Coffee is gone, and juice is coming!

Coffee is gone, and juice is coming!

Coffee is probably the most popular drink in the world. The coffee culture that was introduced by Starbucks has changed many people’s lifestyle, and many people cannot even imagine their daily lives without coffee. The power of coffee is pretty astonishing seeing numerous coffee shops along the streets and so many people drinking coffee that is more expensive than a meal.

But the stronghold of coffee is slowly diminishing. It is because of ‘Juice.’ Lately in New York, the number of ‘JuicePress,’ a juice specialty shop, is almost the same as that of Starbucks. This shop uses 100% organic ingredients, and a cup of juice costs 10 dollars, and still the stores are crowded all the time. When many people think of New Yorkers, they also think of a cup of coffee. But now juice fever has been sweeping throughout the city.

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The trend can also be seen in Korea. Lately ‘Hurom’ has been one of the best sellers on home shopping networks, and Starbucks introduced juice as new drink. While coffee was the main product on the dairy shelf of the convenience store few years back, nowadays many different kinds of juice products also occupy the shelves. It is difficult to predict if the juice will have a long-run or not, but one thing is clear: Coffee, which was at its golden days for the last ten years, is losing its popularity. Faltering coffee or rising star, juice? That is one big question for new café founders. 

Edit By PKB

※ This article appears in the 2nd edition of TREND READER magazine 

-Original article

http://trendreaders.tistory.com/10

Evolving Convenience Stores

Evolving Convenience Stores

Expanding From Goods Marketing via PB Products to Multi-Service Space

It is the era of convenience stores. There are numerous convenience stores everywhere where there has a large floating population like the subway influential area, schools, apartment complex, and downtown. The convenience stores, in cutthroat competitions, are more than just selling variety of products. They are now selling their own products of high quality and providing other services to become the literal “convenience stores” to actually provide convenience to the consumers.

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The domestic convenience stores were already considered to be saturated 2 years ago, but they still increased in numbers. And now there are more than 25,000 convenience stores, which are considered to have reached critical. CU (former Family Mart), GS25, and Seven Eleven are the main brands, and they have been competing and growing continuously. The number of the convenience stores is predicted to be increasing resulting from lifted financing restrictions of 250m this 4^th quarter and economic environmental change by the market entrance of a major distribution company, Shinsegae. Each brand is striving to meet the needs of the customers and survive from this infinite competition by producing its own goods and providing additional services.

High-Quality Goods that Only We Can Provide,
and Active Development of the PB Goods at Reasonable Price

The outsourced production company, on the request of the distribution company, produces PB goods. The PB goods form more than 30% of the sales and are considered to be the main contributor of the upward trend in sales. The PB goods are lower in price, because the associated cost can be reduced by preliminary contracts to plan and produce large quantity and using the company’s own distribution networks. And continuous consumer surveys help to improve the quality of the PB goods.

As a result, two PB goods, butter garlic flavored popcorn of GS25 and consommé flavored popcorn of CU, took the first place in sales last year beating out the former hit product Saewookkang (shrimp crackers). Also in fresh foods area, where it took most of the PB goods, the sales of the PB products are increasing by continuously developing triangular kimbap, different kinds of bento, and instant foods. The growth in sales gained momentum by enlarging the premium PB products that aim for high quality and by appealing not only the lowered price but also differentiated values such as good taste and fun. This also strengthens product differentiation from other stores, and at the same time the PB products will become more crucial with viral marketing via SNS and the development of technology of small and medium-sized production businesses.

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Expansion into a New Service Distribution Company

The convenience stores are actively carrying the business forward by doing more than distributing the actual products. They are striving to provide additional services like utility bill payment, issuing tickets, 24-hour package service, and even escort service and shelter for the women for their safety in the dead of night.  The convenience stores, with their great accessibility, are constructing a system for busy modern people to do miscellaneous work near their houses and workplaces. Also they provide multi-service place by installing Wi-Fi zone and a place to sit just like café.

In Japan, also known as “a kingdom of convenience stores,” new forms of convenience stores are launched. The convenience stores are affiliated with café, karaoke, bank, drugstore, etc. And in another “kingdom of convenience stores,” Taiwan, where scored the highest frequency of convenience store visit, the stores are under a concept of “you can do anything but lodge.” They provide laundry service, sell home appliances, and even cater while actively promoting children experience programs and mascot marketing. The domestic convenience stores are also predicted to follow the flow in order to create more profit.

Edit By JNR

 ※ This article appears in the 2nd edition of TREND READER magazine 

--Original article

http://trendreaders.tistory.com/7

Cup-Bap (Cup Rice) vs. Het-Ban

Cup-Bap (Cup Rice) vs. Het-Ban

  “Het-Ban, instant rice that is more delicious than steamed rice” is the title of Het-Ban, which was first introduced in 1996. Het-Ban is one of many products that was suited for busy modern man’s dietary life. And the product has been a hit ever since it was first introduced to the market.

  But there showed up a rival that threatens Het-Ban’s stronghold. It is “Cup-Bap.” While the existing Het-Ban is just plain steamed white rice, this “Cup-Bap” is rice served with soup or seasoning that can be a complete meal. It is similar as combat ration that field servicemen eat. As major companies entered into the “Cup-Bap” market, it is not hard to find frozen rice and dried rice products at the convenience stores and the superstores.

  “Cup-Bap” was first produced to meet the needs of growing populations that enjoy outside activities. Now “Cup-Bap” is bringing its convenience up to single-person households who are likely to skip meals and campers in order to settle down as a hit product.

I am not certain about when and where the “Cup-Bap” was made for the first time, but it was 2005 when I first had “Cup-Bap.” I went to Norayngjin for the first time in order to attend a meeting, and that place was like a street food heaven. Many of the foods were priced only 1,000 won (1 U.S. dollar). There was a variety of food such as chicken skewer, pancake, spaghetti, jajangmyeon (black-bean-sauce noodles), etc., and among them the “Cup-Bap” was the one to appease my hunger. Back then the “Cup-Bap” was just as simple as with kimchi and sausages, and I think it was probably the best convenience food for the students who are studying for their big examinations in the Noryangjin area.

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 In those days, “Cup-Bap” was not widely known outside the Noryangjin area, and it was rarely sold at the huge market or the convenience store. No major companies were interested in producing the “Cup-Bap.” In 2012, as the street vendors were found illegal and also their hygiene problems came to the fore, the government required to tear down the illegal street vendors. And ironically, that is when the major companies entered into the “Cup-Bap” market. As the major companies with their clean and neat image produced the “Cup-Bap”, and the products were out in the convenience stores, the “Cup-Bap” became widely popular.

  As I write this column, I bought myself a “Cup-Bap” from a convenience store. I’ve heard a lot about this but never tried it before. I chose SPAM fried rice made by CJ. I imagined it to taste like the combat ration, but this “Cup-Bap” was much softer since it was made of non-dried rice and tasted fine overall.

  In my thinking, the market for “Cup-Bap” will keep growing, since the needs of single-person households and campers to find convenient meals are growing, and the “Cup-Bap” made up for the weakness of Het-Ban that it needs side dishes. Perhaps for the people who are into well-being foods, the frozen food and dried food may sound unhealthy, but I think it is still much healthier than fast foods.

Edit By KCS

※ This article appears in the 2nd edition of TREND READERS magazine

- Original Text

http://trendreaders.tistory.com/19