3/1(목)-Firms Capitalize on Warm Winter By Park Hyong-ki Staff Reporter
Middle school students eat ice cream in Myong-dong, Seoul, Friday. Sales of ice creams and other cold products rose amid relatively high temperatures this winter. /Korea Times This winter was a good season for Korea’s ice cream and soft drink makers, as the nation saw a mild and warm climate, instead of heavy snow and chilly weather. Lotte Chilsung Beverage, the maker of the Chilsung Cider lemon lime soda and the 2% juice flavored water, said its drinks sales rose 8 percent to 90 billion won in January from the same period last year.
The company expects its sales for this month to increase up to 30 percent.
Also, its sister firm, Lotte Confectionery, saw its sales of ice cream bars and cones rise 60 percent last month from the same month a year ago.
Sales of ice creams from Haitai Confectionery and Foods, best known for its ``Oh! Yes’’ chocolate cake, reached 15 billion won last month.
Overall, the industry’s sales of ice creams showed an increase of 67 percent during the off-season, while sales of soft drinks increased by two-fold.
In addition, as the weather is becoming a major factor that determines companies’ bottom lines, corporations are coming out with new and innovative products and services that can better adapt to the changing climate.
Japan’s Korean tire unit Bridgestone is currently developing a fresh tire adapted for global warming.
It is also planning to market a special rain tire that gives increased traction on wet roads during heavy rain.
According to GS Home Shopping, an operator of online and television shopping networks, its sales jumped 15 percent when the weather was not so good. Also its sales at the online shopping mall increased 5 percent.
GS said that it has formed a study team, consisting of marketing experts, to analyze and forecast the weather and develop a daily TV or online shopping program in accordance with the climate.
A German sociologist, Friedhelm Schwarz, said over 80 percent of the global economy is affected by the weather, which is scaled at about $25.2 trillion.
The World Meteorological Organization noted that when a country assesses and invests according to the weather conditions, it gains 10-fold returns on its investment.
The United Kingdom’s Meteorological Office forecast that the world will experience its highest temperatures this year.
Meanwhile, Korea’s average temperature is expected to rise 0.5 degrees Celsius, while experiencing more rain and dust storms.
1. What else can be affected by weather?
2. What caused Global Warming?
3. What kind of methods can we solve the problem of Global Warming? |