"Avoiding US Trade Pressure... K-Food Lays New Groundwork in Europe"

Food Companies Accelerate Establishment of Local Factories and Subsidiaries
Europe, the Land of Opportunity, Drives Global Restructuring

The Korean food industry is accelerating its efforts to enter the European market. Following ongoing trade friction between South Korea and the United States after the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration, Europe has emerged as a new growth axis for K-Food. The European market, following Asia and the United States, is experiencing a strong K-Food boom and is referred to as the "land of opportunity" by Korean food companies.

According to the food industry on October 12, Korean food companies made a full-scale appearance at "Anuga 2025," the world's largest food fair held in Cologne, Germany from October 4 to 8 (local time), to explore opportunities for expansion into Europe. For the first time, Korea was selected as the Partner Country for this event, which featured participation from 8,000 companies across 110 countries.

Samyang Foods set up a booth under the theme "Buldak Spicy Club," introducing its line of spicy products. Kim Jeongsu, Vice Chairman of Samyang Foods, visited the site to communicate with global food and restaurant industry officials and assess their reactions.

On the 4th (local time), Kim Jeongsu, Vice Chairman of Samyang Foods, inspected the site at the Samyang Foods booth at ANUGA 2025, the world's largest food exhibition held in Cologne, Germany. Provided by Samyang Foods

Samyang Foods signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a business partnership with the French distribution specialist SRG International, securing a local distribution network. The company is also expanding its presence in major retail channels such as Albert Heijn in the Netherlands, REWE in Germany, and Tesco in the United Kingdom. The company stated, "The popularity of the Buldak brand is rapidly spreading across Europe," and added, "We aim to establish spicy ramen as part of the local food culture by expanding production lines and strengthening local marketing."

Dongwon Group operated its booth with the concept "Answer to Needs," showcasing products in the categories of health, Korean cuisine, and Korean sauces through its flagship brands Dongwon, Yangban, and Vivid Kitchen. Daesang set up a booth in the "K-Food Partner Country Pavilion" organized by the Korea Food Industry Association, highlighting its history and identity as one of the world's top three fermentation specialists and featuring its food brand O'food and kimchi brand Jongga.

Pulmuone and Lotte Wellfood also participated in Anuga for the first time this year. Pulmuone presented 45 products including tofu, kimchi, and plant-based items at a 70-square-meter booth under the concept "Authentic KFood, Crafted to Taste Good Feel Good." German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Alois Rainer and Korean Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mireyong visited the booth for a tasting session.

Paldo showcased its "Cold Noodle" concept, centered on Paldo Bibimmyeon, at the "K-Food Partner Country Pavilion" in the main exhibition hall. Genesis BBQ was the only Korean chicken brand to participate in the fair, operating an 18-square-meter booth under the theme "K-Chicken" and presenting products tailored to the European market. The menu included items such as seasoned fried chicken, galbi-flavored fried chicken, spicy boneless chicken, and crispy chicken tenders, all developed with local tastes in mind.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, exports of Korean agricultural and food products to Europe (including the United Kingdom) reached 680 million dollars (approximately 980 billion won) last year, a 25.1% increase from the previous year. In the first half of this year, exports continued to grow, reaching 421 million dollars, up 23.9% year-on-year.

The food industry expects the share of Korean food exports to Europe to continue rising. This is due to the ongoing strengthening of protectionism and tariff pressure under the Trump administration, as well as growing interest in K-Food, especially in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where there is less resistance to dining out culture.

Major food conglomerates are accelerating the establishment of subsidiaries and production facilities in Europe. CJ CheilJedang is building a new Bibigo dumpling factory in Dunavars?ny, near Budapest, Hungary. The factory, which has received an investment of 100 billion won, covers an area equivalent to 16 soccer fields (115,000 square meters). Starting in the second half of next year, the factory will supply Bibigo dumplings to the European market, with plans to add a Bibigo chicken production line in the future.

Daesang is establishing a new kimchi factory in Krakow, Poland. Having set up a sales subsidiary in the Netherlands in 1994 and entered the European market early on, Daesang currently sells kimchi produced at local facilities in the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic. However, the new factory aims to meet growing kimchi demand. Scheduled for completion next year, this will be Daesang's third overseas kimchi factory, with an investment of 15 billion won. Daesang plans to produce over 3,000 tons of kimchi annually by 2030, using this as a springboard to boost food sales in the European region.

Pulmuone plans to establish a European subsidiary in the Netherlands or the United Kingdom as early as the end of this year and begin full-scale operations in the European market from early next year. Pulmuone previously confirmed the demand for plant-based foods in Europe and began product testing in the second half of last year in preparation for entry. Pulmuone intends to reposition itself in the European market not as a "tofu company," but as a vegan K-Food company.

View of the Pulmuone booth set up inside the Anuga 2025 event hall. Pulmuone participated in Anuga 2025, held from the 4th to the 8th in Cologne, Germany. Pulmuone

Nongshim is also expanding its distribution channels in major European countries such as Germany and France. In March this year, Nongshim established a European subsidiary in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Last year, Nongshim's European sales reached 84 million dollars (about 110 billion won). The company aims to quadruple this figure to 336 million dollars (about 463.3 billion won) by 2030.

Samyang Foods also established a European subsidiary in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, in July last year. In Europe, Samyang Foods is working to expand its sauce business in addition to ramen. The company has partnered with Philippine foodservice company Jollibee to supply Buldak sauce to Jollibee stores in the United Kingdom, where menu items using Buldak sauce will be sold. An industry official commented, "The United States has traditionally been the main target for K-Food expansion, but the uncertain market environment has become a variable. Europe, with its long history of food culture, is now seen as a high-potential market given the recent surge in K-Food popularity."

A ramen display at a large supermarket in Seoul.