Getty Image Bank

원본보기 아이콘

With early summer weather pushing daytime highs in Seoul above 30 degrees Celsius, the retail industry is experiencing an early seasonal boom. Sales of ice, ice cream, and iced beverages have surged, and consumption of summer fruits like watermelon has also increased. The industry has started its "peak summer sales" nearly a month earlier than usual.

According to the retail and food industries on May 19, sales of seasonal fruits at GS Retail from May 15 to 17 rose by 476.9% compared to the same period last year. This was driven by a sharp rise in demand for summer fruits such as watermelon. During the same period, sales of ice products increased by 91.5%, iced drinks by 90.8%, ion 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, sales of deodorants grew by 60.4% and sun care products by 50%.

A customer is selecting a Copervik sparkling alcoholic beverage product at GS25. Provided by GS25.

원본보기 아이콘

BGF Retail also saw increased sales of summer products. Sales of cup ice jumped by 86.1% and bagged ice by 85.4% year-on-year, while Delaffee, an instant iced beverage, soared by 71%. Ice cream sales rose by 66%, bottled water by 44.2%, carbonated beverages by 32.8%, and beer by 25.3%. At Emart24, cup ice sales increased by 80%, bagged ice by 74%, and pouch drinks by 64%. Ice cream sales went up by 67%, ion drinks by 39%, bottled water by 34%, carbonated beverages by 27%, and beer by 16%.

The industry considers the current sales environment to be on par with "June peak season" levels. A CU official stated, "Sales trends from May 15 to 17 were similar to those seen in mid-June last year. The sudden hot weather has accelerated the sales timing for summer demand products by about a month."

원본보기 아이콘

Convenience store chains use weather data to develop product strategies, as sales respond sensitively to temperature changes. They manage threshold temperature data 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, popsicle sales surge; and at 31 degrees, sales of tube-shaped ice cream spike. Bottled water and sports drinks see sales growth when temperatures surpass 29 degrees.

Getty Images Bank

원본보기 아이콘

Food and beverage companies have also begun to ramp up production volumes. Frozen dessert manufacturers such as Lotte Wellfood and Binggrae have increased their peak season production line operation rates, and some products are being produced ahead of schedule. Lotte Wellfood expanded production after seeing frozen dessert sales rise by more than 10% year-on-year in April and May. Binggrae also posted a 15-20% sales increase over the same period. Beverage companies are increasing production of bottled water, carbonated, and ion drinks, and some plants are already operating at peak season capacity. An official from the beverage industry stated, "With summer demand in full swing since April and May, sales have increased by 15-20%, and production volume has already been adjusted to peak season levels."

원본보기 아이콘

The retail sector is also moving up its summer product launch schedules. A key item is bingsu (Korean shaved ice dessert). GS25 has begun sequentially launching cup bingsu since the end of last month, over a month earlier than usual. Its flagship product, "Taegukdang Traditional Bingsu 250ml," was released on April 29. Developed in collaboration with Taegukdang, this product contains about 20% more red beans than previous versions, and features red beans, corn flakes, and glutinous rice cake in a snowflake-style bingsu.

The launch dates for ready-to-eat health food products have also been brought forward. GS25 plans to introduce new ready-to-eat health food products, such as samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), from mid-next month, about 15 to 30 days earlier than last year. Emart24 has also moved up the introduction of summer items, such as portable fans, by about a week compared to last year.

Getty Images Bank

원본보기 아이콘

In fact, spring temperatures this year were significantly higher than usual. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the average national temperature last month was 13.8 degrees Celsius, the third highest on record. From April 12 to 13, 15, and 18 to 19, unusually high temperatures were observed across most of the country under clear skies and strong sunlight, and on April 19, Seoul and some other areas set new records for the highest mid-April daytime temperatures. This month, daytime highs continue to exceed 30 degrees Celsius in various regions, maintaining early summer conditions nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Korea Meteorological Administration's "2026 Summer Climate Outlook" forecasts a high probability that this summer's temperatures will be above average. In its recently released "one-month outlook," it also predicted an 80-90% probability that national temperatures will be similar to or higher than average through mid-next month.