Despite the Black Stars crashing out of 2022 Fifa World Cup, there were other benefits to the West African country
Ghana failed to make it out of the group stage at 2022 Fifa World Cup after losing 2-0 to Uruguay but the scoreline was hugely appreciated by South Korea.
Although, the Koreans were on the blink of joining Ghana to exit the competition, an additional time winner against Portugal on Friday gave them a major advantage to join the Europeans only of Ghana don’t concede another goal late in their game against Uruguay while they were down 2-0.
Eventually, Ghana held on as Korea made it out on goal difference leaving Uruguay players in shocking moods.
After the game, Lotte Confectionery saw a surprise sales increase of its steady-selling Ghana chocolate as the Korean national football team advanced to the knockout stage with the help of Ghana losing to Uruguay by only two goals per a report filed by KoreanTimes.
According to GS Retail, an operator of the local convenience store GS25, the sales of Ghana chocolate skyrocketed 46.5 percent on Dec. 3 compared to that on Nov. 18, when the World Cup kicked off in Qatar. Ghana chocolate sales also surged 32.7 percent at another convenience store CU over the weekend. CU is operated by BGF Retail.
Lotte’s Ghana chocolate gained instant popularity after the African soccer team helped Korea to make it through to the round of 16.
Lotte Confectionery’s Ghana chocolate / Courtesy of Lotte Confectionery
Lotte Confectionery’s Ghana chocolate / Courtesy of Lotte Confectionery
CU saw its revenue from alcoholic beverages and snack food products increase even more thanks to the Korean soccer team’s successful performance in the World Cup.
Sales of beer, wine, whisky and soju rose 155 percent, 124 percent, 121 percent and 120 percent, respectively, between 6 p.m. and 12 p.m. on Dec. 2 compared to that on Nov. 18. Sales of fried chicken, dried snacks and instant food also increased by 193 percent, 161 percent and 171 percent, respectively, in the same period.
Looking at the overall sales of CU by time that evening, its revenue started to rise 28 percent from 9 p.m., three hours before the Korean team played against Portugal, and surged to 76 percent at 11 p.m.
The Black Stars picked three points after three games with the only victory coming against Korea in the second game of the group.
Interestingly, Ghana became the only African country to concede most goals (7) and least points (3) after the group stage.