Starbucks Korea has been revealed as the top food and beverage retail brand in terms of total consumer spending in Korea. Conversely, Mega Coffee, a popular budget-friendly coffee chain, recorded the highest number of transactions, according to recent data from market analytics firm Wiseapp Retail.
The analysis, which sampled Korean credit and debit card payments, showed Starbucks leading in total payment value across the food and beverage retail sector during the six-month period from September 2025 to February 2026.
Compared to Starbucks’ indexed spending at 100, bakery giants Paris Baguette and Paris Croissant came in close behind at 95.6. Mega Coffee secured the third position with an index of 53.5. Other prominent brands in the rankings include McDonald’s at 52.9, A Twosome Place at 45.7, and Lotteria at 35.6.
However, when considering transaction volume, Mega Coffee emerged as the leader, processing an average of 36 million payments each month. This figure highlights the significant demand for affordable coffee options among Korean consumers.
Paris Baguette and Paris Croissant both reported approximately 23 million monthly transactions, followed by Starbucks with 20 million and McDonald’s with 17 million.
Mega Coffee also boasted the highest customer retention rate, with 45.4 percent of its patrons making repeat purchases. Compose Coffee followed with a 41.9 percent repeat purchase rate, while McDonald’s and Starbucks recorded 38.9 percent and 36 percent, respectively, showcasing strong brand loyalty across the board.
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