Latest news with #RobertKurisu
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Korean convenience store ‘CU' makes Honolulu debut
HONOLULU (KHON2) — One of Asia's largest convenience store chains is coming to Oʻahu. The Korean convenience store 'CU' is making its highly anticipated debut in the United States, with its first locations being right here in Hawai'i. Panda Express part of new improvements made at HNL The new stores will feature instant ramen cooking stations, viral customizable drinks, K-beauty cosmetics, household items and more. 'Due to the high cost of living in Hawai'i, local people deserve affordable, convenient,quality options for everyday life,' said Robert Kurisu, CEO of CU Hawaii LLC. 'We lookforward to introducing CU, a fresh and modern Korean convenience store, to the Hawai'imarket.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news CUʻs Hawaiʻi stores will feature a variety of gimbap (Korean rice roll), alongside new flavors of musubi, bento and sandwich options, as well as local dishes like poke and loco moco reimagined through collaborations with local chefs. The first locations will be in urban Honolulu, with a flagship store opening in downtown Honolulu at the Executive Centre later this year. Check out more news from around Hawaii For more information, visit the CU Hawaiʻi website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Korea Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
CU to launch in US with Hawaii debut
CU, South Korea's leading convenience store brand operated by BGF Retail, is set to launch in the United States through a master franchise agreement with Hawaii-based CU Hawaii LLC. This marks the first time a Korean convenience store chain has entered the US market. The partnership was formalized at a signing ceremony attended by BGF Retail CEO Min Seung-bae and CU Hawaii LLC CEO Robert Kurisu. The companies plan to open CU's first store in Hawaii this October, followed by an expansion into key commercial districts across the state. Under the agreement, CU Hawaii LLC will operate the stores and collect royalties, leveraging CU's established brand and business model. With over 10 million annual visitors and a high concentration of Asian and mixed-ethnicity populations, demand is growing for affordable, high-quality food and retail services in Hawaii, CU said. CU plans to localize its offerings through a hybrid retail model that blends Korean-style ready-to-eat meals and snacks with US consumer preferences. Examples include kimbap and instant ramyeon as well as locally inspired fusion items such as poke and loco moco. The stores will also incorporate retail technologies, including self-checkout zones and optimized layouts. Kurisu, who initiated the partnership after several visits to Korea, said Hawaii's limited retail choices and rising costs created a strong need for a new distribution model. 'CU is a fresh, compelling concept that fits the Hawaiian market perfectly,' he said. CU currently operates 680 stores across Mongolia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan, and seeks to further globalize the Korean convenience store model through its US debut.
