Paldo's 'Birak Sikhye Zero' Sells 10 Million Units in 5 Months

Maintain Sweetness Using Alternative Sweeteners and Achieve Zero Sugars
Reduce Calories by Leaving Only Rice Grain Fiber
Launch Birak Organic Sikhye in August and Expand Sales

Paldo announced on the 12th that ‘Birak Sikhye Zero’ surpassed 10 million units in cumulative sales just five months after its launch. Birak Sikhye Zero, released in March, is the 0 kcal version of ‘Birak Sikhye.’

Paldo used alternative sweeteners to maintain the unique sweetness of sikhye while achieving zero sugar and zero carbohydrates. Through its own process that leaves only the fiber of the rice grains, the calorie content was lowered, which is evaluated as a success in attracting new consumers.

The new demand led to expanded distribution channels and increased sales. Sales reached 3 million units within 50 days of launch, and then, with supply to all convenience store channels as a turning point, an additional 7 million units were sold over 100 days, continuing the trend.

Thanks to the impact of Birak Sikhye Zero, the overall brand sales also increased. The integrated sales volume until July this year rose by 24% compared to the same period last year. Paldo increased production to meet the rising demand during Chuseok and raised its annual sales target to 100 million units.

Paldo plans to enhance the competitiveness of the sikhye brand through category expansion.

‘Birak Organic Sikhye,’ made with carefully selected rice and malt, will be launched this month to respond to segmented customer demands. The new product uses an Ecoline pouch, allowing consumers to warm the sikhye in the microwave directly in the container and enjoy it hot.

Im Yong-hyuk, Paldo’s marketing manager, said, “Thanks to the strong support from a broad consumer base, sales of ‘Birak Sikhye Zero’ are steadily increasing,” adding, “We will repay customer support with high quality, safety, and various marketing activities.”

Meanwhile, Birak Sikhye, first introduced in 1993, was the first in Korea to launch sikhye as an instant convenient beverage and received great love. It is the number one brand in the domestic sikhye market, with cumulative sales exceeding 2 billion units.