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Staple Foods in South Korea

Publisher Euromonitor International
Published Nov 13, 2025
Length 67 Pages
SKU # EP20589710

Description

Economic pressures continue to limit volume gains in staple foods in 2025, with value growth being fuelled by a trend towards quality over quantity. Despite financial pressures, many consumers are showing growing concerns around the impact of their purchasing behaviour not only on their health, but also the health of the environment. This is encouraging players to offer healthier and more natural products, as well as switching to more sustainable packaging and production techniques.

Euromonitor International's Staple Foods in South Korea report offers in-depth knowledge of the market at a national level, providing local insight and understanding unavailable elsewhere. In addition to the latest retail sales data 2020-2024, it identifies the leading companies, brands and retail outlets, and assesses the key trends and demographic shifts behind consumer demand and sales growth. How key trends such as health and wellness, sustainability and recovery from the pandemic are currently shaping the market along with prospects for the next five years, clearly indicating how the market is expected to change.

Product coverage: Baked Goods, Breakfast Cereals, Processed Fruit and Vegetables, Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat, Rice, Pasta and Noodles.

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Why buy this report?
* Get a detailed picture of the Staple Foods market;
* Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;
* Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands;
* Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Table of Contents

67 Pages
Staple Foods in South Korea
Euromonitor International
November 2025
List Of Contents And Tables
STAPLE FOODS IN SOUTH KOREA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Volume sales stagnate but opportunities exist in adding value to the market
KEY DATA FINDINGS
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Volume sales stagnate while value growth is propelled by the search for healthier options
Health and sustainability on the menu as primary considerations
Rising production costs hit sweet treats
WHAT’S NEXT?
Growth expected to remain focused more on value than volume gains
Competition set to evolve through new product development and distribution strategies
Changing lifestyle behaviours expected to influence the future of staple foods
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
CJ Cheiljedang strengthens its leading position with its trusted product range
Nongshim and Ottogi provide stiff competition with tried and trusted products
CHANNELS
Hypermarkets lead sales but convenience stores have become testing grounds
E-commerce continues to grow and develop
MARKET DATA
Table 1 Sales of Staple Foods by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 2 Sales of Staple Foods by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 3 Sales of Staple Foods by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 4 Sales of Staple Foods by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 5 NBO Company Shares of Staple Foods: % Value 2021-2025
Table 6 LBN Brand Shares of Staple Foods: % Value 2022-2025
Table 7 Penetration of Private Label by Category: % Value 2020-2025
Table 8 Distribution of Staple Foods by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 9 Forecast Sales of Staple Foods by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 10 Forecast Sales of Staple Foods by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 11 Forecast Sales of Staple Foods by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 12 Forecast Sales of Staple Foods by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
SOURCES
Summary 1 Research Sources
BAKED GOODS IN SOUTH KOREA
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Baked goods evolving to meet new consumption occasions
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Bread transforming from an indulgent snack to a meal replacement option
Dessert bread retains its popularity but players rebrand to meet evolving trends
WHAT’S NEXT?
Producers of baked goods may need to feed off pop culture to stand out
Clean label products and digestibility set to outpace traditional health claims
Bakery-to-go expansion of bread into foodservice and hybrid meal formats
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
SPC maintains its leadership despite public backlash from safety incident
Private label on the rise with strong value proposition
CHANNELS
Artisanal bakeries and hypermarkets dominate but convenience stores are making inroads
E-commerce still lags behind despite continued growth
CATEGORY DATA
Table 13 Sales of Baked Goods by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 14 Sales of Baked Goods by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 15 Sales of Baked Goods by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 16 Sales of Baked Goods by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 17 Sales of Pastries by Type: % Value 2020-2025
Table 18 NBO Company Shares of Baked Goods: % Value 2021-2025
Table 19 LBN Brand Shares of Baked Goods: % Value 2022-2025
Table 20 Distribution of Baked Goods by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 21 Forecast Sales of Baked Goods by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 22 Forecast Sales of Baked Goods by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 23 Forecast Sales of Baked Goods by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 24 Forecast Sales of Baked Goods by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
BREAKFAST CEREALS IN SOUTH KOREA
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Breakfast cereals seeing polarisation of demand
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Health-conscious consumers are reshaping the breakfast cereals market
Children’s breakfast cereals suffers from a shrinking target audience and an unhealthy image
WHAT’S NEXT?
Breakfast cereals under threat from evolving breakfast routines
Sugar reduction and functional benefits will be key to revitalising demand
Breakfast cereals offer potential as a topping ingredient in the foodservice channel
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Traditional Cereal Brands Struggle to Compete Amid Functional Food and Snack Alternatives
Players use new IPs to expand their reach to a wider audience
CHANNELS
Hypermarkets Still Dominate Cereal Sales, While E-Commerce Emerges as a More Viable Channel than CVS
E-commerce opening the market up to new opportunities
CATEGORY DATA
