Nongshim Expands Premium Potato Chip Lineup with Six New Flavors in 2026, Tapping into Convenience Store Trends
South Korean food giant Nongshim is ramping up its potato chip portfolio this year, launching six new products in 2026, including four varieties released just this month—Carbonara, Sausage, Salted Butter, and Spicy variants—under its popular “Potato Chip” (Potetochip) brand. The company is leveraging fresh-harvested “sun potatoes,” which are locally sourced from July to October and processed immediately to preserve natural texture and taste. Recent collaborations have also produced innovative flavors like Kyochon Liver Chicken (March) and Foltteok Rosé Tteokbokki (June), reflecting a strategy to blend familiar Korean street-food favorites with premium chip textures. These launches are part of Nongshim’s broader effort to engage younger consumers who enjoy novel taste combinations and interactive purchasing experiences.
Retail data shows that convenience stores now account for 36.4% of snack sales in Korea, prompting Nongshim to roll out store-exclusive flavors through CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Imart 24. Promotions like “Convenience Store Seal Break” and “Your Own Chip Choice” allow consumers to sample and compare across outlets, turning snack shopping into a tasting event. Nongshim also emphasizes its long-standing commitment to domestic agriculture: since 2022, it has increased potato purchases from young local farmers more than fourfold (from 132 to 583 tons), ensuring stable supply and quality. The company plans to continue releasing seasonal sun-potato chips that highlight raw potato flavor, while strengthening brand competitiveness through differentiated convenience-store offerings.
