Hot Six leads booming sales of energy drinks, retailers say

Sales of energy drinks surged last year due to the popularity of their stimulant effects, industry data showed yesterday.

GS25, a convenience store chain run by local retail giant GS Corporation, said its energy drinks sales grew nearly eight-fold in 2012 compared to a year earlier.

Sales of energy drinks at Ministop stores soared nearly seven-fold on-year, and 7-Eleven stores posted a 455 percent jump, the data said.

Energy drinks, or beverages that contain large amounts of stimulants like caffeine, have gained popularity in Korea in recent years as increasingly stressed-out and overworked young people seek mental and physical stimulation to power them through the day and night.

Market insiders estimate that the nation’s energy drink market jumped to 100 billion won ($93.5 million) in sales in 2012, more than tripling the 30 billion won in 2011.

Lotte Chilsung’s Hot Six, Dongsuh Food’s Red Bull and Coca Cola Korea’s Burn Intense are the three best-selling energy drink products in the country.

GS25 said sales of Hot 6 topped the list with a share of 52.9 percent, followed by Red Bull with 23 percent and Burn Intense with 7 percent.

Yonhap