Real Smoothie Sales Top 500,000 Cups... CU Expanding to 500 Stores Nationwide

About 300 Cups Sold Per Day at Seongsu Dessert Park Location
Highest Sales Between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., Popular in Tourist and Shopping Districts

BGF Retail announced on July 28 that it will expand the number of CU convenience stores selling instant smoothies to around 500 locations nationwide by the end of this year. After launching the “Real Smoothie” for the first time in June last year, CU had already increased the number of operating stores to about 300 locations across the country as of this month. In June, smoothie machines were also introduced in Jeju, establishing a system to sell Real Smoothies in all regions nationwide.

The Real Smoothie is an instant beverage made when customers place a cup of frozen fruit into a specialized machine, with the smoothie ready in about one minute. The product uses flash-frozen fruits to preserve the original taste and nutritional value of the ingredients and is characterized by a minimal use of artificial additives.

Provided by CU.

Five varieties are currently being sold, including mixed berry, strawberry banana, and watermelon. Since its release, cumulative sales have surpassed 500,000 cups, and at the Seongsu Dessert Park branch, sales have reached about 300 cups per day.

An analysis of sales data showed that the highest sales proportion was between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., followed by 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. CU analyzed that in the evening hours, demand was driven by customers seeking a light meal replacement or a healthy drink after exercise, while in the afternoon, customers looked for an alternative to caffeinated beverages. Over the past three months, the top-selling locations have been the Seongsu Dessert Park branch, the Everland branch, and the Myeongdong Station branch, in that order. CU explained that the smoothies have become an experiential beverage enjoyed by both domestic and foreign customers, particularly in areas with high tourist and pedestrian traffic.

Starting from July 29, CU will introduce two new menu items. The “ABC Smoothie” (3,500 won) contains apple, beet, and carrot, making it easy to consume both fruits and vegetables. The “Acai Berry Smoothie” (3,500 won) combines acai berry and banana for a tangy yet smooth flavor, targeting customers who want a boost of energy before or after exercise.

Dongha Kim, Product Manager (MD) at BGF Retail, said, “Nowadays, when choosing a beverage, more consumers are considering not only taste but also ingredients, health, and lifestyle factors,” adding, “Going forward, CU will continue to increase the number of stores offering Real Smoothies and introduce a greater variety of smoothie concepts to expand customers’ healthy beverage choices.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.