STiR coffee and tea 61
products as well, as imports of single-origin beans for RTD products are set to grow.
The single-origin trend for RTD marks a meeting point of quality and convenience that
is striking a chord with the fast-paced yet taste-savvy lifestyle Koreans enjoy.
Instant history
The early days of Korea's coffee growth exposed a strong preference for instant cof-
fees, but it may be wearing off. Instant powders were for many years the only coffee
available in Korea, introduced to a then impoverished country by the U.S. military.
venience store fridges as a quick alterna-
tive to coffee house brews. Back in 2011,
RTD coffee sales rose an impressive
14.6%, before cooling off in 2013-14 to
growth rates of 7.1% and 1.9% respec-
tively. But according to the 7-11 store
chain, those numbers are back on the up-
swing. Both the plastic cup and can offer-
ings of RTD coffees saw growth of 9.1%
in 2015, 12.6% in 2016, with a slower
6.4% last year.
Different types of packaging in RTD
products have helped the industry diver-
sify, with pouches earning popularity for
their convenience, especially in South
Korea's hot summer months. But the can
still reigns supreme over the RTD mar-
ket, comprising over 50% of sales.
Consumers in Korea are beginning to
expect superior taste from grab-and-go
Terarosa's parent company Haksan started as a roastery in the mountainous
province of Gangwon-do, expanding with the rapid growth of Korea's coffee industry.
