Two Collaborative Food Items Sell 300,000 Units in Two Weeks
Jangchung Lounge R Popup Store Also Gains Popularity
Starbucks announced on January 15 that its collaboration with the popular American sitcom "Friends" is enjoying great popularity.
Starbucks Korea, inspired by the shared keyword "friend" between Starbucks and Friends, introduced collaborative products to all "buddy" (regular) customers visiting its stores starting January 1.
The Friends beverages include two varieties: the "Friends Cinnamon Dolce Foam Cappuccino," reminiscent of the cappuccinos enjoyed by the show's main characters, and the "Friends Earl Grey Berry Tea Latte," featuring a purple foam topped with a replica of Monica's iconic apartment door from the series. Within just two weeks of their launch, cumulative sales reached 1 million cups.
The "Friends Upside-Down Cheesecake" is generating buzz on social media and online communities. This product was inspired by the iconic scene in the show where the characters eat cheesecake off the floor, and it faithfully recreates the unique, toppled-over appearance. Customers have responded with comments such as, "There was a reason they ate it off the floor," and "Breaking open the cake reveals the cream cheese and jam filling, making the cake look even more appealing."
In the popular American sitcom Friends, Rachel and Chandler are eating cheesecake off the floor with a fork. Official Friends YouTube.
The "Friends Ragu Meatball Sandwich," launched at the same time, draws inspiration from the favorite sandwich of Joey, one of the show's main characters. Featuring meatballs, ragu tomato sauce, and cheese, it has gained attention as a brunch or meal option. In the two weeks following its release, the two collaborative food items sold a combined total of 300,000 units, with nearly half of New Year's food purchasers opting for Friends-themed food.
Additionally, the Friends collaboration popup store at the Jangchung Lounge R location, which was converted from a residential house, has become a hip place by recreating iconic spaces from the sitcom. The experiential content, such as lucky draws and photo zones designed for Gen Z customers, along with spaces that evoke memories of the show's storyline and its original broadcast era, have generated enthusiastic responses across generations.
On the opening day, December 24 of last year, customers lined up before store opening to enter, creating a remarkable scene. Visitor numbers at the Jangchung Lounge R location increased by more than 30% compared to the same period the previous year. Sales of Friends beverages at this popup location were also more than 30% higher than at other stores.
A Starbucks representative stated, "This collaboration is unique in that it doesn't just use the characters, but allows customers to directly experience the story of the popular drama through both products and space. Our strategy of combining retro culture with globally popular content has received wide acclaim across all age groups, resulting in increased sales and buzz."
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