Café Latte, a major coffee brand from Maeil Dairies Co., recently launched three new products – Mild Latte, Caramel Macchiato and Chocolate Latte. (image: Maeil Dairies)
SEOUL, July 7 (Korea Bizwire) – The Korean coffee market was valued at 5.4 trillion won ($4.66 billion) in 2015, and it’s growing fast.
Powered by the trend, convenience store coffee products, which are often bottled or packaged in plastic cups, are also becoming popular. They’re usually more affordable than street cafés (an average Americano costs $3.50 at a coffee franchise) and come in a wide variety of options and flavors.
The latest trend in the market for bottled or cupped coffee, however, is size.
Café Latte, a major coffee brand from Maeil Dairies Co., recently launched three new products – Mild Latte, Caramel Macchiato and Chocolate Latte – that come in larger 330ml containers. These products are also packaged in Tetra Pak, using axenic packing materials that can better block out light and air, said the company.
“The market share for cupped coffee larger than 300ml is about 9 percent of the total bottled and cupped coffee market,” said a Maeil Dairies official. “But just last year, over 10 new products (bigger than 300ml) were launched, and the market is growing. We’re trying to offer our consumers more distinguished products.”
In June, Korean coffeehouse chain Caffé Bene teamed up with Purmil to launch a large-size cupped coffee, RealBrew, that comes in bigger 250ml containers. (image: Purmil)
In June, Korean coffeehouse chain Caffé Bene teamed up with Purmil to launch a large-size cupped coffee, RealBrew, that comes in bigger 250ml containers, an upgrade from its usual 200ml products. Caffé Bene presented three types of RealBrew using three different extraction methods: Cold brew, drip brew, and espresso brew.
Several other coffee and dairy businesses have already launched large-sized cupped or bottled coffee products, including Dongwon F&B (October 2015), Namyang Dairy Products (February 2016). UP&CAFE, a 300ml cupped coffee released by IldongFoods, was among the first of its kind, and has already sold 10 million units since its launch in June 2015.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Koreans drink an average of a dozen cups of coffee each week, while they only consume seven bowls of rice, Korea’s longtime dining companion.
By Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
