The 13-item "PBICK The Kitchen Mini" ready-meal series that CU will begin rolling out Tuesday [BGF Retail]
The 13-item "PBICK The Kitchen Mini" ready-meal series that CU will begin rolling out Tuesday [BGF Retail]

Convenience store CU will begin rolling out 13 items in its "PBICK The Kitchen Mini" ready-meal series Tuesday, tapping into the growing "small meal" trend of eating smaller, more manageable portions.

The small-meal trend reflects a shift toward micro-consumption driven by the rise of one- and two-person households, the financial burden of dining out amid high prices, and growing interest in dieting and health management — with consumers opting for lighter, more convenient single servings.

CU has already seen strong demand for bite-sized offerings. Its "Get Morning" mini kimbap, launched in January, sold about 1 million units in roughly 50 days, with two mini-sized varieties accounting for more than 80 percent of total Get Morning sales.

In response, CU developed the new series using an AI-based synthetic consumer research tool it recently introduced. The survey found that more than half of respondents preferred mini ready meals, citing concerns about portion size, excess calories and food waste. Preference was highest among consumers aged 25 to 29.

The lineup includes five "Daily Mini Cup" single-dish items designed to fit in one hand for a light everyday meal, three two-piece inari sushi sets, two compact sandwiches, a "Mini Rice Bar Meal Set" and an egg-and-ham fried rice with reduced carbohydrates.

"The driving force behind the convenience store ready-meal market is increasingly shifting to female customers who prefer small meals," said Kim Bae-geun, head of BGF Retail's ready-food team. "We will continue to proactively introduce trend-forward ready meals that meet diverse consumer needs through close analysis of emerging trends."


spa@heraldcorp.com