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Korea Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Photo News] K-style ramyeon bar
Nongshim opens its "Shin Ramyun Bunsik" store in Harajuku, Tokyo, Monday — a casual Korean eatery specializing in Korean ramyeon. As its first location in Asia and second global outlet following the April launch in Peru, the store features a ramyeon bar where visitors can cook and enjoy Nongshim's noodle products. The space resembles Korean street food stalls, complete with Korean-inspired interiors and Instagram-friendly photo zones. Located in one of Tokyo's trendiest neighborhoods, the store reflects Nongshim's broader strategy to reach global consumers through immersive, experience-based marketing. (Nongshim)
Korea Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Nongshim to double ramyeon exports with new Busan plant
South Korean food and beverage giant Nongshim has begun building a new export-only manufacturing facility in Busan, as it looks to ramp up production to meet surging global demand, the company said Tuesday. Named the Noksan Export Plant, the facility is being built on an 11,280-square-meter site with a total floor area of 48,100 square meters, located adjacent to Nongshim's existing factory. Completion is slated for the second half of 2026. The new plant will feature the company's artificial intelligence-powered smart factory technology, including deep-learning quality control systems and big-data-driven prediction and response capabilities. The facility's three production lines, with an annual capacity of 500 million instant noodle servings, will nearly double Nongshim's total export output to 1.2 billion units, combining with 600 million units from its Busan plant and 100 million units from its facility in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. The food giant explained that the facility could expand its production lines from three to eight if demand from overseas markets continues to grow. 'Noksan Export Plant will be equipped to expand capacity up to three times the current level,' said an official from Nongshim. 'As we prepare to ride a second wave of global growth with our flagship Shin Ramyun Toomba, the increased output will cement our position as a global K-ramyeon leader.' With the anticipated production boost, Nongshim aims to quadruple its sales in Europe by 2030. As part of its broader sales strategy, it launched its Amsterdam subsidiary in March. Looking beyond Europe, the company is targeting emerging markets in South America and Southwest Asia, regions with significant growth potential for Korean noodles.
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
K-donuts go Hollywood: Knotted wins over LA foodies
Knotted, a premium dessert brand from Korea, has made a strong debut in North America, as its Los Angeles store attracted more than 30,000 customers in its first month of opening, the cafe said Monday. Located in the upscale Century City shopping mall, Knotted's first US location has quickly become a hot spot for locals, drawing an average of 1,000 visitors per day. Its signature donuts — particularly the milk cream donut — have sparked a 'K-donut' craze, with the store often selling out its daily stock within just four hours of opening. Knotted attributes its early success to its commitment to freshness, producing all items at dawn and discarding unsold products at the end of the day. The brand has also won over customers with its unique aesthetic and popular in-house character, Sugar Bear, which features prominently in store design and branded merchandise. Encouraged by the strong response, Knotted is preparing to open a second location in LA's trendy Arts District. The company also recently launched a Banana Kick Cream Donut in collaboration with Korean snack brand Nongshim, along with a banana-flavored latte. 'This achievement proves Knotted's potential for global expansion,' a company spokesperson said. 'We aim to bring the essence of K-donuts and our brand's charm to audiences worldwide.'
Korea Herald
18-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Shin Ramyun's Thai twist: How Nongshim is slurping up Asia
Powered by Tom Yum, Nongshim's flagship ramyeon is winning hearts – and shelves – across Asia In the heart of Asia's culinary revolution, Korean instant ramyeon giant Nongshim — best known for its iconic spicy Shin Ramyun — is redefining how Korean flavors captivate global audiences. Riding on the success of Shin Ramyun Tomyum in Thailand with a bold strategy of local adaptation, Nongshim is setting new standards for Asian food exports, driving global interest in K-food. Thai flavor meets K-ramyeon Nongshim's breakthrough in Thailand began with a bold culinary collaboration. In November 2023, the company launched two versions of Shin Ramyun Tomyum — soup and stir-fry editions — co-developed with Michelin-starred Thai chef Jay Fai. Her restaurant has welcomed high-profile guests including Alibaba founder Jack Ma, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Hollywood actor Russell Crowe and even K-pop stars like Blackpink's Lisa. According to Kim Jun-tae, director of Nongshim's Asia Sales Division, the partnership went far beyond marketing — it was a deliberate and detailed culinary exchange. The result was a distinctive fusion of Shin Ramyun's signature spicy flavor and the tangy, aromatic essence of Thailand's beloved tom yum dish. Nongshim's top researchers visited Chef Jay Fai's restaurant multiple times to study her techniques and understand her authentic flavor profiles, Kim recalled. 'We even invited her to our headquarters in Seoul for multiple tasting sessions, refining the recipe until we reached the perfect balance. It took over six months of back-and-forth development, with countless tastings and tweaks,' he said. The launch became an instant sensation. In just eight months, sales in Thailand surpassed 5 million units, and the product quickly went viral on social media. 'When we introduced the collaboration in Thailand, it caused a huge buzz. We held launch events, invited top celebrities and influencers, and amplified the story online. It became so popular that people even started reselling the Thai version in Korea,' Kim added. Nongshim's strategy is straightforward: localize flavors without compromising the soul of Korean cuisine. 