Hot-pack sales up 1,700%: convenience-store winter arrives a month early

Start with the numbers

At CU, hot-pack sales for Oct. 1-7 rose 400.3% from the previous week. Hot bread was up 133.2% and roasted sweet potato up 56.1%.

Seven-Eleven saw hot packs rise 1,700%, fish cake 168% and roasted sweet potato 86%.

Who started how early

Seven-Eleven has sold roasted sweet potato and six fish-cake items since Sept. 14 and added hoppang on Oct. 7. CU brought in steamers on Oct. 6 for red bean, sweet potato, vegetable and pizza hoppang.

GS25 moved its instant fish cake up about two weeks from last year, with six items made with Busan's Goraesa Eomuk. Emart24 began roasted sweet potato in September and widened hoppang in October.

Not just fish cake: clothes too

CU is rolling out 19 winter apparel items in October, from thermal socks to fleece jackets and lightweight padded jackets. Emart24 has stretched its winter apparel and accessories to 20 items and added lightweight padding for the first time.

The industry points to shorter springs and autumns. The nearby convenience store now covers seasonal clothing, not just daily goods.

To keep warm

- Start dates and menus differ by store. Check the machines first. - CU's hoppang splits into meal types (vegetable, pizza) and snack types (red bean, sweet potato). - Cold-weather gear sells out first in an early cold snap. Buy early if you need it.