"It Wasn't Walnut Cakes or Ramyeon": Americano Was the Best-Selling Item at Rest Stops During Chuseok

[Financial News] Americano was the best-selling item at highway rest areas during last year's Chuseok holiday. It also recorded the highest revenue among all products.

On the 25th, data obtained by Hwang Hee, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea and a member of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the National Assembly, from the Korea Expressway Corporation showed that 877,000 cups of Americano were sold at highway rest areas nationwide during the five days before and after last year's Chuseok holiday. Revenue totaled 4.18 billion won.
Americano ranked first in both sales volume and revenue at rest areas during the Chuseok holiday for five consecutive years, from 2021 through last year. This was attributed to continued demand for coffee to reduce drowsiness during long-distance driving or to enjoy during breaks.
Snacks ranked second by sales volume at 686,000 units, followed by ramyeon at 648,000 units. A total of 529,000 walnut cakes were sold.
Americano also generated the highest revenue, at 4.18 billion won. Pork cutlet brought in 2.78 billion won, while udon generated 2.71 billion won. Revenue from walnut cakes totaled 2.66 billion won, and ramyeon generated 2.14 billion won.
Prices of popular foods at highway rest areas have also continued to rise. As of August this year, the average price of pork cutlet was 11,454 won, up 27.5% from 8,984 won in August 2021. This was the largest increase among the major items surveyed.
Prices of most other items also increased. The price of walnut cakes rose 23.4%, from 4,391 won to 5,420 won, while Americano rose 19.2%, from 4,066 won to 4,845 won. The average price of bibimbap increased from 8,504 won to 10,068 won, surpassing 10,000 won. Ramyeon rose 7% from five years earlier, the smallest increase among the items surveyed.


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter