In the Era of High Inflation, Frozen Fruits 'Fly Off the Shelves'... Last Year's Sales Soared 119%

GS Retail's supermarket GS The Fresh announced on the 24th that sales of frozen fruits increased by 119.3% compared to the previous year. This surge in demand is due to the soaring prices of fresh fruits, making frozen fruits, which are relatively affordable and have better storage capabilities, more popular.

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The year-on-year sales growth rate of GS The Fresh's frozen fruit category was 40% in 2022 and 119.3% in 2023. In particular, as of last year, frozen blueberries showed a growth rate of 158%, and frozen mangoes grew by 122%. By package size, the sales growth rate of small-sized products under 700g was about 2.4 times higher than that of large-sized products (700g or more).

GS The Fresh reports that consumers are increasingly choosing frozen fruits, which are about 30% cheaper than fresh fruits. This is influenced by rising prices due to reduced fruit harvests caused by climate change and a sharp decline in the supply of imported fruits. GS The Fresh explains that frozen fruits are preferred by customers because they have excellent storability, eliminating the pressure to consume quickly, and can be eaten immediately after thawing or used in various ways such as in beverages. They also added that frozen fruits are not lacking in terms of quality and nutrition.

This year, GS The Fresh plans to expand the number of products by about 30% compared to before through cooperation with partner companies. Kim Kwang-myeong, MD of GS Retail's Agricultural Products Team, said, "GS The Fresh believes that frozen fruits help stabilize prices by supporting fruit-growing farms through efficient resource utilization and offering affordable prices, and thus presents various products to customers." He added, "In the future, we will continue to carry out various win-win activities to support producers facing difficulties due to climate change and develop products that benefit both farms and consumers."

Meanwhile, GS The Fresh holds monthly frozen fruit promotions and themed events. From the 26th to the 28th, a 500g pack of frozen strawberries will be offered as a one-plus-one (1+1) deal for 8,800 won.

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