"It's Only May, but Convenience Stores Know... Iced Americano at 24°C, Tube Ice Cream at 31°C: The Thermometer of the Summer Sales Boom"

Summer Sales Start a Month Early as 'Spring Disappears'

Bingsu in April, Health Foods in June: The Traditional Seasonal Calendar Is Broken

As daytime temperatures in Seoul continue to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, an early summer sales boom has emerged in the retail industry. Sales of ice, ice cream, and iced beverages have surged, and consumption of summer fruits such as watermelon has also increased. The industry has entered the "midsummer sales" season about a month earlier than usual.

According to the retail and food industry on May 19, GS Retail's seasonal fruit sales from May 15 to 17 rose by 476.9% compared to the same period last year, driven by soaring demand for summer fruits like watermelon. During the same period, sales of ice products rose by 91.5%, iced drinks by 90.8%, sports drinks by 60.5%, ice cream by 50.8%, carbonated beverages by 48.3%, beer by 33%, and bottled water by 30.6%. Among non-food items, deodorant sales increased by 60.4%, and sun care products rose by 50%.

The customer is selecting Copperwick sparkling alcohol products at GS25. Provided by GS25.

Early Start to June Sales, Surge in Ice and Ice Cream Sales

BGF Retail also saw growth in summer product sales. Cup ice sales increased by 86.1% year-on-year, bagged ice by 85.4%, and DellaFé, an instant iced beverage, by 71%. Ice cream sales rose by 66%, bottled water by 44.2%, carbonated drinks by 32.8%, and beer by 25.3%. At Emart24, sales of cup ice increased by 80%, bagged ice by 74%, and pouch drinks by 64%. Ice cream sales grew by 67%, sports drinks by 39%, bottled water by 34%, carbonated beverages by 27%, and beer by 16%.

The industry views the current sales atmosphere as essentially equivalent to "June sales." A CU representative stated, "Sales trends from May 15 to 17 are similar to those observed in mid-June last year," adding, "Due to the sudden rise in temperatures, the sales period for summer demand products has accelerated by about a month."

Convenience store chains utilize weather data to develop their product strategies, as sales are highly sensitive to temperature changes. They track the "critical temperature" for each product. For example, when the temperature exceeds 24 degrees Celsius, iced coffee sales increase; at 26 degrees, beer sales rise; at 27 degrees, stick ice cream sales spike; and at 31 degrees, tube-type ice cream sales surge. Sales of bottled water and sports drinks increase when temperatures go above 29 degrees.

Ice Cream and Beverage Industry Expands Production to Peak Season Levels

Food and beverage companies have also begun to ramp up production. Ice cream companies such as Lotte Wellfood and Binggrae are increasing the operating rates of their peak season production lines, and some products have had their production schedules moved up. Lotte Wellfood expanded production after ice cream sales in April and May rose by more than 10% year-on-year. Binggrae also saw a 15–20% increase in sales during April and May. The beverage industry is boosting production of bottled water, carbonated drinks, and sports drinks, with some factories already operating at peak season levels. A beverage industry official stated, "With summer demand starting in April and May, sales have increased by 15–20%, and we have already adjusted production volumes to peak season levels."

Retailers are also moving up their summer product launch schedules. The flagship item is shaved ice desserts (bingsu). GS25 began rolling out cup bingsu more than a month earlier than usual, starting at the end of last month. Its featured product is the "Taegukdang Old-Fashioned Bingsu 250ml," launched on April 29. Developed in collaboration with Taegukdang, this product increased the red bean content by about 20% compared to previous versions and includes red beans, corn flakes, and sweet rice cakes in a snowflake bingsu base.

The launch timing for ready-to-eat health food products has also been moved forward. GS25 plans to introduce new health meal products, such as Samgyetang, from mid-June—about two to four weeks earlier than last year. Emart24 has also advanced the introduction of summer items like portable fans by about one week compared to last year.

This year's spring temperatures were significantly higher than usual. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, last month the national average temperature was 13.8 degrees Celsius, the third highest on record. On the 12th, 13th, 15th, and from the 18th to the 19th, most regions experienced unusual heat due to clear skies and strong solar radiation, and on the 19th, Seoul and some other areas set new records for the highest mid-April daytime temperatures. So far this month, maximum daytime temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius have been recorded in various regions nationwide, continuing the early summer weather.

Meanwhile, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration's "2026 Summer Climate Outlook," there is a high likelihood that this summer's temperatures will exceed the annual average. The agency's latest "one-month outlook" also predicts an 80–90% probability that temperatures nationwide will be similar to or higher than usual through mid-June.

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