Baek Jong-won Meat Jjamppong Sells 2.3 Million Units
Omori Kimchi Jjigae Remains 'Unrivaled No. 1'
Sales of Cup Ramen Rise Due to Popularity of Differentiated Products
Convenience store private brand (PB) cup noodles have entered a golden age. In the conservative ramen market, differentiated products are shaking up the market landscape by pushing out traditional strong players like Yukgaejang Sabalmyeon and Buldak Bokkeummyeon.
Baek Jong-won Meat Jjamppong (top left), Omori Kimchi Jjigae Ramen, Seven Select Green Onion Ramen, I'm e Spicy e Ramen Cup. [Photo by CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24]
According to CU on the 10th, this year's cup noodle rankings are 1st Yukgaejang Sabalmyeon, 2nd Buldak Bokkeummyeon, 3rd Baek Jong-won's Meat Jjamppong, 4th Carbonara Buldak Bokkeummyeon, and 5th Sesame Ramen. Baek Jong-won's Meat Jjamppong, released in January, has surpassed 2.3 million cumulative sales. This product boasts a deep and rich broth flavored with beef, chicken, and pork, and the unique smoky aroma of meat jjamppong, rivaling the taste of Chinese restaurants.
At GS25, Omori Kimchi Stew Ramen ranked 1st, and Tteumsae Ramen ranked 5th. Omori Kimchi Stew has held the undisputed top spot since its launch in December 2014 and is the only product to have surpassed Yukgaejang Sabalmyeon and Buldak Bokkeummyeon. To preserve the authentic taste of aged kimchi, the product includes a separately packaged kimchi soup with kimchi ingredients and kimchi stew seasoning in retort packaging. Tteumsae Ramen was launched in partnership with the ramen franchise Tteumsae Ramen in 2006 and has become a steady seller with consistent love from customers.
At 7-Eleven, following Yukgaejang Sabalmyeon, Buldak Bokkeummyeon, Kimchi Sabalmyeon, and Jin Ramen Spicy, Seven Select Green Onion Ramen took 5th place. This product features a spicy Yukgaejang broth base with plenty of refreshing and clean green onion strips. It has gained a reputation as a hangover cure ramen, with sales among people in their 30s and 40s accounting for 55% of total sales, and those over 50 making up 30%. By gender, males (70%) overwhelmingly outnumber females (30%). At Emart24, I'm e Eolkeun e Ramen Cup ranked 5th. This product was created in collaboration with Paldo and is characterized by a spicy and savory beef broth base. The price is 800 won, which is more than 30% cheaper than general brand ramen prices.
Cup noodle sales at convenience stores are steadily rising. At CU, sales increased by 37.6% from January 1 to the 7th of this month. During the same period, GS25 saw a 40.9% increase, 7-Eleven 45%, and Emart24 31%. Looking only at differentiated cup noodle sales, CU saw a 167.8% increase, and GS25 49.1%, greatly exceeding the overall growth rate.
Each company is expanding its PB cup noodle lineup. CU currently operates about 20 products, including Sokcho Red Crab Ramen and Cheongyang Chili Pepper Ramen. At GS25, differentiated cup noodles increased from about 10 types in 2019 to about 20 this year, and at 7-Eleven from 7 to 12 types.
A convenience store industry official said, “PB ramen that can only be tasted at each company recently is receiving a good response,” adding, “We will continue to develop high-quality ramen at reasonable prices.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
