As chilly winds blow in the mornings and evenings, the retail and food service industries have begun selling winter snacks earlier than usual. From hotteok and bungeoppang to egg bread, fish cakes, roasted sweet potatoes, and steamed buns, businesses are expanding their warm food offerings to capture early winter demand.
According to industry sources on October 2, convenience stores have started their winter food operations up to a month earlier than in previous years. GS25 launched its winter ready-to-eat food offerings on October 1, about two weeks earlier than last year, across more than 5,000 locations nationwide. Emart24 began selling roasted sweet potatoes on September 19, nearly a month ahead of last year, while Seven Eleven started offering roasted sweet potatoes and fish cakes from September 15.
This year, convenience stores are focusing on collaborations with specialized brands and differentiating their products. GS25 has partnered with the renowned Busan fish cake brand 'Goraesa Eomuk' to offer six varieties, including original fish cakes, double fish cakes, assorted fish cakes, white fish cakes, water rice cakes, and vegetable skewers. The flagship product, the original fish cake, is priced at 1,000 won. Throughout October, customers can receive a 1,000 won discount when purchasing roasted sweet potatoes or baked potatoes alongside a 'Cafe25' Americano.
Seven Eleven has introduced a new domestic sweet potato variety, 'Hopungmi,' known for its high sugar content and soft texture, enhancing its product competitiveness. Following a 15% increase in roasted sweet potato sales and a 7% rise in fish cake sales last winter compared to the previous year, the company plans to gradually expand its sales locations and introduce steamed buns later this month, following the bungeoppang.
Emart24 is also rolling out SPC Samlip steamed buns, starting with 2,000 won roasted sweet potatoes, followed by red bean, honey sweet potatoes, vegetables, and pizza varieties.
The early introduction of winter snacks by convenience stores is driven by a clear rebound effect in sales due to temperature changes. An analysis of three years of ready-to-eat fish cake sales data by GS25 revealed that sales on days with average temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius were 74% higher than on days above 15 degrees, and 12 times higher than on days above 20 degrees. In fact, during the chilly weather from October 5 to 7, fish cake sales surged by 121.7%, while roasted sweet potatoes increased by 97.6% compared to the same period the previous week.
The food service and cafe sectors are also broadening their menu offerings with winter snacks that pair well with coffee. Ediya Coffee recently introduced six types of 'street snacks,' including seed hotteok, japchae hotteok, pizza hotteok, red bean bungeoppang, cream-filled bungeoppang, and ham and cheese egg bread.
The seed hotteok, filled with brown sugar and nuts, and the red bean and cream bungeoppang maintain familiar flavors, while the japchae and pizza-topped hotteok expand the choices. The ham and cheese egg bread is designed as a simple meal alternative, providing a range from sweet desserts to hearty snacks.
Sales channels have also diversified. Customers can order through Ediya's nationwide franchise locations, the Ediya Members app, and major delivery platforms such as Baedal Minjok, Coupang Eats, and Yogiyo. This expansion aims to cater to both in-store coffee customers and those looking to enjoy winter snacks at home or in the office.
An Ediya Coffee representative stated, "Korean winter street snacks are beloved comfort foods that embody the flavors and sentiments of Korea as K-desserts. We hope customers will experience the charm of familiar winter snacks with Ediya Coffee's unique flavors and combinations."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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