Beer, munchies are hot as temperatures soar

With this month’s heat wave, sales of beer and munchies have increased faster than the outside temperature.

E-Mart reported yesterday that sales of beer rose 21 percent from June 1 to June 11 compared to the previous month.

Sales of fried chicken rose 15 percent. Nuts and dried squid surged 60 percent and beef jerky 168 percent compared to the same period last month.

Lotte Mart saw sales of imported beer jump 17.4 percent and domestic beer 9 percent.

Sales of snacks rose 7 percent, with almonds up 10.7 percent and roasted peanuts 10.2 percent during the same period from a month earlier.

At Homeplus, beer sales shot up 27 percent and dried fruit 26 percent.

The same trend was seen at convenience stores.

At the nation’s No.1 convenience store chain, CU, sales of beer jumped 28 percent compared to last month and nuts and dried fruit rose 19 percent.

Sales of dried fish, including squid, rose 17 percent, beef jerky 15 percent, and ham and sausages 10 percent.

7-Eleven saw beer sales soar 30 percent in the June 1 to 11 period compared to last month, while sales of soju were off 2 percent and makgeolli (Korean rice wine) 1 percent.

Sales of munchies rose 23 percent, nuts 28 percent, dried filefish 27 percent, and beef jerky and dried squid 18 percent.

Another convenience store chain, GS 25, reported sales of beer increased 21 percent and munchies 12 percent.

“As the temperature continued to rise recently, the number of consumers looking for cool refreshing beer is increasing,” said Kim Jin-gun, a beer buyer at E-Mart.

BY KIM JUNG-YOON [kjy@joongang.co.kr]