GS25 "Low-Sugar Desserts Loved by MZ Generation, Sales Increase 1.5 Times in 4 Years"

Companies Continue Launching Products Using Convenience Stores as Testbeds

Specialized dessert brands minimizing sugar and calories are gaining tremendous popularity among the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) at convenience stores. Low-sugar dessert companies are also using convenience stores as a testbed to increase new product launches.

According to GS25 on the 15th, an analysis of last year's sales data showed that total sales of these products increased more than 1.5 times over four years compared to 2019. GS25 attributed this to the spread of the healthy pleasure trend after the pandemic, which increased customer interest in the nutritional content of desserts.

The model is posing while holding dessert products with reduced sugar and calories sold at GS25.
[Photo by GS25]

In 2019, GS25 introduced the global premium ice cream brand ‘Halo Top’, known for its low calories, to the domestic market for the first time. Since then, they have successively brought in brands such as SkinnyPig, Greek Day, Fromit, and Lapnosh, strengthening their lineup of products with reduced sugar and calories. The product categories have also expanded, now handling over 20 types of desserts and snacks including ‘low sugar’, ‘low calorie’, and ‘zero sugar’ items ranging from ice cream to protein snacks, snacks, chocolate, and jelly. This is because low-sugar dessert companies judged GS25, which has over 17,000 nationwide locations, to be advantageous for product testing due to the ease of analyzing commercial districts and customer preferences for new products.

GS25 plans to continue expanding its product lineup through additional collaborations with related brands in 2024. In particular, for ice cream, they plan to add about 10 products including PB items with low sugar and vegan options.

On the 10th, GS25 also began exclusive industry sales of the new product ‘Low Sugar Vanilla Cookie Choux’ from the famous low-sugar ice cream brand ‘SkinnyPig’. This new product is a frozen dessert combining crispy cookie choux and smooth ice cream, delivering a burst of sweetness with every bite. Although it consists of bread and ice cream, it contains only 150 kcal and 4g of sugar, significantly reducing calories and sugar compared to regular ice cream.

Lee Juyong, MD of the Beverage and Food Team at GS Retail, said, “Many dessert brands are using GS25 as an important testbed to gauge dessert consumption trends,” adding, “We will continue to expand not only low-sugar but also various dessert categories to establish ourselves as a hub in the dessert market.”