A new food ingredient craze is sweeping the convenience store industry. CU stores operated by BGF Retail have recently captured consumers' attention by launching a dessert series featuring ube, a traditional ingredient from the Philippines. This time, they developed products in various forms highlighting Ube's unique color and aroma, unveiling a total of six new products. It is expected to offer a fresh proposition to customers seeking experiences beyond familiar tastes.
The launched products are composed of a diverse lineup including Ube Basque Cheesecake, Ube Sticky Rice Skewers, Yense Milk Ube Fresh Cream Cake, Ube Cheese Pearl Cake, Ube Roll, and Ube Bun. Ube is a term meaning purple yam, an ingredient that has been loved for a long time in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Using this ingredient, you can not only feel a sweet yet subtle sweetness but also enjoy a unique flavor blended with the rich and savory aroma of nuts. Especially, its striking vivid purple appearance boasts great visual appeal and has become very popular among the younger generation.
Recently, with special-colored foods trending on social media, demand for taking verification photos has surged. Reflecting this trend, consumers' interest in desserts and snacks utilizing unique ingredients has steadily increased. Especially among the 2030 generation, there is a clear tendency to prefer new flavors and visuals beyond common tastes. Ube's unique purple color and savory richness are a perfect alternative to meet these needs and have quickly emerged as a hot item within convenience stores.
In the convenience store market, the period during which hit products trend is becoming shorter. Accordingly, companies are focusing on quickly grasping the latest trends and continuously developing products reflecting them. Jo Jun-hyung, head of BGF Retail's Snack Food Team, stated that they are preparing menus that can stimulate consumers' curiosity with an original perspective, going beyond simply following trends. He emphasized that he will do his best to increase customer satisfaction and provide new experiences through various menus. In the future, CU plans to lead the way in opening new horizons in the convenience store dessert market through such trend responses.