Convenience store chain CU launched the industry’s inaugural ‘K-Ramen Specialty Convenience Store’ in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul. (Image courtesy of CU)
SEOUL, Dec. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – A unique convenience store offering a diverse selection of over 200 ramen varieties has made its debut.
Convenience store chain CU launched the industry’s inaugural ‘K-Ramen Specialty Convenience Store’ in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul, centering its theme around ramen—a product category that has been a driving force behind recent convenience store sales growth.
The store introduces the innovative concept of a “Ramen Library,” showcasing an extensive collection of more than 100 popular domestic and international instant noodles. This surpasses the average number of bagged ramen products found in typical convenience stores, which usually hovers around 30, making it three times more expansive.
In total, the store boasts an impressive 225 types of ramen, including 120 varieties of cup ramen—the widest ramen selection among convenience stores nationwide.
Dedicated entirely to ramen, the K-Ramen specialty convenience store features a prominent display, measuring 6 meters in width and 2.5 meters in length, with 100 shelves showcasing a colorful array of ramen noodles.
The inventory comprises 90 types of K-Ramen and 15 international ramen options, such as Shoyu ramen from Sapporo, Japan, Fujiwara Hokkaido Hakodate salt ramen, Vietnamese rice noodles, and Indonesian migorang, totaling 105 types of bagged ramen.
Distinctive to this store are three instant ramen cookers provided for customers to prepare their own ramen. The environment is carefully designed to align with the store’s concept, featuring recommended recipes for complementary toppings and a standing tasting table mimicking the shape of a cup noodle container.
Inspired by booming ramen exports exceeding 1 trillion won, CU aimed to create a unique convenience store experience that revolves around ramen. The company strategically established this specialized convenience store in response to the surging demand for quick meals, driven by “lunch inflation” caused by elevated prices.
According to Korea Customs Service trade statistics, ramen exports surpassed 785 million dollars through October, reflecting a 24.7 percent year-on-year increase. At an exchange rate of 1,300 won to the dollar, this translates to approximately 1.2 trillion won—an unprecedented milestone with exports surpassing the 1 trillion won milestone for the first time.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
