Lotte Chilsung Beverage, which became the first South Korean beverage company to join the “4 trillion won club” in annual revenue last year, has successfully made its energy drink Hot6 a mega-brand, surpassing 100 billion won ($68.8 million) in sales. The milestone comes 14 years after its launch.

Lotte Chilsung Beverage, which achieved 4 trillion won ($2.75 billion) in annual revenue in 2024, has successfully made its energy drink Hot6 a mega-brand, surpassing 100 billion won in sales. The milestone comes 14 years after its launch.

According to industry sources on Tuesday, Lotte Chilsung Beverage recorded 108 billion won in global sales from the Hot6 brand in 2024, marking the first time the product exceeded 100 billion won in revenue since its 2010 debut. With this achievement, the company now boasts eight mega-brands - those generating over 100 billion won annually - including Chilsung Cider, Pepsi, Cantata, Let’s Be, ICIS, Del Monte, and Milkis. A company official said, “This proves that energy drinks are no longer just a passing trend.”

Hot6 recorded 22.1 percent year-over-year domestic sales growth, making it Lotte Chilsung’s fastest-growing beverage segment.

Since its first year on the market, Hot6 quickly gained traction through word-of-mouth, securing the top spot in the domestic energy drink market. Today, it competes head-to-head with Coca-Cola’s Monster Energy, with industry estimates suggesting Monster holds around 50 percent market share, while Hot6 accounts for about 40 percent.

The rising popularity of energy drinks among fitness enthusiasts has contributed to Hot6’s sustained growth. “These days, people consume it before workouts for an energy boost,” the Lotte Chilsung official noted, adding that the energy drink market has entered a new phase of expansion.

Over the past 14 years, the brand’s success was fueled by continuous innovation. The company launched Hot6 The King Purple Grape in early 2024, which blends red grape and blueberry juice to appeal to consumers who prioritize flavor in addition to enhanced focus and performance. It introduced Hot6 Zero in 2023 in response to the rising zero-sugar trend, while in 2019, it debuted the Hot6 The King series, increasing can size by 40 percent to cater to demand for larger servings.

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