Korean Classic Snacks Still Sell Billions: Shrimp Crackers Top List
Creatrip Team
24 days ago
A recent Embrain analysis of one-year purchase data shows longtime Korean snacks maintain roughly KRW 100 billion (about USD 70–80 million) annual sales each. Nongshim’s Saewookkang (shrimp crackers) led with an estimated KRW 132.7 billion, followed by Lotte’s Pepero and Orion’s Pokachip, each exceeding KRW 100 billion. Ten legacy snacks — including Choco Pie, Home Run Ball, and Ace — each sell at least KRW 5 billion monthly, far above the industry hit threshold of KRW 1 billion per month. These brands, many launched in the 1970s–1980s, benefit from strong brand recognition and “taste inheritance” from parents to children, helping them sustain sales. However, their production-dedicated lines and stable demand can hinder rapid scaling of new hit products, presenting a challenge for manufacturers seeking to introduce and expand fresh snack varieties.
