CU, ‘Hwak!silan Gimbap’ Popular... 500,000 Sold in One Week

CU's "Sure! Kimbap," launched at the end of last month, surpassed 500,000 units in cumulative sales within just one week.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] CU announced on the 19th that its ‘Hwak! Silhan Gimbap’ launched at the end of last month surpassed 500,000 cumulative sales within a week.

Last month, CU renewed its gimbap lineup by launching three types of ‘Hwak! Silhan Gimbap’ (Tuna, Spicy Stir-fried Pork, Soy Sauce Bulgogi), significantly improving the taste and quality. This product uses domestically grown Saechungmu rice, known for its chewy texture and savory flavor, increases the amount of filling by about 2.2 times compared to before, and reduces the moisture content of the filling by 30% to enhance texture. Additionally, it applies a double-wrapping recipe where the filling is first wrapped in a layer of seaweed, then rice is added, and wrapped again, creating a high-quality taste without sogginess.

Following the success of Rich Rich Triangle Gimbap, CU has consumed about 4,500 tons of Saechungmu rice from January to April this year, effectively promoting the consumption of domestic agricultural products. The purchase volume of seaweed, a key ingredient in gimbap and triangle gimbap, has also increased to about 90 tons this year. Since 2017, CU has signed a business agreement with Wando County, Korea’s largest seaweed production area, and uses only Wando seaweed, dried by traditional methods from clean waters, known for its excellent savory taste.

This major renewal of triangle gimbap and gimbap was initiated by a special order from BGF Retail President Lee Geon-jun himself. President Lee said, “We must win customers’ hearts by improving taste and quality as if my own family is eating it,” and conducts tastings every Monday with executives using randomly purchased gimbap and triangle gimbap from stores. This is to regularly monitor quality with products in the same condition as those sold in stores.

To express gratitude for customers’ support, CU is holding an event celebrating the sale of 500,000 ‘Hwak! Silhan Gimbap’. Until the 20th of this month, discount coupons allowing customers to purchase the three types of ‘Hwak! Silhan Gimbap’ at half price will be given on a first-come, first-served basis every day at 11 a.m. on the event page within the membership app PocketCU. With additional carrier discounts, customers can buy a roll of gimbap at prices comparable to the early 2000s. A 50% discount event is also ongoing until the end of this month for customers purchasing ‘Hwak! Silhan Gimbap’ via Naver Pay.

A BGF Retail official said, “By offering gimbap with taste and quality that anyone can recognize at a reasonable price, customer feedback that convenience store gimbap has changed is translating into sales,” and added, “We will continue to introduce various semi-prepared food products that fully bring out the taste and quality of domestic rice based on ongoing research on ingredients, recipes, and menus for convenient foods.”