Our Taste Still Prefers Chilsung Cider... 29.5 Billion Cans in 70 Years, the 'National Drink'

Nation's Carbonated Drink Selling 1 Billion Cans Annually
33 Cans Sold Per Second... 20 Cans Consumed Per Person
Top Brand Holding 70% of Domestic Cider Market

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] Lotte Chilsung Beverage's flagship carbonated drink, "Chilsung Cider," which marks its 70th anniversary this year, has surpassed a cumulative sales volume of 29.5 billion cans.

According to Lotte Chilsung Beverage on the 29th, Chilsung Cider, first introduced on May 9, 1950, has been a refreshing remedy that clears the stuffy feeling of the Korean people for 70 years and a national carbonated drink that pairs well with any food.

From its launch until the end of April this year, the cumulative sales volume of Chilsung Cider, based on the 250ml can product, is approximately 29.5 billion cans. If cans with a height of 13.3 cm each were lined up in a row, they would circle the Earth's circumference (about 40,000 km) 98 times, reaching 3.92 million km. This is equivalent to stacking 7.07 million Lotte World Tower buildings (555 m tall).

Chilsung Cider leads the domestic carbonated beverage market by showing steady growth every year through its strong brand power and agile response to external environmental changes such as the growth of delivery and dining-out markets. Last year, more than 1 billion cans of Chilsung Cider were sold, which means 33 cans were sold every second, and on average, each Korean (based on a population of 51.8 million) drank 20 cans. Chilsung Cider recorded approximately 420 billion KRW in sales last year based on internal sales and holds a dominant market share of 70% in the domestic cider market.

The main reasons Chilsung Cider has been loved for a long time can be attributed to its taste, quality, and marketing.

Chilsung Cider uses only natural flavors extracted from lemon and lime in water that is purified through excellent water treatment facilities. It is a "3-no (無) beverage" with no caffeine, artificial flavors, or artificial colors, and it delivers a taste that best suits Korean palates with a perfect harmony of lemon and lime flavors and an appropriate carbonation level.

From the beginning, Chilsung Cider was known as a pure cider without saccharin. In 1960, when the international price of raw sugar surged, a so-called "half-sugar cider" mixing 50% sugar and saccharin became popular, but Chilsung Cider adhered to the principle of no compromise on quality by using 100% sugar, known as "pure sugar cider," and was recognized by consumers as a premium product.

Since the 1980s, Chilsung Cider has differentiated its brand image by emphasizing the attribute of "transparency" and promoting marketing strategies highlighting "clarity and cleanliness." Along with advertisements introducing Korea's beautiful places from Baekdu to Halla, it has conducted environmental campaigns that raise awareness of the importance of nature and life, building a unique brand image of clear and clean Chilsung Cider.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Chilsung Cider this year, Lotte Chilsung Beverage is carrying out various marketing activities that resonate with consumers, including airing retro-themed advertisements, hosting nostalgic emotion events, promoting a bus stop greening project, selling limited edition goods, and producing a 70th-anniversary company history book.

A Lotte Chilsung Beverage official said, "The reason Chilsung Cider has surpassed a cumulative sales volume of 29.5 billion cans over 70 years is thanks to consumers' steady love and trust in the product," adding, "To mark the 70th anniversary, we plan to launch new Chilsung Cider products and collaborate with famous illustrators to release goods."