GS25 and CU adjust retail strategies amid slowing sales growth

Major South Korean convenience store chains GS25 and CU are adjusting their food and beverage strategies to combat slowing sales growth. While overall convenience store sales increased by only 0.8% last month, retailers are utilizing weather and consumer data to optimize product timing and variety.

GS25 is accelerating its seasonal offerings, launching instant fish cake sales two weeks earlier than last year due to data showing a 74% increase in sales when temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius. Additionally, GS25 is expanding its 'Wine25 Plus' platform to meet rising demand for international alcohol, noting that sales of Chinese Baijiu have increased 35-fold compared to 2023, while Japanese sake sales rose 9.5-fold.

CU is focusing on volume-based food trends, with 'Big Triangle Kimbap' now accounting for over 50% of its total triangle kimbap sales. The retailer is also introducing multi-pack products to cater to changing consumer preferences.