Increased Snack Consumption During Stay-at-Home Life... Seven Eleven Sees 20% Rise in Imported Snack Sales

A customer is looking at 'Oreo Double Coating Chocolate Cookie' and 'Golden Duck Salted Egg' at a Seven Eleven store. (Photo by Seven Eleven)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] As the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has increased snack consumption, sales of imported snacks have shown particularly remarkable growth.

According to 7-Eleven on the 28th, overall snack sales from August 1 to September 25 increased by 10.7% compared to the same period last year, with imported snack sales rising by 20.6% during the same period.

A 7-Eleven official analyzed that as people spend more time at home due to remote work and online classes, they are increasingly seeking snacks. Additionally, with overseas travel becoming difficult due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, many consumers are looking for foods they experienced abroad.

This popularity of imported snacks is growing mainly among younger generations. Analyzing imported snack sales by age group during the same period, 7-Eleven found that people in their 20s showed the highest growth rate at 32.5%, while those in their 50s recorded only 6.8%. Instead, traditional snack sales among the 50s age group increased significantly by 17.8%.

A 7-Eleven official stated, “People in their 50s tend to prefer traditional snacks with familiar flavors, whereas younger people in their 20s have more overseas experiences and are exposed to various foreign foods through SNS. The younger generation’s openness to unique and new tastes without much hesitation is also a reason for the popularity.”

By commercial district, single-person districts dominated by young 1-2 person households showed strong performance. Imported snack sales at 7-Eleven stores in single-person districts rose by 27.1%, while family districts, where traditional four-person households such as apartments are common, recorded a 17.4% sales increase.

In response, 7-Eleven has strengthened its lineup by launching new products as customer demand for imported convenience store snacks increases. First, they introduced the ‘Oreo Double Coating Chocolate Cookie,’ which was previously only available in the U.S. and Europe and considered an essential shopping item.

This product was first launched by 7-Eleven in Korea in April. After the initial stock sold out within a week due to word-of-mouth on SNS and high consumer popularity, additional stock was secured for full-scale sales.

The ‘Oreo Double Coating Chocolate Cookie’ features crispy Oreo cookies coated with chocolate to enhance the sweet flavor and comes in two types: original chocolate and white chocolate. It is ideal as a home caf? dessert enjoyed with coffee or milk.

They also sell the ‘Golden Duck Salted Egg,’ a famous must-buy item in Singapore. This unique snack consists of fish skin and potato chips fried crispy in salted duck egg sauce and is available in two types: ‘Fish Skin Chip’ and ‘Potato Chip.’ Thanks to its savory taste and crispy texture, it is an excellent accompaniment to beer.

Kim Semi, MD in charge of 7-Eleven’s Global Sourcing Team, said, “With overseas travel difficult and more time spent at home, consumers are increasingly recalling past overseas trips and seeking snacks they tasted then. We plan to continuously expand related items so that customers can easily find famous overseas foods at convenience stores near their homes.”