Table 25 Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 26 Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 27 Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 28 Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 29 NBO Company Shares of Breakfast Cereals: % Value 2021-2025
Table 30 LBN Brand Shares of Breakfast Cereals: % Value 2022-2025
Table 31 Distribution of Breakfast Cereals by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 32 Forecast Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 33 Forecast Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 34 Forecast Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 35 Forecast Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
PROCESSED MEAT, SEAFOOD AND ALTERNATIVES TO MEAT IN SOUTH KOREA
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Sales of processed meat, seafood and alternatives under pressure
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Shelf stable products under pressure due to mounting health concerns
Processed meat and seafood find new opportunities as protein-rich snacks
WHAT’S NEXT?
Lifestyle shifts will accelerate demand for on-the-go protein formats
Health-conscious consumers will push the category toward clean label and plant-based innovation
Players likely to focus on format innovation and distribution strategies to gain share
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Innovation remains a feature of the market
Private label making gains thanks to a more affordable positioning
CHANNELS
E-commerce now the second largest distribution channel in the market
Convenience stores not just a sales point but also a testing point
CATEGORY DATA
Table 36 Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 37 Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 38 Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 39 Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 40 Sales of Shelf Stable Processed Red Meat by Type: % Volume Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 41 Sales of Chilled Processed Red Meat by Type: % Volume Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 42 Sales of Frozen Processed Red Meat by Type: % Volume Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 43 Sales of Frozen Processed Poultry by Type: % Value Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 44 Sales of Frozen Processed Seafood by Type: % Value Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 45 NBO Company Shares of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat: % Value 2021-2025
Table 46 LBN Brand Shares of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat: % Value 2022-2025
Table 47 Distribution of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 48 Forecast Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 49 Forecast Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: Value 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
PROCESSED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES IN SOUTH KOREA
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Processed fruit and vegetables suffer from negative image perceptions
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Health-focused consumers turn away from processed fruit and vegetables
Frozen fruit thriving as a more affordable alternative option to fresh fruit
WHAT’S NEXT?
Single portion ready-to-eat frozen fruit offers potential growth opportunity
Offering heathier options could be key to driving market development
Players under pressure to adapt to the changing needs of the market
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Dongwon leads a fragmented market
Private label seeing dynamic growth
CHANNELS
Hypermarkets and supermarkets dominate
E-commerce continues to grow while foodservice takes on a bigger role
CATEGORY DATA
Table 50 Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 51 Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 52 Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 53 Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 54 Sales of Frozen Processed Vegetables by Type: % Value Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 55 NBO Company Shares of Processed Fruit and Vegetables: % Value 2021-2025
Table 56 LBN Brand Shares of Processed Fruit and Vegetables: % Value 2022-2025
Table 57 Distribution of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 58 Forecast Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 59 Forecast Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 60 Forecast Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 61 Forecast Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
RICE, PASTA AND NOODLES IN SOUTH KOREA
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Sales stagnate as consumers turn to alternative meal options
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Sales stagnate as consumer tastes and preferences evolve
Players focus on adding value
WHAT’S NEXT?
Ready-to-eat rice to shift toward health, functionality, and personalisation
Noodles expected to serve as a testing ground
Premium and imported pasta set for growth
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Nongshim retains a strong lead with ongoing investment new products and marketing
Leading players in rice and pasta facing increasing competition
CHANNELS
E-commerce gaining prominence in rice and pasta
Convenience stores taking on an important role in instant noodles
CATEGORY DATA
Table 62 Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 63 Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 64 Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 65 Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 66 Sales of Instant Noodles by Leading Flavours: Rankings 2020-2025
Table 67 NBO Company Shares of Rice, Pasta and Noodles: % Value 2021-2025
Table 68 LBN Brand Shares of Rice, Pasta and Noodles: % Value 2022-2025
Table 69 NBO Company Shares of Rice: % Value 2021-2025
Table 70 LBN Brand Shares of Rice: % Value 2022-2025
Table 71 NBO Company Shares of Pasta: % Value 2021-2025
Table 72 LBN Brand Shares of Pasta: % Value 2022-2025
Table 73 NBO Company Shares of Noodles: % Value 2021-2025
Table 74 LBN Brand Shares of Noodles: % Value 2022-2025
Table 75 Distribution of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 76 Distribution of Rice by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 77 Distribution of Pasta by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 78 Distribution of Noodles by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 79 Forecast Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 80 Forecast Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 81 Forecast Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 82 Forecast Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

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