Nongshim announced on July 13 that sales at its U.S. subsidiary in the first half of the year rose 35 percent year-on-year to $164 million, the highest ever.
The success stems from strong sales in the major U.S. market, called the Main Stream. Shin Ramyun is becoming a favorite food for locals in the U.S. beyond Asian. Moreover, as the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. continued until the second quarter, more consumers are looking for Nongshim ramen as an essential emergency food.
Scott Ellis, a purchasing manager at Kroger, a U.S. retail giant, said, "Nongshim ramen has shifted from snack to meal, and more consumers are buying it," adding, "In particular, according to the 'home-cook' trend of cooking at home, various kinds of ramen are being enjoyed by Americans."
Sales of ramen soared, led by large retailers such as Wal-Mart, Costco, Kroger, and Sam's Club, while sales of Wal-Mart and Costco increased 35 percent and 51 percent in the first half, respectively, and those of Amazon grew 79 percent.
Nongshim said, "Starting with supplying Shin Ramyun to all Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. in 2017, we have been building a tight distribution network in the mainstream market for years. Nongshim is one of the few foreign food brands sold throughout the U.S."
The number one contributor to the U.S. market is definitely Shin Ramyun. In the first half of the year, its sales posted about $48 million, up 25 percent in the U.S., showing an unrivaled presence.
Nongshim focused on promoting Shin Ramyun by operating special sales units centered on large markets, while operating Shin Ramyun buses centered on New York and Las Vegas.
The growth of Shin Ramyun Black stands out. Its sales grew 49 percent year-on-year to $13.5 million in the first half. Shin Ramyun Black is captivating the taste buds of American consumers with its unique thick soup and chewy noodles.
The New York Times recently picked 'Shin Ramyun Black' as the world's most delicious ramen. In an article titled "The Best Instant Noodles" on the New York Times' product review website "Wirecutter," Shin Ramyun Black proudly topped the world's BEST 11 instant noodles, beating several Japanese ramens. In addition, last year, the LA Times ranked Shin Ramyun Black as one of the top ramen brands in the world.
Nongshim said, "The Shin brand has become Korea's leading food product, which was mostly sought by Asians in the past, but is now sought by the major U.S. retailer."
Meanwhile, Nongshim, which first exported ramen to LA in 1971, started operating its LA plant in 2005 to tap into the U.S. market. Along with Shin Ramyun, popular Korean brands such as Neoguri, Anseongtangmyun and Jjapaghetti are produced and sold locally.
