South Korea’s convenience stores are seeing high demand for dietary supplements as more consumers have become health-conscious in the wake of Covid-19.

According to industry sources on Tuesday, sales of dietary supplements at GS25, a South Korean convenience store chain operated by GS Retail Co., surged 59.5 percent in the January-April period this year. “Supplements have soared in sales for two years straight thanks to a rise in emphasis on health during the pandemic,” said an unnamed official from GS25.

Two types of supplements are available at local convenience stores ? simple dietary supplements and nutraceuticals. Unlike the former that simply contain dietary ingredients on its label, nutraceuticals refer to any product approved for its efficacy in maintaining and improving human health by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Everytime Balance Fit, a pouch-type red ginseng extract launched by The Korea Ginseng Corp.’s red ginseng brand, CheongKwanJang, are classified as simple dietary product that contains red-ginseng concentrate.

South Korea’s convenience store brand CU reported strong sales of dietary supplements between January and April rose 46.7 percent on year, the highest in three years, the company said. Protein beverages during the first quarter also soared 130.4 percent from a year ago.

Sales of dietary supplements at convenience store 7-Eleven in the first four months of this year have also grown 80 percent on year.

Convenient stores found pouch-type supplements, such as the ginseng extract EveryTime Balance Fit, to be the most preferred choices among customers.

Meanwhile, more brands have launched exclusive supplements for sale at convenience stores. For example, hy Co., formerly Korea Yakult, launched in February a new fermented milk drink containing L-theanine, proved to release anxiety, and is only available at convenience stores.

By Song Kyung-eun and Han Yubin

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