Korean 'Zero' stores offer low-calorie options

Zero Store, a South Korean chain of unmanned convenience stores built around low-calorie, low-sugar and high-protein products, has become a frequent subject of recent social posts by dieters and office workers looking for quick meals. The stores sell ready-to-eat items such as konjac gimbap, fermented konjac ramen, chicken breast products, protein bars, low-sugar ice cream and zero-sugar drinks, according to company materials and local media reports. The chain presents itself as a 24-hour, unstaffed format where customers browse, pick up items and pay at self-checkout kiosks. Recent online posts compared the stores with takeout options on calorie control and time savings, helping push the niche concept to a wider audience. ### What exactly is a Korean “Zero” store? Zero Store says it is “South Korea’s first” offline specialty chain for low-sugar and low-calorie foods and that it operates as a 24-hour unmanned store. On its website, the company describes its assortment as snacks, instant foods, bakery items and drinks that are all positioned around low sugar, “zero,” or low-calorie claims. April 25 reporting from The Asia Business Daily described a Zero Store branch near Ewha Womans University in Seoul as a compact shop where students checked calorie and nutrition labels before buying shakes, protein bars and meal replacements. (asiae.co.kr) That report said the store stocked konjac gimbap, fermented konjac ramen, stevia-sweetened drinks, protein cereal and chicken-breast hot dogs. ### Why are people using them for dieting? (zerostore.kr) Park Yeonwoo, a 20-year-old Ewha Womans University student quoted by The Asia Business Daily, said she visited Zero Store about three times a week and usually bought meal-replacement rice balls, chicken breast or snacks. She said the appeal was being able to “eat lightly” and buy low-sugar and low-calorie products without paying delivery fees. Recent user posts described a similar use case: buying portion-controlled foods, drinks and snacks quickly in urban neighborhoods instead of ordering a full takeout meal. (asiae.co.kr) Company promotional pages also stress single-item purchases and say shoppers do not need to wait for online delivery, a point that matches the convenience argument in those posts. ### How big is the chain now? Zero Store’s own website contains more than one growth figure. (asiae.co.kr) One page says the company started in July 2024 in Seoul’s Sangbong-dong, while another says it is “nearing” 120 outlets nationwide. March 14 reporting by Korea JoongAng Daily gave a higher figure, saying Zero Store, one of the most prominent franchises in the segment, had more than 170 branches nationwide. Reuters could not independently reconcile the difference from the public materials reviewed, but both sources indicate rapid expansion over less than two years. (zerostore.kr 1) (zerostore.kr 2) ### Why does the unmanned format matter? Korea JoongAng Daily reported that unmanned stores have spread widely in South Korea because of lower startup and operating costs and the lack of need for full-time or part-time staff. Citing Samsung Card data released last year, the paper said the number of unmanned stores in the country rose 314% between 2020 and 2025. (koreajoongangdaily.joins.com) Most Korean unmanned stores rely on self-checkout kiosks rather than the more advanced sensor-heavy systems used by Amazon Go, the paper said. The Asia Business Daily’s April report on Zero Store similarly described customers selecting products and completing their own transactions before leaving. (koreajoongangdaily.joins.com) ### What do shoppers actually find inside? Zero Store’s assortment centers on foods that fit diet and fitness routines rather than a full supermarket basket. Company pages and store reviews mention low-sugar snacks, protein shakes, zero-calorie drinks, ice cream, lunch items and other products sold individually rather than in online-only multipacks. Store signage highlighted in the April Seoul report emphasized ingredients and sugar counts, including refrigerator labels and wall slogans aimed at dieters. (koreajoongangdaily.joins.com) That merchandising approach appears to be part of the appeal for customers who want calorie information visible at the point of purchase. May 6 to June 5 is the period for Zero Store’s current “May pick” promotion on its website, and the company’s locations page lists branches and franchise contact details for prospective operators. (zerostore.kr) (zerostore.kr) (asiae.co.kr)