BGF Retail said on the 28th that CU's "cup dakgangjeong" surpassed 5 billion won in cumulative sales about 10 months after its launch. As chicken prices have become burdensome in a period of high inflation, demand appears to have grown for relatively affordable convenience-store made-to-order chicken.
According to BGF Retail, the "spicy-sweet cup dakgangjeong" launched at the end of last year sells in the 4,000-won range for 220g. Within a month of its release, average daily sales rose more than fourfold from the previous month, and it even climbed to No. 2 in chicken sales after the top-selling crispy boneless chicken skewer.
Riding its popularity, CU expanded flavors to garlic soy sauce, honey, and wasabi mayo. With sales picking up in the summer, the peak season for chicken, cumulative sales reached 1.2 million units. That translates to more than 5 billion won in sales, and it is currently maintaining the No. 2 spot in annual chicken sales.
This led to an increase in overall chicken sales. Looking at CU's year-over-year growth rates for made-to-order chicken by year, they were 35.6% in 2022, 51% in 2023, and 40.1% last year. This September rose 27.1%.
In particular, this month it will also launch the "spicy-sweet tenderloin cup dakgangjeong," which offers even greater value for money. It comes in two sizes: small cup (220g, 3,900 won) and large cup (660g, 11,700 won). As import prices for Brazilian chicken thigh used in the existing product have risen, CU, together with small and midsize domestic partners, planned dakgangjeong made with tenderloin from Korean chicken and will roll it out at a reasonable price.
Yun Seung-hwan, a merchandise planner (MD) on BGF Retail's HMR team, said, "As chicken prices approach about 30,000 won, convenience stores have taken hold among consumers as places to buy chicken at low prices," and added, "With sales of made-to-order chicken jumping recently, CU will actively develop new products with better value for money going forward."