Convenience store CU announced on the 28th that it has completed obtaining sales permits for health functional foods (hereinafter referred to as health supplements) at over 6,000 stores nationwide and will start selling them in earnest.
Earlier this year, CU conducted preliminary promotions on health supplement operation for franchisees through a product convention. Last month, it embarked on recruiting specialized health supplement stores about six months ahead of the initial plan. As a result, approximately 6000 stores, accounting for 32% of all stores this month, have obtained health supplement permits.
While securing health supplement sales stores, CU has been promoting the development of optimized products for convenience store customers in collaboration with several pharmaceutical companies. The health supplements CU is presenting this time are products made in collaboration with Chong Kun Dang and Dongwha Pharm, totaling 11 types. Including these, CU currently sells over 70 types of health-related products.
CU's health supplements have been set at prices below 5,000 won for all products after extensive planning and consultations with pharmaceutical companies. This will increase not only purchase accessibility but also price competitiveness, expanding the base of health supplements in convenience stores quickly.
CU's year-on-year sales growth rate for health products was 5.3% in 2021, 27.1% in 2022, 18.6% in 2023, and 137.2% in 2024, showing a steep rise. It is explained that there was an 85% increase in the first half of this year, quickly emerging as a new growth engine for convenience stores.
CU stated, 'Starting with these new products, we plan to continuously introduce health supplements with small quantities, high quality, and reasonable prices in collaboration with various pharmaceutical companies and health food specialists.'