How much did North American sales rise at GS25 in January-August 2026?

Sales to North American customers rose 130.9 percent from a year earlier during the January-August period. GS Retail said that was the fastest growth among international customer groups.

What products do North American shoppers buy most at GS25?

North American shoppers showed a preference for canned beer, wine and spirits, as well as sports drinks, energy drinks and other beverages. Canned beer sales were especially strong, while customers from Greater China leaned more toward dairy products and convenience foods.

Where is North American spending growing fastest at GS25?

The strongest geographic shift was in Gangwon Province, where spending by North American customers jumped 337.8 percent from a year earlier. That growth was especially notable in coastal cities and counties such as Goseong, Sokcho, Yangyang, Gangneung and Donghae.

North American tourists drive spending surge at GS25 convenience stores

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Summary

North American shoppers have become a major revenue driver for GS25, with foreign spending at the convenience store chain more than doubling in January-August and expanding beyond Seoul tourist districts. GS Retail said North American sales rose 130.9 percent from a year earlier, making the group the largest share of GS25’s foreign customer sales. The company plans to expand English-language promotional materials at about 1,000 stores serving many international visitors.

Key Facts

North American customers accounted for about 30 percent of GS25’s foreign customer sales, while customers from Greater China accounted for about 40 percent.
The gap between North American and Greater China customers narrowed to roughly 10 percentage points, according to GS Retail’s customer data analysis.
In Gangwon Province, sales to North American customers jumped 337.8 percent from a year earlier and moved ahead of Greater China for the first time.
GS25 said it will expand English-language promotional materials at about 1,000 stores that attract large numbers of international visitors.

By Lee Kyung-min

Published Oct 1, 2026 2:00 pm KST

A GS25 convenience store in Seoul / Yonhap

North American shoppers are becoming a major revenue driver for GS25, a leading Korean convenience store chain, with foreign spending at its outlets more than doubling this year and expanding beyond traditional tourist districts in Seoul.

GS Retail, which operates GS25, said Thursday that sales to North American customers rose 130.9 percent from a year earlier during the January-August period, the fastest growth among international customer groups.

North American customers accounted for about 30 percent of GS25’s foreign customer sales, their largest share on record, while customers from Greater China accounted for about 40 percent.

The gap between the two groups narrowed to roughly 10 percentage points, according to GS Retail’s analysis of its customer data.

North American shoppers showed a preference for canned beer, wine and spirits, as well as sports drinks, energy drinks and other beverages, with canned beer sales particularly strong.

Customers from Greater China showed stronger demand for dairy products and convenience foods, including milk, fermented milk products, noodles and baked goods.

Both groups recorded relatively high tobacco sales.

The geographic shift was especially pronounced in Gangwon Province, where sales to North American customers jumped 337.8 percent from a year earlier, putting them ahead of Greater China for the first time.

Spending by North American customers was particularly strong in coastal cities and counties, including Goseong, Sokcho, Yangyang, Gangneung and Donghae, where beaches draw visitors.

Customers from Greater China continued to concentrate their spending in established tourist destinations and urban commercial districts in Seoul, Jeju and Busan.

GS25 said it plans to expand tailored services for foreign customers, including English-language promotional materials at about 1,000 stores that attract large numbers of international visitors.

"Foreign tourist spending in Korea is evolving beyond concentrated demographics and locations, expanding across a diverse range of nationalities and regions," said Jeong Gu-min, head of the Biz Insight Team at GS Retail's Strategy Division. "We will continue to closely analyze foreign customer consumption data to enhance tailored services for specific store locations and product categories, strengthening our position as Korea's flagship convenience store brand for international travelers."

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

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