Spring Outing Boosts Han River Convenience Stores... CU Instant Ramen Sales Jump 286%

Han River Instant Ramen Sells 1,000 Units Per Store Daily
First Industry Ramen Specialty Store Opens, 300,000 Sold
K-Ramen Experience Offered, Contributing to Convenience Store Spatial Value

As spring outings have become more popular, sales of instant ramen at convenience stores near the Han River have surged to nearly four times last year's figures.

CU, a convenience store chain operated by BGF Retail, announced on the 22nd that an analysis of product sales at about 10 stores near the Han River from April 11 to 20 showed that instant ramen sales increased by 286% compared to the same period last year.

CU Ramen Specialty Convenience Store Wangsanmarina Branch. Photo by BGF Retail

The company attributed this surge to the rise in daytime high temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius since mid-April, which has drawn spring visitors to the Han River. On April 20 alone, CU’s Han River locations sold an average of about 1,000 instant ramen per store. From morning to evening, long lines stretching 30 to 50 meters formed as customers flocked to purchase instant ramen at these stores.

Major tourist destinations nationwide also saw a significant increase in convenience store ramen sales as spring visitors gathered. During the same period, instant ramen sales at CU stores located in tourist areas rose by 113% year-on-year.

The recent boom in convenience store instant ramen sales has been driven by CU’s ramen specialty stores, known as the "Ramen Library." In December 2023, CU became the first in the industry to launch a ramen specialty convenience store, promoting K-ramen culture to both domestic and international customers.

The first Ramen Library location, CU Hongdae Sangsang Branch, is designed with a ramen library concept, featuring a massive display of over 230 popular domestic and international ramen varieties, a cup ramen model tasting station, and instant cooking equipment. It also offers a ramen index based on factors such as the Scoville scale, distinguishing itself from other stores.

This store has become a tourist attraction not only for local consumers but also for international tourists who wish to experience Korean ramen culture as seen in K-content such as movies, variety shows, and dramas. Over approximately one year and four months since its opening, the store has sold a total of 300,000 ramen, averaging about 600 units per day. This is more than ten times the sales volume of a typical store.

In response, CU has opened ramen specialty stores in various locations, including Incheon Airport and Myeongdong Station. Currently, the company is expanding from directly managed stores to franchise stores, operating more than 40 ramen specialty locations nationwide.

Hwang Bomin, an MD (merchandiser) on the processed foods team at BGF Retail, stated, "CU’s ramen specialty convenience stores are contributing to the creation of spatial value by providing a unique experience space where customers can enjoy instant ramen, an integral part of K-ramen culture. Moving forward, we plan to develop and expand not only ramen specialty stores but also other specialized stores that can meet the diverse needs of our customers."