Korean retail chain operator E-mart said Tuesday its sales of goods produced through collaborations with local pop stars have emerged as a new cash cow on the back of their strong popularity.

E-mart, which rolled out different kinds of goods designed under ties with local entertainment agency S.M. Entertainment in March, said the products boasted a combined sales of 850 million won ($739,130) over the one-month period.

The retailer had adopted names of top-tier idol groups, including EXO and Super Junior, for its own products. The fancy packaging, however, helped the sales jump almost triple on average, the company said.

For instance, instant noodles with an EXO label brought in the most sales over the cited period at 184 million won, followed by boy band Super Junior-labeled noodles with 82 million won.

Carbonated bottled water with Korean boy band SHINee labels also enjoyed sales of 67 million won, followed by girl group Red Velvet with 65 million won and EXO with 61 million won.

Amid the rising demand for star-labeled foodstuffs, E-Mart also started sales of lactobacillus supplements with Girls' Generation, another popular Korean girl group. E-Mart said it will release different kinds of star-collaborated products under ties with S.M. Entertainment. (Yonhap)