CU said on the 27th that its differentiated ramen brand "Chitkey" recorded sales of 200,000 units during July.
According to CU, cumulative sales of the Chitkey series surpassed 200,000 units from the 1st to the 23rd of this month. An average of about 8,700 units were sold per day and more than 360 per hour, meaning one sold roughly every 10 seconds.
This is the fastest sales record achieved among CU's differentiated ramen series released to date.
The Sunday discount event "Chitkey Day" drove the sales increase. In July, CU offered discounts of up to 77% through Chitkey Day. On event days, it sold "Chitkey rich shrimp soup noodles" for 480 won and "Chitkey real cream fire chicken flavor" for 500 won.
On the 12th, during Chitkey Day, the daily sales of Chitkey rich shrimp soup noodles even surpassed Shin Ramyun, the leading bagged ramen product.
Online, verification photos and tasting reviews from consumers who purchased Chitkey products spread. Related posts continued mainly on social networking services (SNS) and online moms' communities, and searches for Chitkey exceeded 10,000.
Chitkey is CU's private ramen series that enhances completeness by adding differentiated elements to familiar ramen flavors. The name was inspired by an expression meaning a decisive key secret in gaming, fashion, finance, and cooking.
CU plans to expand its differentiated ramen lineup with Chitkey at the center. It will release follow-up products that apply cooking methods and materials and supplies that are rarely seen in conventional ramen to strengthen competitiveness in the convenience store ramen market.
Han Jeong-ju BGF Retail(282330), processed foods team MD, said, "We will continue to introduce ramen with new concepts and product appeal to provide customers with a distinctive gourmet experience."