Due to Rising Dining-Out Prices... CU's Lunchbox Sales Soar

On the 17th, customers are purchasing lunch boxes at the convenience store CU.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Recently, with the rise in dining-out prices and the recovery of daily life coinciding, convenience store lunchbox sales have recorded the highest growth rate in the past three years.

According to CU on the 17th, lunchbox sales from the 1st to the 15th of this month increased by 48.4% compared to the same period last year. In Seoul, sales growth rates in office districts such as Yeoksam, Gwanghwamun, and Yeouido, where offices are concentrated, were 61.3%, which is 12.9 percentage points higher than the average growth rate. Sales occurring between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., the lunch hours, accounted for 59.6% of total sales.

The number of customers using meal vouchers provided as welfare benefits by companies at CU also increased by 74.1% compared to the same period last year. This is because as restaurant prices near companies have risen, when using meal vouchers, which usually cost 8,000 to 9,000 won each, at restaurants, individuals have to pay the difference of 1,000 to 2,000 won.

A BGF Retail official said, “Due to the impact of rising prices, the demand for convenience store lunchboxes has rapidly increased, and we are making every effort to provide products with improved taste and quality,” adding, “We will continue to develop menus and quality to provide meals that customers can always trust and enjoy without burden.”