stores nationwide from October 15.

GS25’s Bungeoppang measures 12 cm wide and 6 cm tall, weighing 70g, the same size as typical street vendor Bungeoppang. Unlike market products that only look like Bungeoppang with a castella or regular bread texture, GS25 focused on creating a crispy exterior and texture similar to street Bungeoppang. It is differentiated by being filled with red bean paste all the way to the tail and priced attractively at 1,200 won for a '2+1' deal. According to Korea Price Information, last winter, the price for two street Bungeoppang was around 1,000 won, with some places charging 1,000 won per piece depending on type and region.

The Bungeoppang is made daily with fresh batter at Yonggung Foods in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, then frozen and delivered to stores, where it is reheated in-store at 160 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes using a sweet potato machine before serving. GS25 explained that since March, they have visited over 20 Bungeoppang manufacturers nationwide to find suppliers who can provide large quantities that are both delicious and safe for nationwide convenience store distribution.

Earlier, Seven Eleven launched 'Sebungppang'?a name combining Seven Eleven and Bungeoppang?in early 2021 and has continued sales since. Sebungppang sales have increased every year, growing 15% year-on-year through November 12 this year. CU is also coordinating the timing to introduce Bungeoppang at its stores this winter. These three companies alone operate about 45,000 stores nationwide.

Among the MZ generation (Millennials + Gen Z), a new term 'Bungse-gwon' has become popular, meaning living near a Bungeoppang shop, similar to terms like 'Yeokse-gwon' (near a subway station) and 'Seulse-gwon' (near convenience facilities accessible in slippers). Last winter, people were seen 'open running'?lining up before the shop even opened?at famous neighborhood Bungeoppang shops. As it became difficult to buy Bungeoppang, more people started making it themselves, leading to a surge in Bungeoppang kit sales. A survey showed that 66% of respondents were willing to buy Bungeoppang even in summer, regardless of the season. Convenience stores plan to monitor sales trends this year and expand the variety of products they carry accordingly.

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