SEOUL - In a revealing insight into South Korea's consumer preferences, Shin Ramyun has emerged as the country's bestselling instant noodle brand for the year 2023, with Saeukkang securing the top spot in the snack category, according to recent data.
According to Yonhap News Agency, retail sales of Shin Ramyun, produced by Nongshim and available in both packaged and cup forms, reached 383.6 billion won (approximately US$287.8 million) last year. This figure placed Shin Ramyun at the pinnacle of instant noodle sales, surpassing other popular brands. Nongshim's Chapagetti was the second most popular noodle with sales of 213.1 billion won, followed by Jin Ramen at 209.2 billion won and Buldak Ramen, famous for its hot chicken flavor, at 147.2 billion won.
In the realm of snacks, Nongshim's Saeukkang led with annual sales totaling 135.9 billion won. It was closely followed by Orion's Pocachip with 116.4 billion won and Pringles at 98.5 billion won. The biscuit sector saw Haitai's Homerun Ball leading with 86.5 billion won in sales, outperforming other contenders like Ace crackers, Oreo cookies, and Margaret cookies.
Lotte Confectionery's Pepero emerged as the bestselling chocolate with sales reaching 118.5 billion won, while World Cone was declared the favorite ice cream brand, garnering 71 billion won in sales.
The beverage sector also saw significant dominance with Oriental Brewery's Cass leading the beer market with annual sales of 1.5 trillion won, far ahead of Terra with 469.7 billion won and FiLite at 239.9 billion won. In the soju category, HiteJinro's Chamisul topped the chart with sales of 1.1 trillion won, followed by Chum Churum at 400 billion won and Jinro at 265.1 billion won.
These figures highlight the strong brand preferences among South Korean consumers in various food and beverage categories, reflecting the competitive landscape of the market in 2023.