'In Southeast Asia, noodle culture is already highly developed, and competition is intense. Our approach is to anchor the Shin Ramyun brand locally, evolving it into a family of products with tailored flavor profiles,' Kim said. While classic Shin Ramyun is famed for its bold, spicy beef broth, the company has diversified with regional variations — chicken-based versions for halal markets, stir-fried editions for Southeast Asia and adjusted spice levels depending on consumer preferences. More recently, Nongshim has been promoting Shin Ramyun Toomba, a variation that adds ingredients like cheese, mushrooms and garlic to the original Shin Ramyun, creating a smooth, milky texture. 'For instance, countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia tend to favor spicier options, while Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines often prefer milder tastes,' he explained. 'We don't fundamentally change the core identity, but we offer products like Shin Ramyun Red for those craving extra heat.' Kim analyzes that the rising popularity of K-food is largely fueled by Asia's young, adventurous consumers — many of whom are already immersed in Korean pop culture. 'Our core consumers are students and young adults, especially influenced by K-pop and K-content. Most of our marketing and social media campaigns are aimed directly at them." Premium choice in Southeast Asia The trend is especially visible in Thailand, where Shin Ramyun has transformed from a spicy Korean staple into a premium, trendy product. 'Korean ramyeon is seen as a premium item there — not just because it costs more, sometimes three to ten times local brands — but because of its quality, packaging and distinctive taste. Likewise, youngsters in Southeast Asia are willing to splurge on premium Korean ramyeon. It's become a fashionable choice." Nongshim has capitalized on the growing middle class and their appetite for high-quality experiences. "Some local customers even joke that after tasting Shin Ramyun, they can't go back to their country's local noodles.' The global success of Korean films and dramas — such as the Oscar-winning Parasite, which featured 'Chapaguri,' a dish made by combining two of our products, Chapagetti and Neoguri — has further elevated Nongshim's global appeal, the executive explained. 'We didn't expect Chapaguri to gain such fame after Parasite, but we quickly launched it globally to meet the demand." Scaling up for global demand Nongshim's international sales have surged in recent years, with global markets now representing a major share of revenue. In 2024, the company reported total sales of 3.44 trillion won ($2.6 billion), with exports to over 100 countries accounting for roughly 40 percent of that figure. Nongshim is now actively expanding its presence in Europe, South America, Africa and Oceania. Performance in Asia has been particularly strong: in Japan, sales reached 13.5 billion yen ($92 million) in 2024, with a target of 20 billion yen by 2026. Last year, sales grew by 11.6 percent in Japan and 18.2 percent in Vietnam. To meet such growing global demand, the company currently operates six domestic factories and six overseas: two in the US and four in China. A new production line added to the US facility in October last year, along with a dedicated export-only plant under construction in Busan, set to operate in 2026, is expected to increase annual output to 6 billion units. "Last year, we secured shelf space in major European retailers such as Leclerc and Carrefour, and earlier this year we established a European sales office in Amsterdam," Kim added. Nongshim is also investing heavily in innovation. Its factories now use AI and deep learning to monitor everything from noodle texture to packaging and expiration control. The company also launched a global marketing team last year to lead international campaigns and customize strategies for each target region. Looking ahead, Nongshim remains focused on its global mission: to make Korean ramyeon a beloved staple around the world. 'We're still in the early stages of building a premium, trendy image for Korean ramyeon among young consumers globally. The future looks promising.'
Korea Herald
16-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Seoul shares end tad higher on strong food, defense shares; won at 6-month high
South Korean stocks finished a tad higher Friday as investors scooped up food and defense shares amid eased tariff woes. The local currency rose to its highest level in six months against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 5.51 points, or 0.21 percent, to close at 2,626.87, rebounding from a 0.73 drop on the previous day. Trade volume was moderate at 354.4 million shares worth 7.93 trillion won ($5.7 billion), with losers beating winners 578 to 315. Foreign and institutional investors purchased a net 169.7 billion won and 134.1 billion won, respectively. Individuals dumped a net 303.3 billion won. Food and defense shares led the turnaround. Samyang Food, known for the global hit Buldak Ramen, surged 19.07 percent to an all-time high of 1.18 million won on its record-breaking first-quarter earnings. Its ramen rival Nongshim also soared 9.4 percent to 454,000 won. Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace rose 2.31 percent to 841,000 won, and LIG Nex1 advanced 4.38 percent to 405,000 won. Leading gamemaker NCSOFT jumped 3.99 percent to 161,700 won, and Netmarble vaulted 5.58 percent to 53,000 won. Chipmaker SK hynix increased 2 percent to 204,500 won, and Hanmi Semiconductor, a leading chipmaking equipment provider, jumped 11.72 percent to 91,500 won. However, leading battery maker LG Energy Solution sank 5.37 percent to 290,500 won, and major chemicals firm LG Chem lost 4.4 percent to 193,600 won. Top-cap Samsung Electronics declined 0.87 percent to 56,800 won. The local currency was quoted at 1,389.6 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., up 4.9 won from the previous session, the highest since Nov. 5, when the reading was 1,378.6. (Yonhap)
