▲ This photo, provided by a citizen referred to as Han, shows Han's seven-year-old cat. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) -- In South Korea, sales of pet products are gradually increasing in convenience stores.

According to the distribution industry on Thursday, sales of pet products from Jan. 1 to Sept. 26 this year has increased 44.3 percent from the same period last year for the GS25 convenience store.

Among them, sales of cat products, including snacks for cats, jumped by 75 percent.

An official from GS25 said, "Recently, we have been increasing supplies for non-food products such as cat sand, bowel pads, and snacks," adding, "We have expanded the pet-related product line by about 11 percent from last year."

During the same period, sales of pet food and snacks have also increased another convenience store chain, CU, by 44.6 percent. Among them, sales of cat snacks have risen by 55.9 percent.

At E-Mart 24, sales of pet products rose by 52 percent. E-Mart 24 is currently selling more than 100 products, increasing its product line by 40 percent from last year.

This phenomenon seems to result due to the fact convenience stores are at better accessibility than professional pet goods shops and since people are refraining from going out due to the spread of COVID-19.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 6.38 million households were found to raise pets as of the end of last year. This is an increase of 470,000 households from 2019.

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