As the "eoljuk-a" ("ice no matter how cold") trend spreads to the ice cream industry, sales of ice cream increased in winter, which is considered the off-season. Analysts say seasonal boundaries have blurred compared with before as cold snaps keep people home and more of them enjoy desserts there.
According to related industries on the 28th, winter ice cream sales at the four major convenience store chains all rose this year. GS25, operated by GS Retail, said ice cream sales from Dec. 1–23 increased 47.7% from a year earlier. By type, bar (165.1%) and cup (81.9%) ice creams posted large gains. Products released this year, such as Frozen Sorbet and Ice Brûlée, entered the top 10 in November ice cream sales and drew a response.
During the same period, ice cream sales at CU, operated by BGF Retail, increased 12.7%. Sales of home-type ice cream, represented by Together, rose 59%. Premium ice cream, including Häagen-Dazs, also rose 33%. A BGF Retail official said, "Convenience stores, a shopping channel close to home, offer good access to ice cream purchases in winter, boosting sales," and noted, "As the burden of high inflation grows, demand is shifting from dining out to home parties, lifting sales of home-type and premium ice cream." During the same period, ice cream sales at the convenience stores 7-Eleven and Emart24 increased 5% and 7%, respectively.
With ice cream sales rising, the industry has stepped up marketing by launching winter products and running promotions. SPC Baskin-Robbins is rolling out its December flavor of the month along with a "Double Up" promotion that upgrades a single regular to a double junior size for an extra 500 won. CU released collaborative products timed to the Dec. 11 opening of the 10th theatrical installment of the popular animated series Pororo, "Pororo Movie: Sweet Castle Adventure." Set in the polar regions, the collaboration lineup includes a Mango Peach Sherbet ice cream.
Earlier, the coffee industry saw the "eoljuk-a" trend take hold, with people drinking iced Americanos even in winter. The growing burden of dining-out prices has also pushed more consumers to hold year-end gatherings at home instead of restaurants, contributing to higher snack and ice cream sales. An official in the ice cream industry said, "As storage and delivery technology for ice cream has advanced recently, delivery and packaging have increased," adding, "Channels with good access from home, such as convenience stores and unmanned ice cream shops, are also expanding, leading consumers to stock up on ice cream even in winter." The official added, "There is still a perception that ice cream does not sell in winter, but as sales have risen recently, planning promotions that can draw consumers has become more important."