[Edaily Reporter Kim Ji-woo] The B2B food and beverage solutions business of GS25, a convenience store chain operated by #GS Retail, has seen significant growth this year.

According to GS25 on the 18th, sales from its B2B (business-to-business) food and beverage solutions business from January to May of this year increased 20-fold compared to the same period in 2022, when the service was first launched. This represents a 25% increase compared to the same period last year.

GS25 entered the B2B food and beverage solutions market in late 2021 by launching “Meal Box 25,” a subscription service for ready-to-eat meals. It subsequently expanded its business scope in July of last year by introducing “Snack Bar,” a snack curation service. The business continues to grow rapidly, driven by increasing demand for employee welfare benefits from companies and institutions amid high inflation.

When a company or organization applies for the service based on its budget and headcount, GS25 handles the entire process—from product supply to delivery and billing. For “Snack Bar,” a dedicated account manager is assigned to provide support ranging from product curation to equipment selection and operational management, tailored to the workplace environment and demand.

The cumulative number of corporate clients using B2B services such as MealBox25 and Snack Bar has reached 962. The company explains that adoption is expanding beyond offices, universities, and industrial sites to include hospitals and government offices, while demand is steadily increasing for short-term events and pop-up stores.

By business type, sales at offices and government offices increased by 33% and 44%, respectively, compared to the previous year, while sales at schools grew by 57%. This is attributed to rising demand for enhanced food and beverage welfare services for employees and students amid prolonged high inflation.

GS25 cited differentiated products and a nationwide operational infrastructure as the core competitive strengths of its B2B business. This is because customers can freely combine GS25’s diverse product lineup—including ready-to-eat meals, beverages, desserts, and snacks—to suit the specific characteristics of their business locations. Additionally, “Meal Box” offers discounts of up to 30%, while “Snack Bar” features promotions centered on “buy one, get one free” or “buy two, get one free” items, along with additional discount benefits.

Furthermore, leveraging its nationwide store network and logistics infrastructure, the company has enhanced operational and delivery efficiency by connecting client companies with nearby franchise stores. The matched franchise stores operate “Milbox 25” and “Snack Bar” services, and the revenue generated from these operations translates into additional income for the respective stores.

Hwang Ho-sung, Manager of the New Format Operations Team at GS Retail, stated, “As high inflation persists, demand for food and beverage welfare services is steadily increasing, particularly among corporations and institutions.” He added, “Leveraging GS25’s unique product competitiveness and nationwide operational infrastructure, we will introduce services optimized for various industries and workplace environments to strengthen our competitiveness in the B2B sector.”