Pepero Day is expected to be less successful this year as convenience stores are reluctant to order chocolate sticks from Japan. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – Pepero Day, one of South Korea’s biggest marketing events – similar to Valentine’s Day that falls on November 11, is expected to be less successful this year as convenience stores are reluctant to order chocolate sticks from Japan.
Pepero Day, the same day celebrated in China as Singles Day, involves gifting or exchanging chocolate sticks known as Pepero, with the intention of showing affection for friends and loved ones, is very popular among the youth helping the local businesses increase their sales.
Pepero Day is represented by three major chocolate stick brands: Pepero, Pocky, and Fran, with Pocky and Fran manufactured by Japan’s Glico and Meiji Food, respectively.
The ongoing boycott movement in South Korea against Japanese products is expected to push convenience stores to refrain from ordering the Japanese chocolate sticks.
Pepero Day is expected to be less successful this year as convenience stores are reluctant to order chocolate sticks from Japan. (Yonhap)
Pepero products, while manufactured by South Korea’s Lotte Confectionery Co., are seen by many as an imitation of Pocky. What’s more, many consumers regard Lotte as a Japanese company.
These factors are driving experts to believe that demand for chocolate sticks will be weak on Pepero Day.
Some convenience stores have ordered alternative products to replace the major chocolate stick brands. Head offices, too, are making no particular encouragement to convenience stores to make pre-orders as they don’t want the boycott movement to turn against them.
GS25, a major convenience store franchise, began making pre-orders for Halloween instead of Pepero Day.
CU decided to exclude Pocky from its Pepero Day promotions.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
