North American tourists drive spending surge at GS25 convenience stores
North American shoppers are becoming a major revenue driver for GS25, a leading Korean convenience store chain, with foreign spending at its outlets more than doubling this year and expanding beyond traditional tourist districts in Seoul. GS Retail, which operates GS25, said Thursday that sales to North American customers rose 130.9 percent from a year earlier during the January-August period,…
GS25, a prominent South Korean convenience store chain, is experiencing a significant surge in revenue from North American tourists. Foreign spending at GS25 outlets has more than doubled this year, with a remarkable 130.9 percent increase in sales to North American customers compared to the same period last year. This growth rate surpasses that of other international customer groups, making it the fastest-growing segment for GS25.
GS Retail, the operator of GS25, revealed on Thursday that North American customers now make up approximately 30 percent of the company's foreign customer sales, the highest share recorded to date. This represents a substantial increase from previous years. In comparison, customers from Greater China accounted for around 40 percent of foreign sales, showing a narrower gap of about 10 percentage points.
The preferences of North American shoppers at GS25 outlets are distinct. They have shown a strong inclination towards canned beer, wine, spirits, sports drinks, and energy drinks. Among beverages, canned beer has seen particularly high demand. These spending patterns suggest that North American tourists are seeking specific types of products while visiting Seoul and other Korean cities.
On the other hand, customers from Greater China have demonstrated stronger demand for dairy products and convenience foods. This includes milk, fermented milk products, and noodles, among other items. These preferences indicate a different set of demands from Chinese tourists visiting GS25 stores.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
