A customer holds up two bottles of Won Soju, a type of distilled soju made with Korean rice and manufactured by Won Spirits Co., during a publicity event in Seoul on Feb. 25, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — As people in their 20s and 30s, who value special experiences, emerge as the main consumer group for the alcoholic beverage market, brand-new beverages with differentiated value such as distilled soju and beer from craft breweries are rising to the top of sales rankings.
Convenience store chain GS25 analyzed the ranking of alcoholic beverage sales for the third quarter of this year and found that Won Soju Spirit topped the list.
Won Soju Spirit is a new distilled soju released in July by liquor firm Won Spirits Co., an alcoholic beverage company established by rap sensation Jay Park last year.
Backed by the popularity of this soju, the share of distilled soju among GS25’s overall soju sales rose from less than 3 percent to higher than 40 percent.
Gom Pyo wheat beer, which convenient store chain CU released in April 2020, grabbed the top spot in the beer category just two days after mass production began. This year’s cumulative sales of Gom Pyo wheat beer reached 34 million units.
BGF Retail Co., which operates CU, released the Gom Pyo wheat beer via a partnership with flour maker Daehan Flour Mills Corp. and brewery SevenBrau Beer Corp.
Gom Pyo, which means bear brand, is a signature flour brand of Daehan Flour.
In the meantime, 7-Eleven is selling 23 different types of craft beer, with the share of craft beer among domestically-made beer sales rising from 2.5 percent in 2018 to 19.5 percent this year.
“Unlike in the past when social drinking culture prevailed with people favoring the alcohol that they can consume until getting drunk, today’s mainstream beverages are delicious and special ones that people can take selfies with as the culture of drinking alone or drinking at home spreads,” an industry official said.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
