Jennie's Mention of 'Banana Kick' on U.S. Talk Show Boosts Nongshim's Stock

On March 10, 2025, Jennie appeared on the popular North American talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show, to promote her debut solo album, Ruby (루비), and introduced a beloved Korean snack, Banana Kick. She reminisced, saying it was her favorite treat as a child and described its flavor as having a banana taste but with an unexpected twist. This mention sparked a massive reaction on social media, capturing the attention of consumers worldwide.

Following her appearance, snacks like Banana Kick, Shrimp Chips (새우깡), and Whale Snacks (고래밥) surged in popularity, trending in searches and contributing to a four-day rise in Nongshim's stock price.

On March 19, Nongshim continued the momentum by posting a humorous and engaging update on their official social media, featuring anthropomorphized characters of Banana Kick and Shrimp Chips. The Banana Kick character proudly stated, "I got a five-second solo shot thanks to Jennie," further connecting with fans.

In addition to this snack-related success, Jennie's solo album Ruby is achieving remarkable milestones. It reached the 9th position on the Apple Music Top Albums chart, making her the first K-pop female solo artist to enter the top ten. The title track also climbed to 7th place on the Spotify Daily Top Songs Global chart, receiving enthusiastic responses from listeners around the globe.

Other tracks from the album, including 'Handlebars (feat. Dua Lipa)', 'ExtraL (feat. Doechii)', and 'Love Hangover (feat. Dominic Fike)', are also gaining traction and dominating major global charts.