Frozen pizza sold at convenience stores has surpassed the sales of frozen dumplings, which had ranked first in the frozen convenience food sales for more than 30 years.
On the 23rd, CU reported that, based on an analysis of the sales share of frozen convenience foods by category over the past five years, the sales share of frozen pizza reached 28% this year (January 1 to April 20), surpassing that of frozen dumplings at 27%.
Frozen pizza's sales share was the lowest among frozen convenience foods at 18% in 2021, but it steadily increased to 19% in 2022, 22% in 2023, and 24% in 2024. In contrast, the sales share of frozen dumplings, which was 38% in 2021, continuously declined to 35% in 2022, 34% in 2023, and 32% in 2024.
CU analyzed that the increase in frozen pizza sales is attributed to the rise in the number of one- to two-person households seeking convenient meals instead of rice, along with the growing variety of frozen pizzas released in different flavors and sizes. The proliferation of new cooking appliances such as air fryers, along with rising external dining expenses and delivery expenses, has also contributed to the increasing number of consumers looking for value-for-money products at convenience stores.
In response to the growing demand for frozen pizza, CU launched a small-scale frozen pizza brand, "Pizza Road," targeting one- to two-person servings this month. The first product introduced, the "Marapino Pizza (200g)," features toppings such as beef, jalapeños, and red peppers on a chewy dough, complemented by Chinese Sichuan-style mala sauce to deliver the spiciness of jalapeños.
CU plans to release a variety of flavored pizzas utilizing representative menus from countries such as the United States and Japan in the future.