Andong-si Signs Export Expansion Agreement with H Mart, the Largest Asian Food Distributor in the U.S.

Andong City in Gyeongbuk signed a business agreement (MOU) on the 11th (local time) with H Mart Buena Park store in LA, the largest Korean agricultural and Asian food distribution company in the United States, to expand exports of Andong agricultural products to the U.S. market.

The signing ceremony was attended by Kwon Ki-chang, Mayor of Andong, Kwon Il-yeon, CEO of H Mart, Nam Si-ho, CEO of Seonandong Nonghyup Pungsan Kimchi Factory, Oh Mi-kyung, Director of Bukandong San-yak Processing Center, Lim Hyo-seon, Director of Namandong Processing Center, Park Seong-ho, Chairman of Andong Soju Association, and H Mart officials.

Kwon Ki-chang, Mayor of Andong (right), and Kwon Il-yeon, CEO of H Mart USA, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement.

Through this business agreement, Andong City and H Mart agreed to closely cooperate to expand exports of Andong agricultural products by discovering promising export items produced in Andong, promoting and marketing using online and offline distribution channels to pioneer the U.S. market, and increasing sales.

At the promotional event for Andong agricultural products held at the store that day, products such as Pungsan Kimchi from Seonandong Nonghyup, processed Andong San-yak (Korean yam) products from Bukandong Nonghyup, sesame oil, perilla oil, sauces, red pepper powder from Namandong Nonghyup, Andong Yangban rice, and local specialties including Andong Soju, mixed grains, and beverages were promoted, taking the lead in sales of safe and excellent K-food Andong agricultural products.

Additionally, to promote Andong, the first city to hold three UNESCO categories?World Cultural Heritage, World Documentary Heritage, and Intangible Cultural Heritage?and to attract tourists, H Mart distributed Hahoe Yangban mask necklaces to local Americans in the store, making efforts to promote Andong and attract visitors.

Kwon Ki-chang, Mayor of Andong, and others are promoting agricultural products from the Gyeongbuk region displayed at the U.S. H Mart.

H Mart, led by Chairman Kwon Il-yeon, who is from Yecheon County, was established in 1982 on the U.S. East Coast and has grown to operate over 100 stores in North America, becoming the largest Korean agricultural and Asian food supermarket chain in the U.S. It is known to have annual sales of approximately 2 billion dollars.

Kwon Ki-chang, Mayor of Andong, said, “The United States is the number one export country for Andong agricultural products. Through this agreement, we have secured a global distribution channel in the U.S., creating an opportunity to strengthen and expand the export market. We will strive to expand exports through more aggressive marketing such as discovering promising export items and promotional events so that agricultural products produced in Andong can be stocked in more H Mart stores across the Americas.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.