LOTTE Chilsung Beverage said on the 15th that Saero, a zero-sugar soju first introduced in September 2022, surpassed cumulative sales of 700 million bottles at the end of Jul.
Since its launch, Saero gained word-of-mouth as consumers said it had a "smooth swallow" and was "easy to drink with less of soju's characteristic aroma." It surpassed cumulative sales of 50 million bottles in about four months after launch. It then topped 100 million bottles in about seven months after launch, and as of the end of Jul. this year, ahead of the third anniversary of its debut, it recorded cumulative sales of 700 million bottles in 34 months since launch.
Unlike existing soju products, Saero is a zero-sugar soju that does not use fructose, emphasizing a fresh and smooth taste. It also preemptively adopted nutrition labeling for alcoholic beverages, reflecting the heightened post-pandemic consumer interest in health, and drew strong attention from consumers from the outset.
Since launch, Saero has posted a total of 43 video pieces on YouTube through last month, garnering more than about 86 million views. Recently, it operated "Saerodowon," which combines dining and collaborative marketing with nearby commercial districts into the existing brand-experience pop-up store, drawing strong interest with cumulative visitors exceeding about 40,000 over roughly five months.
A LOTTE Chilsung Beverage official said, "We thank consumers for the passionate support for Saero, Korea's representative zero-sugar soju, as it marks its third anniversary," adding, "In the fourth quarter, the peak season for soju, we plan promotions that offer Saero's unique, new, and differentiated brand experiences along with new content centered on the expanded universe of Saerogumi."