Crowds Flock for Tuna Mayo Gimbap and Instant Ramen... This Country's Convenience Store Sales 86% Higher Than Korea's

Kazakhstan Falls in Love with K-Food
Korean Products Dominate at CU Convenience Stores

Kazakhstan’s love for Korean culture is intense. Currently, CU convenience stores operated by BGF Retail in Kazakhstan offer around 530 types of Korean products. Approximately 65% of store sales come from Korean goods.

Kazakhstan is a country with a strong interest in Korean culture, and Korean food is considered a premium menu item at ordinary restaurants. The average daily sales per CU store in Kazakhstan are about 86% higher than in Korea, and the average daily customer count is more than double.

The most popular item at CU in Kazakhstan is the Tuna Mayo Gimbap. Onigiri with tuna mayo filling sells at an average of about 60 units per store per day at CU Kazakhstan. Monthly sales exceed 10,000 units.

Instant-cooked ramen ranks second in popularity. The ability to cook and enjoy Hangang ramen, seen in Korean movies, variety shows, and dramas, using in-store instant cooking machines has attracted customers. It is estimated that an average of over 50 customers per store experience Korean-style Hangang ramen each day.

Among the top 10 best-selling products, six are onigiri or gimbap varieties, highlighting their popularity. As a result, there have been cases where the prices of gimbap and similar items sold at general retail stores in Kazakhstan have dropped significantly.

CU has established a local convenience food manufacturing plant to enable mass production and reduce costs, thereby increasing price competitiveness in overseas markets. BGF Retail has supported its Kazakhstani partner, ShinLine, by providing distribution infrastructure such as logistics centers and food manufacturing centers, as well as related expertise.

BGF Retail aims to open 50 stores in Kazakhstan by the end of this year and more than 500 stores over the next five years. A BGF Retail representative stated, "Based on our successful expansion into Mongolia and Malaysia, we are accumulating know-how in overseas business operations and promoting the competitiveness and excellence of Korean convenience stores in Kazakhstan." The representative added, "We will focus on solid growth in the domestic market and, by expanding into emerging countries with high growth potential, strive to become a global convenience store company."