South Korea’s convenience stores are getting an early taste of winter business as chilly weather sends shoppers rushing for hot snacks, hand warmers and cold-weather essentials — with some products recording sales increases of more than 1,000% in just a week.
The sudden change in temperatures has prompted major convenience store chains to accelerate their seasonal offerings, bringing forward the launch of winter foods and warming products to capture demand before the cold season fully arrives.
According to industry reports published on October 8 and 9, 2026, the shift is already visible across South Korea’s retail sector, with hot fish cakes, roasted sweet potatoes, heated coffee and disposable hand warmers among the products experiencing sharp sales increases.
Hand Warmers and Winter Snacks Lead the Surge
The latest figures reveal just how quickly consumer spending can change when temperatures drop.
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, GS25 recorded a 1,033.7% week-on-week increase in sales of hand warmers and heat packs from October 1 to 7. Sales of tights also surged by 1,072.7%, while hot fish cakes climbed 653.3% and roasted sweet potatoes rose 132%.
Other convenience store chains reported similar trends.
At CU, hand-warmer sales increased 400.3% over the same period, while sales of instant fish cakes rose 69.8%, hot Americano coffee increased 59.2% and roasted sweet potatoes climbed 56.1%.
Seven-Eleven also recorded a 1,490% week-on-week jump in hand-warmer sales during October 1–5. Meanwhile, sales of fish cakes rose 163% and roasted sweet potatoes increased 86%.
At emart24, hand-warmer sales climbed 325% from the previous week, while roasted sweet potato sales increased 210%.
These percentages reflect short-term increases from relatively recent comparison periods, rather than year-on-year growth. Even so, they highlight the speed at which seasonal demand can take off when colder weather arrives.
Convenience Stores Bring Winter Forward
Retailers are not waiting for the traditional start of winter to stock their shelves.
GS25 expands hot-food offerings
The chain moved up the launch of winter snacks, including fish cakes and roasted sweet potatoes, and expanded the number of stores selling winter foods to meet rising demand.
CU pushes warm snacks and hot meals
CU introduced steamed buns earlier than last year and expanded its ready-to-heat food selection, giving customers more options for quick, warm meals.
Seven-Eleven and emart24 join the race
Both chains moved winter food sales forward, while emart24 broadened its cold-weather assortment to include tights, leggings and other seasonal apparel.
The earlier launches reflect an increasingly competitive retail strategy: convenience stores are racing to become the first stop for customers looking for affordable hot food and everyday winter essentials.
Why Cold Weather Is Changing Shopping Habits
South Korea’s convenience store industry is particularly sensitive to temperature changes because its stores are widely accessible and offer quick purchases without requiring a trip to a supermarket.
When mornings and evenings become colder, shoppers often switch from iced drinks to hot coffee, choose warm snacks and seek products that help them stay comfortable outdoors.
The latest figures also show that the shift extends beyond food. Rising sales of tights, hand warmers and other seasonal items suggest that customers are using convenience stores to prepare for colder conditions as well.
An October 8 report by Seoul Economic Daily noted that some chains began selling winter products up to a month earlier than last year. A cold-wave advisory issued in parts of Gangwon Province on October 5 added to signs of an unusually early seasonal transition.
The Bigger Business Opportunity
For retailers, winter products can do more than generate seasonal sales. They can also attract shoppers who may purchase coffee, ready-to-eat meals and other items during the same visit.
Some chains are using bundled discounts to encourage these additional purchases. GS25, for example, offered a discount when customers purchased roasted or baked potatoes alongside a Cafe25 Americano during October.
The strategy gives retailers an opportunity to increase store traffic while differentiating their products through new flavors, seasonal desserts and exclusive food partnerships.
However, the recent sales surge does not necessarily guarantee sustained growth. Demand will depend on how temperatures develop in the coming weeks and whether consumers continue purchasing these products as the season progresses.
For now, South Korea’s convenience stores are moving quickly to capitalize on the early chill — and the battle for winter shoppers has already begun.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
