Lotte Mart Zettaplex Seoul Station Branch’s sliced and mini watermelons (Image provided by Lotte Mart)
SEOUL, June 15 (Korea Bizwire) — As summer temperatures begin to climb, South Korea’s major retailers are seeing a sharp uptick in sales of sliced and mini watermelons, reflecting a growing consumer preference for convenience and smaller servings—especially among the nation’s increasing number of one- and two-person households.
Traditionally seen as a “the bigger, the better” fruit, watermelon is now being reimagined by retailers in smaller, more manageable portions. According to leading supermarket chains, sales of mini watermelons and pre-sliced varieties have soared in the first 10 days of June.
Emart, one of the country’s largest retailers, reported that sales of its under-3kg “Kkamang Apple” mini watermelon more than doubled—up 110%—compared to the same period last year.
To meet demand, Emart tripled its supply of mini watermelons like the Kkamang Apple and Black Mango varieties, and plans to increase overall mini watermelon stock by 50% this summer. It will also expand its sliced watermelon supply by up to 20%.
Homeplus also saw an 18% year-on-year increase in sliced watermelon sales during the same period. The retailer will expand its offerings of ready-to-eat watermelon products—available in 500g and 800g portions—by over 30%.
“Consumers increasingly value convenience and freshness,” a Homeplus spokesperson said. “Pre-cut fruit aligns with the trend toward light, frequent, and fresh consumption, offering value in terms of price, storage, and ease of eating.”
Emart Sees Sales of Kkamang Apple Watermelons More Than Double (Image provided by EMart)
Homeplus is also expanding its lineup of mini watermelons, including varieties like Kkamang Apple, Mango Watermelon, and Apple Watermelon designed for peeling and snacking.
Lotte Mart announced a 50% increase in its supply of sliced watermelon this summer, with five different pre-cut options including quartered and eighth-sized portions, and ready-to-eat packages. The company reported a 25% year-on-year jump in sliced watermelon sales from June 1 to 10, following a 35% surge in 2024 and a 20% rise in 2023.
Demand for its in-store fruit cutting service also climbed 20% at Lotte Mart’s flagship Jamsil Zettaplex location. Customers can pay 2,000 won to have a full watermelon cleaned and cut to order.
While current watermelon prices remain lower than last year due to favorable crop conditions, retailers warn that prices could rise in July due to potential monsoon rains, typhoons, or localized flooding in production regions.
In response to the broader shift toward small-portion consumption, major retailers are expanding their pre-cut fruit offerings beyond watermelon. Emart has introduced sliced durian for the first time this year, alongside increasing supplies of pre-cut kiwi, melon, and pineapple. It is also scaling up “cup fruit” products like single-serve apples and tomatoes.
Lotte Mart, meanwhile, is offering a diverse array of sliced fruits—pineapple, apple, orange, musk melon, peach, and mango—positioning itself competitively as demand for small-quantity, ready-to-eat produce continues to grow.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
