Korean-made kimchi produced by Pulmuone with Korean ingredients will be sold at 10,000 retail outlets across the U.S.
Pulmuone said on Aug. 21 that it has secured a total of 10,000 sales outlets in the U.S. as Pulmuone kimchi joined the U.S.'s two largest retailers, "Kroger," along with Wal-Mart.
Pulmuone kimchi, produced at Pulmuone's global kimchi factory in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, entered 3,900 Wal-Mart stores and 1,100 "Publics" stores in the U.S. in June. Since then, it has recently started to introduce Korean-made kimchi at a total of 10,000 stores in the U.S., with additional 5,000 outlets including Kroger, Safeway and Food Lion.
"We discussed with some 20 local retailers and secured various distribution channels, ranging from large discount stores to supermarkets and convenience stores, bringing in Korean-made kimchi from big cities to regional units such as counties and towns," said a Pulmuone official.
Pulmuone estimates that there are about 20,000 stores with conditions to sell kimchi in the U.S. market. Pulmuone, which succeeded in entering about half of the stores, plans to expand the number of stores in the future.
Pulmuone is sticking to its own "Korean kimchi" strategy with the idea of making our kimchi known properly. In other words, cabbage and radish, the main ingredients for kimchi, should be used domestically and mature as microorganisms indigenous to the soil and air.
"The method of making in Korea and exporting abroad is highly respected in the U.S. and we will make Korean-made kimchi known to the global market in the future," the company official said.